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New study links marijuana to cardiovascular disease — but it's not all bad news - Salon

New study links marijuana to cardiovascular disease — but it's not all bad news - Salon

New study links marijuana to cardiovascular disease — but it's not all bad news - Salon
Aug 06, 2020 1 min, 50 secs

A new study by the American Heart Association (AHA) reveals that smoking marijuana causes "substantial risks" to cardiovascular health, including increasing the chances of suffering a heart attack, stroke or other cardiovascular problems.

The authors also noted that the act of smoking or vaping marijuana may increase the health risks associated with the drug, increasing the concentrations of carbon monoxide and tar in a manner analogous to smoking tobacco.

At the same time, they observed that some clinicians believe marijuana use can help for treating neuropathic pain (typically associated with type 2 diabetes), decreasing prescription drug use and assisting patients suffering from age-related diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

The authors warned older potential users that, despite these potential benefits, marijuana use could also increase the risk of angina and interfere with a variety of cardiovascular and mental health medications.

"The purpose of our study was to explore the evidence and science in order to provide physicians and health care workers with the information that is available on the effects of marijuana, especially on the cardiovascular system," Dr.

"The public needs high-quality information about cannabis, which can help counterbalance the proliferation of rumor and false claims about the health effects of cannabis products," the authors write.

"Furthermore, research funding must be increased proportionally to match the expansion of cannabis use, not only to clarify the potential therapeutic properties but also to better understand the cardiovascular and public health implications that now follow the decriminalization of cannabis.".

"By any rational assessment, the continued criminalization of cannabis is a disproportionate public policy response to behavior that is, at worst, a public health concern," Armentano continued.

"Instead, it bolsters the very policies that the Drug Policy Alliance advocates for — the report clearly states that it is essential to remove marijuana from schedule 1 and states that a regulated and taxed market is best for public health and safety.".

Vakharia noted that the AHA's study itself listed the "known, purported, and possible medical benefits" associated with marijuana use.

"The greatest harm associated with marijuana use is its criminalization," Vakharia told Salon when asked if the prohibition on the drug can be viewed as a public health problem.

Summarized by 365NEWSX ROBOTS

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