Even Occasional Cannabis Use Linked to Higher Stroke Risk, Study Finds

New research on cannabis stroke risk finds that even occasional cannabis use is linked to a higher risk of stroke and cardiovascular disease, according to preliminary research involving nearly 443,000 adults in the United States. The study found that people who used cannabis on just one to five days a month had 40 percent higher odds of reporting a previous stroke than people who reported no recent use. The findings will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago, running from 6 to 9 November.

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FAKTA

• The study analysed survey data from 442,906 adults in the United States, collected between 2020 and 2024.
• People who used cannabis one to five days a month had 23 percent higher odds of reporting cardiovascular disease and 40 percent higher odds of reporting a stroke.
• People who used cannabis 16 to 30 days a month had 21 percent higher odds of cardiovascular disease and 25 percent higher odds of stroke.
• No statistically significant link was found between cannabis use and heart attacks.
• The research was led by Dr. Aabha Divya of Tulane University School of Medicine and will be presented at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago, 6-9 November.
• The study is observational and preliminary: it shows an association, not proof that cannabis causes heart disease or stroke, and it has not yet been peer-reviewed.

What the Study Found

Researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine analysed pooled data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a national telephone survey, covering 2020 to 2024. The study included 442,906 adults with an average age of 49 years, about half of them women.

The link held regardless of how often people used cannabis, and regardless of the form, whether smoked or edible. Low-frequency users, who reported using cannabis on one to five days per month, had 23 percent higher odds of reporting a history of cardiovascular disease than non-users. Heavy users, who used it on 16 to 30 days per month, had 21 percent higher odds.

Cannabis Stroke Risk: Stroke Showed the Strongest Link

Stroke showed the strongest association of all. Occasional users had 40 percent higher odds of reporting a previous stroke, compared with 25 percent higher odds among heavy users. Researchers did not find a statistically significant relationship between how frequently participants used cannabis and their likelihood of reporting a previous heart attack.

Lead author Dr. Aabha Divya, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine, said the findings make cannabis use an important consideration for heart disease and stroke prevention and counselling.

What the Study Cannot Prove

The findings come with clear limits, and the researchers spelled them out. The study is observational and cross-sectional: it captures data from a single point in time, so it can only show a statistical link and cannot prove that cannabis causes heart disease or strokes. Both cannabis use and diagnoses were self-reported by survey participants.

The findings are also preliminary. They will be presented as a poster abstract at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026, and the association notes that abstracts presented at its meetings are not peer-reviewed. The results are considered preliminary until published as a full manuscript in a peer-reviewed journal.

Conclusion

The study does not say that cannabis causes strokes. What it does say is that even infrequent use was associated with higher odds of stroke and cardiovascular disease in a very large sample of American adults, and that the link deserves attention in prevention and counselling. Until peer-reviewed research can test whether the association is causal, the safest reading is the researchers’ own: a signal worth taking seriously, not a verdict.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How large was the study?

The study analysed survey responses from 442,906 adults in the United States, collected between 2020 and 2024 through the CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Participants had an average age of 49, and about half were women.

What did the study find?

Both occasional and heavy cannabis users had higher odds of reporting cardiovascular disease, with the strongest link for stroke. Occasional users had 40 percent higher odds of a previous stroke, and heavy users 25 percent higher odds, compared with non-users.

Does cannabis cause strokes?

The study cannot prove that. It is observational and captures data at a single point in time, so it shows an association, not causation. Both cannabis use and diagnoses were self-reported.

Was there a link with heart attacks?

No. The researchers found no statistically significant link between how often people used cannabis and their likelihood of reporting a previous heart attack.

Has the study been peer-reviewed?

Not yet. The findings will be presented as a poster abstract at the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago, 6-9 November. They are considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Who led the research?

Lead author Dr. Aabha Divya, an assistant professor of cardiothoracic surgery at Tulane University School of Medicine in New Orleans.

What should people take from the findings?

The researchers say cannabis use should be considered in heart disease and stroke prevention and counselling. Anyone concerned about their own risk should discuss it with a doctor.