Chronic Cannabis Smoking, THC Ingestion Linked to Endothelial Dysfunction

TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 (HealthDay News) — Chronic cannabis smoking and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) ingestion are associated with endothelial dysfunction, according to a study published online May 28 in JAMA Cardiology.

Leila Mohammadi, M.D., Ph.D., from the University of California in San Francisco, and colleagues conducted a cross-sectional study to examine whether cannabis use is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction among sex- and age-matched healthy adults aged 18 to 50 years. Participants were recruited into three cohorts: marijuana smokers, THC-edible users, and nonusers. Arterial flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity were measured for the participants.

The researchers found that among 55 participants, arterial FMD was significantly lower among marijuana smokers and THC-edible users than among nonusers (mean, 6.0 and 4.6 percent, respectively, versus 10.4 percent). In endothelial cells treated with participants” sera, vascular endothelial growth factor-stimulated nitric oxide levels were significantly lower for the marijuana smoker versus the nonuser group (mean, 1.1 versus 1.5 nmol/L), but no effect was seen for THC-edible users versus nonusers. There was an inverse correlation seen for FMD with smoking frequency and the amount of THC ingested.

“This study enhances the understanding of the potential risks to vascular health linked to cannabis use and provides more evidence that cannabis use is not benign,” the authors write.

One author disclosed ties to Greenstone Biosciences.

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