A new study from France has found that smoking cannabis may significantly increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes. Researchers who studied over 1,300 intensive care patients discovered that those who used cannabis were almost twice as likely to suffer from serious heart problems.

Experts are now urging hospitals to consider screening emergency room patients for recreational drug use. Previous research suggests that THC, the active ingredient in cannabis, can trigger the body’s stress response, raising heart rate and blood pressure. Over time, this extra strain on the heart can lead to life-threatening issues like heart attacks and strokes.

The study, conducted in April 2021, followed 1,392 patients admitted to 39 different intensive care units across France. Out of these, 11 percent tested positive for recreational drug use, with cannabis being the most common. A significant number of these patients experienced serious cardiovascular events within a year, with drug users facing a threefold increase in risk compared to non-users.

Among all drugs tested, MDMA posed the highest cardiovascular risk, followed by heroin and cannabis. The study’s lead author, Dr. Raphael Mirailles, emphasized the need for systematic screening in intensive care to better identify patients at risk and help them quit drug use.

Scientists are still working to fully understand how THC increases heart attack and stroke risks, but it’s clear that regular cannabis use may have serious long-term effects on heart health.