New Studies Warn Smoking Cannabis Increases Heart and Stroke Risks

Recent medical research highlights significant health risks associated with smoking cannabis, a method used by approximately 80% of medical cannabis consumers worldwide. Studies published in 2024 link daily cannabis smoking to an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Dr. Peter Greenspon, a family physician and addiction specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital, suggests these dangers may stem from the smoking method itself, noting that alternative consumption forms could reduce these risks.

Additionally, heavy cannabis users face the risk of cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, characterized by severe abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting. The only effective treatment is immediate cessation of cannabis use, although warm showers may provide some symptomatic relief.

Researchers recommend safer alternatives to smoking, such as cannabis-infused creams and ointments that offer localized pain relief without psychoactive effects, as well as cannabis candles that do not introduce cannabinoids into the bloodstream. The use of cannabis is rising globally, including in Israel and the United States. According to the 2025 Global Report by New Frontier Data, over 25% of Israelis aged 15 and older have used cannabis, and medical cannabis licenses in Israel have quadrupled over the past decade. In the U.S., about half of Americans have tried cannabis at least once, with usage increasing by approximately 65.2% between 2015 and 2024.