Male marijuana users face significantly higher cardiovascular risks than their female counterparts, according to research from the University of Pittsburgh and Drexel University. The study reveals a stark gender disparity in how cannabis affects heart health.

Published in the American Journal of Preventive Cardiology, the research analysed data from the TriNetX database and found that male marijuana users demonstrated a 32% higher risk of non-fatal myocardial infarction compared to female users. The study also identified a 19% higher risk of MACES (major adverse cardiovascular events) amongst men.

The research team—led by R.J. Rajendran alongside Hussein, Khatib, Khraib, Saeed, and Sanghvi—conducted a retrospective cohort study examining cardiovascular outcomes amongst cannabinoid users. Their findings challenge the increasingly normalised perception of cannabis as a relatively harmless substance.

Gender Gap in Cannabis Cardiovascular Risk

The 32.2% elevated risk of non-fatal heart attack for male marijuana users represents a substantial increase in acute cardiovascular danger compared to female users. Non-fatal myocardial infarction, whilst survivable, often results in permanent heart damage and increased risk of subsequent cardiac events.

Major adverse cardiovascular events (MACES) encompass serious outcomes including stroke, heart failure, and cardiovascular death. The 19% higher risk amongst male marijuana users indicates compromised heart health across multiple categories, not simply isolated to heart attacks.

The study’s findings are particularly concerning given usage patterns. Men consume cannabis more frequently and in higher quantities than women, compounding the already elevated biological risk identified in the research. This combination of greater inherent cardiovascular vulnerability and higher consumption rates means male marijuana users may face substantially worse outcomes than the baseline statistics suggest.

Implications for Public Health

The research arrives as cannabis legalisation expands globally and social acceptance of marijuana increases. The cardiovascular evidence contradicts industry messaging that often emphasises therapeutic benefits whilst minimising health risks.

For male marijuana users, the 32% increased risk of heart attack and 19% increased risk of major cardiac events represent significant health dangers. Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death and disability worldwide, making cardiovascular harms from cannabis use a serious public health concern.

The sex-specific nature of these risks raises questions about public health messaging and product labelling in jurisdictions where cannabis is legal. Male marijuana users may require targeted warnings about their elevated cardiovascular risk, particularly given that men already face higher baseline rates of heart disease than premenopausal women.

The study provides evidence that cannabis affects male and female users differently, with men bearing a disproportionate cardiovascular burden. As cannabis becomes more accessible through medical and recreational legalisation, understanding these gender differences becomes increasingly important for informed decision-making about use.

Source: The Drug Report