If you think an occasional edible or weekend joint is harmless for your heart, a large new analysis may give you pause. Researchers presenting at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 found a link between cannabis and stroke even at low levels of use: people who used marijuana just 1 to 5 days a month had 40% higher odds of having had a stroke than people who did not use it.
The findings are preliminary and cannot prove that cannabis causes strokes. But with about 1 in 6 U.S. adults now using cannabis in a given month, experts say it belongs in every heart-health conversation. Here is what the study found, what it can’t tell us, and what you should do with the information.
What the Cannabis and Stroke Study Found
The research, led by Aabha Divya, MBBS, MCh, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans, analyzed survey data from 442,906 U.S. adults. The average participant was 49 years old, and about half were women, according to the American Heart Association news release.
The data came from the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a large telephone survey, pooled from 2020 to 2024 in the states that asked optional questions about cannabis. Participants reported how many days in the past 30 they had used cannabis, whether by smoking, vaping or eating gummies and other edibles, and whether a health professional had ever diagnosed them with heart disease, a heart attack, heart-related chest pain or stroke.
Compared with people who reported no cannabis use in the past month:
| Cannabis use (days per month) | Odds of stroke | Odds of any cardiovascular disease |
|---|---|---|
| Low (1-5 days) | 40% higher | 23% higher |
| Heavy (16-30 days) | 25% higher | 21% higher |
There was no statistically significant link between cannabis use and heart attack. The association with stroke held regardless of whether people smoked cannabis or used edibles or other forms, according to the AHA. The researchers adjusted for factors that also affect heart risk, including tobacco smoking, alcohol use, obesity, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, physical inactivity, education and income.
Why Occasional Use Showed a Bigger Link Than Heavy Use
One surprise: the light users, not the heaviest users, had the largest jump in stroke odds. Divya said the relationship was “not straightforward.” As she put it in the AHA release, “We expected that the chances of heart disease would gradually rise… but that wasn’t the case.”
The study design may explain part of this. The researchers note that some people may have cut back or quit after being diagnosed with heart disease or stroke, which could place former heavy users in the low-use or no-use groups. The survey also had no information on product potency or how much cannabis people consumed on the days they used it.
What This Study Can’t Tell Us
Before you panic, it is important to understand the limits. The AHA lists several:
- It’s a snapshot. The data were collected at a single point in time, so researchers cannot tell whether cannabis use came before the stroke or after it, and cannot prove cause and effect.
- Everything is self-reported. Both cannabis use and medical diagnoses relied on people’s memory and honesty.
- Not every state is included. Only the 16 to 24 states that asked the optional cannabis questions each year were part of the analysis.
- It’s not peer-reviewed yet. The work was presented as a meeting abstract. AHA notes that findings are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Still, the results add to a growing body of research. Robert L. Page II, Pharm.D., a professor at the University of Colorado Skaggs School of Pharmacy who chaired the AHA’s 2020 scientific statement on cannabis and was not involved in the study, noted that many cannabis users also smoke tobacco, which “completely clouds the issue.” He called this the second observational study to suggest a possible cardiovascular risk that is separate from tobacco smoking.
How Cannabis Affects Your Heart and Blood Vessels
The new findings line up with what federal health officials already say. According to the CDC, cannabis “can make the heart beat faster and can raise blood pressure immediately after use,” and it “could also increase risk of stroke, heart disease, and other vascular diseases.”
The CDC also notes that most earlier studies focused on people who smoked cannabis, and that cannabis smoke contains many of the same harmful substances as tobacco smoke. That makes it hard to separate the effects of THC from the effects of smoke, which is why studies like this one that include edibles and vaping are important.
Use is rising quickly. Divya noted that 1 in 6 U.S. adults reported past-month cannabis use in 2024, up from 1 in 10 in 2020, as legalization and commercial availability have expanded.
What You Should Do If You Use Cannabis
Divya said it is “increasingly important” for patients and clinicians to include cannabis in cardiovascular conversations “just as they discuss tobacco, alcohol and other commonly used substances.” Practical steps:
- Tell your doctor. Be honest about how often you use cannabis and in what form. It is health information, not a confession.
- Know your numbers. Get your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar checked. These are the biggest drivers of stroke risk you can control.
- Don’t assume edibles are “safe.” The stroke link in this study held regardless of how cannabis was used.
- Be extra careful if you have risk factors. People with high blood pressure, a history of heart disease, or who also smoke tobacco should discuss cannabis use with their clinician.
- Learn the stroke warning signs. Sudden face drooping, arm weakness, or speech difficulty means call 911 right away.
Want more heart-and-brain health news? Read about a major new trial on statin decisions and what researchers found about coffee and dementia risk.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Talk with your healthcare provider about your personal risk.
