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Cannabis Legalization Linked to Heart Woes
27 Oct
Summary
- Study links cannabis legalization to increased heart hospitalizations.
- Heart failure admissions rose nearly 4 percent post-legalization.
- Research analyzed over 50 million hospital discharge records.
A recent study published in BMJ Open suggests a connection between the legalization of recreational marijuana and a rise in heart-related hospitalizations across the United States.
The research examined more than 50 million hospital discharge records between 2012 and 2018. It specifically analyzed hospitalization rates in Western states following the implementation of ballot measures to legalize cannabis sales, which began in 2014.
Analysis revealed that admission rates for serious cardiovascular conditions increased notably. Heart failure saw nearly a 4 percent rise, heart attacks increased by 3 percent, and atrial fibrillation admissions grew by over 2 percent when compared to regions that did not legalize cannabis.
While the study identifies a significant association, the researchers caution that this observational research cannot definitively prove that cannabis legalization caused the increase in heart-related hospitalizations.
