Marijuana Use Linked to Heart Attack, Stroke
A study of heavy marijuana users has found increased amounts of a blood protein typically associated with increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The active chemical in marijuana binds to cannabinoid receptors found in many cells and organs in the body to cause this blood protein abnormality, researchers say.
Researchers at the Molecular Neuropsychiatry Branch of the National Institute on Drug Abuse-Intramural Research Program in Maryland and the Ciphergen Biosystems in Freemont, California, studied 18 heavy marijuana users and 24 non-drug users as a control group.
People with major medical and psychiatric illnesses, hypertension, head injury, HIV positive, alcohol dependency and other drug usage, were excluded from the study.
Linked to Increased Tryglycerides
The study found increases in apolipoprotein C-III (apoC-III) in the marijuana users. Increases in apoC-III levels in the blood occur in parallel with increases in triglyceride levels, the researchers wrote.
They researchers still do not understand why delta-9-tetrahyrdocannabinol (THC) causes increases in apoC-III levels, but its increase might be the reason that some heavy marijuana users are at an increased risk for heart attack and strokes.
Source:
Jayanthi, S., et. al. "Heavy Marijuana Users show Increased Serum Apolipoprotein C-III levels: Evidence from proteomic analyses" Molecular Psychiatry. 13 May 2008.
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Some notes:
They smoked between 78-350 joints per week.
They did not have high triglyceride levels.
Their diets were not assessed.
Cigarettes do far worse and contain many additive chemicals, and it’s legal to smoke…
Marijuana smoking has been around humanity since the age of antiquity and is regarded by many ancient cultures as a gift from god.
So regardless of the studies that were concluded with probably inconsistent usage as related to the way actual users consume marijuana. It was noted by another person how many joints were smoked a week, and the fact that their diet was not assessed.
Anyone smoking that much of anything on a typical American diet is going to have elevated triglyceride levels. This is not some fascinating fact being revealed, but more like a poor excuse to stigmatize something that is far more harmless when used in moderation as opposed to cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs.
Furthermore anyone with a sound and educated mind knows that if they are smoking something in excess that it can cause cardiovascular problems. You can smoke grass fresh out of your lawn or hibiscus flowers in excess and have problems with the cardiovascular system.
Cigarette smoking does not cause a person to get high…and possible hurt himself or other people by his actions……….that is why it is not illegal…