![\"A](\"https:\/\/imageio.forbes.com\/specials-images\/imageserve\/65145d95730a315214105b11\/A-MAN-SMOKING-WEED\/0x0.jpg?format=jpg&crop=3217,1811,x0,y166,safe&width=1440\")
<\/div>Researchers in Canada found that adults who overuse weed are 60% more likely to experience serious…. <\/span>GETTY IMAGES<\/span><\/h5>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nKEY FACTS<\/h2>\n\n\nIn the report published Thursday by\u00a0Addiction<\/em><\/a>, researchers analyzed the health of nearly 30,000 participants with cannabis use disorder (CUD) who were then paired with adults with no CUD exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe population-based group study involved five health databases in Alberta, Canada, with researchers noting that apparently healthy people are still at enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease if they have CUD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nCUD\u2014which impacts around 27% to 34% of people who use cannabis\u2014is the continued use of weed despite significant negative effects on one’s life and health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the study, adults with CUD\u2014notably, those who didn\u2019t have simultaneous mental health disorders or other chronic conditions at the same time\u2014were more at risk for cardiovascular disease if they were not on prescription medications and had not used healthcare services in the past six months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe results of the study should be considered exploratory, but the researchers note the potential value in using the disease as a marker\u2014helping users take preventive action via increased testing and screening or surveillance for cardiovascular disease in these at-risk groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
KEY BACKGROUND<\/h2>\n
Marijuana use has\u00a0significantly risen<\/a>\u00a0over the past decade, with\u00a055 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0saying they regularly use marijuana, as it has become the most commonly used\u00a0federally illegal drug<\/a>\u00a0in the United States. Cannabis has already been linked to serious cardiovascular events, including\u00a0heart disease<\/a>,\u00a0heart attacks<\/a>, and\u00a0strokes<\/a>\u00a0due to the stress that cannabis can put on the heart. Smoking cannabis can raise a person\u2019s\u00a0heart rate<\/a>, dilate blood vessels and make the heart pump harder\u2014immediately after use<\/a>. The drug has also been linked to mental health risks in young adults, and people who use marijuana before the age of 18 have a greater risk of developing CUD, according to the\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>. Signs of CUD include using more marijuana than intended, attempting but failing to quit using the drug, giving up key family activities in favor of using marijuana, experiencing withdrawal symptoms\u00a0and more<\/a>. CUD is most common in the\u00a0state of Washington<\/a>, where cannabis is legal.<\/p>\n
KEY FACTS<\/h2>\n\n\nIn the report published Thursday by\u00a0Addiction<\/em><\/a>, researchers analyzed the health of nearly 30,000 participants with cannabis use disorder (CUD) who were then paired with adults with no CUD exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\nThe population-based group study involved five health databases in Alberta, Canada, with researchers noting that apparently healthy people are still at enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease if they have CUD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nCUD\u2014which impacts around 27% to 34% of people who use cannabis\u2014is the continued use of weed despite significant negative effects on one’s life and health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nIn the study, adults with CUD\u2014notably, those who didn\u2019t have simultaneous mental health disorders or other chronic conditions at the same time\u2014were more at risk for cardiovascular disease if they were not on prescription medications and had not used healthcare services in the past six months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
\nThe results of the study should be considered exploratory, but the researchers note the potential value in using the disease as a marker\u2014helping users take preventive action via increased testing and screening or surveillance for cardiovascular disease in these at-risk groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
KEY BACKGROUND<\/h2>\n
Marijuana use has\u00a0significantly risen<\/a>\u00a0over the past decade, with\u00a055 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0saying they regularly use marijuana, as it has become the most commonly used\u00a0federally illegal drug<\/a>\u00a0in the United States. Cannabis has already been linked to serious cardiovascular events, including\u00a0heart disease<\/a>,\u00a0heart attacks<\/a>, and\u00a0strokes<\/a>\u00a0due to the stress that cannabis can put on the heart. Smoking cannabis can raise a person\u2019s\u00a0heart rate<\/a>, dilate blood vessels and make the heart pump harder\u2014immediately after use<\/a>. The drug has also been linked to mental health risks in young adults, and people who use marijuana before the age of 18 have a greater risk of developing CUD, according to the\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>. Signs of CUD include using more marijuana than intended, attempting but failing to quit using the drug, giving up key family activities in favor of using marijuana, experiencing withdrawal symptoms\u00a0and more<\/a>. CUD is most common in the\u00a0state of Washington<\/a>, where cannabis is legal.<\/p>\n
In the report published Thursday by\u00a0Addiction<\/em><\/a>, researchers analyzed the health of nearly 30,000 participants with cannabis use disorder (CUD) who were then paired with adults with no CUD exposure.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The population-based group study involved five health databases in Alberta, Canada, with researchers noting that apparently healthy people are still at enhanced risk of cardiovascular disease if they have CUD.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n CUD\u2014which impacts around 27% to 34% of people who use cannabis\u2014is the continued use of weed despite significant negative effects on one’s life and health.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n In the study, adults with CUD\u2014notably, those who didn\u2019t have simultaneous mental health disorders or other chronic conditions at the same time\u2014were more at risk for cardiovascular disease if they were not on prescription medications and had not used healthcare services in the past six months.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The results of the study should be considered exploratory, but the researchers note the potential value in using the disease as a marker\u2014helping users take preventive action via increased testing and screening or surveillance for cardiovascular disease in these at-risk groups.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Marijuana use has\u00a0significantly risen<\/a>\u00a0over the past decade, with\u00a055 million Americans<\/a>\u00a0saying they regularly use marijuana, as it has become the most commonly used\u00a0federally illegal drug<\/a>\u00a0in the United States. Cannabis has already been linked to serious cardiovascular events, including\u00a0heart disease<\/a>,\u00a0heart attacks<\/a>, and\u00a0strokes<\/a>\u00a0due to the stress that cannabis can put on the heart. Smoking cannabis can raise a person\u2019s\u00a0heart rate<\/a>, dilate blood vessels and make the heart pump harder\u2014immediately after use<\/a>. The drug has also been linked to mental health risks in young adults, and people who use marijuana before the age of 18 have a greater risk of developing CUD, according to the\u00a0Centers for Disease Control and Prevention<\/a>. Signs of CUD include using more marijuana than intended, attempting but failing to quit using the drug, giving up key family activities in favor of using marijuana, experiencing withdrawal symptoms\u00a0and more<\/a>. CUD is most common in the\u00a0state of Washington<\/a>, where cannabis is legal.<\/p>\nKEY BACKGROUND<\/h2>\n