Cannabinoids have no severe cardiovascular effects

The use of cannabinoids for therapeutic purposes is progressing rapidly. But some of you may be wondering if it is safe to use CBD. A recent study has shown that legal cannabis does not cause severe cardiovascular issues.

Is it safe to use cannabinoids?

On the one hand, CBD, CBN, CBG and CBC molecules are increasingly recognised for their health benefits (soothing, anti-stress, pain relief, etc.). On the other hand, cannabis is banned because of its high THC content which has a negative impact on health. All these molecules come from the same plant, hemp, and are cannabinoids. Some of you may find the similarities in origin confusing.

Cannabis use is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular issues, particularly in younger people. Although existing studies point out that there is a lack of accurate data to prove whether cannabis alone is to blame, or whether its combination with alcohol or other drugs is what causes serious accidents. Therefore, you may wonder whether CBD and other cannabinoids, even when legal, cause health issues, such as cardiovascular diseases.

A recent meta-analysis conducted in the USA showed that you can safely consume CBD to improve your well-being and tackle everyday ailments.

Are there cannabinoids that don’t cause serious cardiovascular issues?

Many studies have investigated the medicinal properties of legal cannabis, but few have looked into the potential side effects on health, whether severe or not.

With this in mind, American researchers carried out a meta-analysis published in March 2021 in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association. It assessed the cardiovascular toxicity of cannabinoid use for therapeutic purposes. 47 studies with a total of 2,800 patients were examined with a fine-tooth comb. Patients with underlying cardiovascular diseases were excluded from these studies.

According to the researchers’ findings, cannabis use may result in an increased risk of minor cardiovascular issues such as orthostatic hypotension or tachycardia. They note, however, that no studies have demonstrated severe cardiovascular effects. Despite these encouraging results, the researchers urge patients to exercise caution. The majority of studies are conducted for a limited duration (the median duration is only 15.8 days). In addition, most patients were given cannabis extracts that were administered orally. Therefore, these studies do not necessarily reflect the method and duration of consumption (CBD resins, CBD flowers, CBD oil etc.) used in the real world.

The researchers also believe that there is insufficient data on other cardiovascular events in people using medical cannabis. In particular, the long-term effects of cannabinoids on patients with pre-existing cardiovascular diseases need to be studied.

In short, if you are in good health, consuming CBD does not put you at risk. But if you already have cardiovascular disease or are taking any medication, it is best to ask your doctor’s advice before taking cannabinoids