A recent Journal of the American Heart Association publication has shifted the discussion about how people should use cannabis products. Research demonstrates that cannabis consumption through any method besides smoking leads to heart problems, even though the effects of smoking on lung health are already well documented. Understanding the risks of cannabis consumption has become crucial since more jurisdictions legalize its medical and recreational use. For those seeking convenient access to cannabis, mississauga weed delivery same day is available, ensuring a fast and reliable option for users.The Link Between Cannabis Use and Heart Problems
The researchers obtained survey data from more than 400,000 American adults throughout the period from 2016 to 2020. Daily use of cannabis elevated the risk of heart attacks by 25% and stroke by 42% above those who abstained from cannabis use. Research showed heart problems in individuals who had abstained from smoking tobacco so the study confirmed that cannabis exposure through any route can seriously affect cardiovascular health.
Research indicates a pressing concern because numerous people believed smoking constituted the main risks related to cannabis usage yet both methods expose patients to dangerous toxins and carcinogens. The research indicates that heart disease risks might be directly influenced by cannabis consumption through any available intake method.
Research indicates that cardiac safety between cigarette smoking and edible cannabis use shows no substantial difference.
Among all methods of cannabis use smoking remains the most prevalent practice yet edibles and vaping have seen increasing popularity during the last few years. The shift from smoking to using edibles lets many users feel certain their lung health risks disappear. According to the research results there was no substantial variation in heart health risks between smoking, vaping or using cannabis in edible form.
People generally believe edibles offer total safety when compared to smoking but new evidence shows otherwise.
Edibles avoid the respiratory system yet they present substantial health concerns for the heart and heart system and they provide imprecise dosages and slow absorption rates.
Edible marijuana products offer better safety than traditional smoking methods
Edibles differ from smoking because they do not come into contact with the respiratory system. The lungs of people who smoke cannabis face exposure to damaging substances including tar, carbon monoxide and carcinogens that lead to persistent coughing as well as phlegm production and repeated lung infections throughout time. The advantage of edibles lies in their ability to eliminate any contact with the respiratory system so people who want to prevent such issues choose them instead.
Lung health benefits exist from using edibles compared to smoking but these benefits do not eliminate all potential risks.
Delayed Effects and Accidental Overconsumption
The time it takes for edibles to work ranges from 30 minutes to up to 2 hours unlike the immediate delivery of THC from smoking through the lungs. The time it takes for edibles to kick in often causes novice users to take additional doses since they believe the drug is not working yet. The user may experience overdose symptoms because they took too much before feeling the full impact of the edibles which results in:
The effects of edibles cause both mental processing and physical coordination problems alongside slowness in cognitive functions and movement challenges.
High doses of THC typically cause intense anxiety along with paranoid feelings as a primary side effect.
Some users who consume THC develop brief psychotic symptoms that include confusion as well as hallucinations and extreme panic.
People with heart conditions need to be concerned about the dangerous blood pressure and heart rate elevation effects.
Stronger and Longer-Lasting Intoxication
The high from edibles tends to reach maximum intensity and extends its duration beyond what smoking provides. After cannabis ingestion the liver processes THC into 11-hydroxy-THC which creates a substance that exceeds the potency of regular THC. Edible cannabis products result in feelings that stay active for 4 to 12 hours based on the dosage taken.
The prolonged period of being intoxicated creates difficulties for users to determine safe times for activities like driving which leads to more accidents.
Cardiovascular Risks of Edibles
Edibles have a longer onset time and stronger potency than smoking marijuana which combined creates an increased danger of heart attacks and strokes. When medical cannabis has a delayed activation time along with increased strength it produces unpredictable heart rate and blood pressure fluctuations that can endanger individuals particularly those with established heart conditions.
The longer period edibles stay in the human body results in extended heart-related effects compared to the shorter duration of smoking cannabis.
How Much Cannabis Is ‘Safe’ to Consume?
Understandably how much cannabis use remains secure for individuals? The level of cannabis safety depends on three major elements including personal tolerance and health status and the specific consumption method.
Recreational Use Guidelines
The legal cannabis regulations in Colorado prescribe that:
• One serving of an edible contains 10 mg of THC.
Initiators of cannabis use should begin with no more than 5 mg to prevent adverse outcomes.
Users need to wait for at least two hours before consuming additional doses of cannabis.
The strength of a 10 mg serving might be excessive for certain users because it can produce side effects including dizziness and nausea and profound drowsiness.
Medical Use Recommendations
Medical cannabis patients should consume a combination of research-based recommendations which include:
• 2.5–5 mg of THC and CBD once or twice a day.
Medical professionals suggest that patients should not exceed 40 mg of THC per day when using cannabis to control chronic pain.
People who use medical cannabis frequently combine THC with CBD because CBD helps minimize the undesirable mental effects of THC. Medical experts warn that cannabis remains a substance with unavoidable health risks despite its prescribed medicinal applications.
Who Is at Higher Risk?
Particular groups of people face greater susceptibility to cardiovascular effects from cannabis exposure.
Older adults face increased risk because they commonly possess heart disease as a preexisting medical condition.
Medical experts have discovered that THC creates temporary elevation of blood pressure along with heart rate among individuals who have high blood pressure.
The heart attack risk rises substantially for persons who have suffered heart disease before.
High THC doses tend to activate anxiety and panic symptoms in individuals who already face these conditions.
Medical counsel should be sought by all users before applying edibles or cannabis since they pose health risks.
The final assessment examines whether eating cannabis products presents less dangers than inhaling marijuana smoke.
Although edibles present reduced risks compared to smoking they still have unknown health effects. The research shows that consuming cannabis through any method potentially affects cardiovascular health which requires careful consideration about marijuana consumption.
Key Takeaways:
People who want to protect their respiratory system should use edibles because these products avoid lung exposure during consumption.
Edible cannabis products present several risks that include delayed reaction time and intensified potency and higher chances of accidental overdose.
No marijuana consumption approach offers absolute safety since both edible and smoking methods present heart risks to users.
People should regulate their cannabis dosage precisely to prevent negative medical outcomes.
The consumption of cannabis should stay within moderate levels regardless of smoking or vaping or eating it. Ongoing research will identify the safest methods of cannabis consumption although any such methods may not exist. Users need to stay informed and practice caution when it comes to their consumption practices.
Meg is an author at Cinnamon Hollow. She writes on a variety of topics sharing tips and ideas for daily life.