Marijuana and Vascular Disease: A Review

Abstract

Marijuana use is common and increasing due to decriminalization, legalization, and expansion of medical use. As a result, the proportion of vascular patients with marijuana is also expected to increase, raising questions if cannabis use affects the incidence and outcomes of vascular disease. Active ingredients of cannabis have been shown to interact with receptors found on vascular endothelium, promoting oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. However, current clinical studies have yet to demonstrate a relationship between marijuana use and atherosclerosis. Nonetheless, cannabis arteritis is a rare condition where cannabis is hypothesized to induce vascular inflammation. Future research with high-quality studies is needed to clarify the impact of marijuana use on vascular diseases.