Abstract

There has been an alarming increase in incidence of cannabis associated stroke, aneurisms and cardiovascular events reported in the literature recently. These have been reported as case studies, research studies and through discussion by the scientific and medical community. Young, healthy individuals with no apparent risk factors, are apparently becoming vulnerable to stroke due to use of cannabis (delta (9) tetrahydrocannabinol) or THC. THC may increase oxidative stress, and induce cerebral mitochondrial dysfunction. THC appears to dose-dependently inhibit brain mitochondrial respiration, thus raising the risk for ischemic stroke. Cannabis appears to also affect cerebral regulation and vascular tone, causing vasoconstriction and acute ischemic stroke. Additionally, cannabis use is associated with an 18% increased likelihood of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Cardiovascular toxicity along with arterial stiffness and vascular age are associated with cannabis use, which in turn is associated with acceleration of cardiovascular age, which determines to a degree, biological age. These and other factors related to cannabis use, stroke, aneurism and cardiovascular health are discussed.

Keywords

Cardiovascular, toxicity, along, aneurysmal, cognition, memory, attention, motivation, altered mental states, subarachnoid, vasoconstriction, ischemic, stroke, medical, community