Skip to main content

Chronic Cannabis Smoking, THC Ingestion Linked to Endothelial Dysfunction

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm. Last updated on June 3, 2025.

By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter

TUESDAY, June 3, 2025 -- 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.

Abstract/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)

Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.

© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Posted June 2025

Read this next

2021 to 2023 Saw Rise in Cannabis Use by Older Adults

THURSDAY, June 5, 2025 -- From 2021 to 2023, the prevalence of current cannabis use increased among older U.S. adults, according to a research letter published online June 2...

Pod-Style E-Cigarettes May Have Higher Abuse Liability Than Nicotine Gum

THURSDAY, May 29, 2025 -- Modern pod-style electronic cigarette (ECIG) devices may have a higher abuse liability than nicotine gum in individuals with no history of cigarette...

Half of Youth-Serving Clinicians Screen for Substance Use Disorder at Every Well Visit

THURSDAY, May 22, 2025 -- Just over half of youth-serving clinicians report that they routinely screen adolescents for substance use disorders (SUDs) at every well visit...

More news resources

Subscribe to our newsletter

Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.