Marijuana is more dangerous than cigarettes; triple death risk from hypertension

Marijuana use increases the risk of dying from high blood pressure by more than three times, according to the new research published in the European Journal of Preventive Cardiology. The study also revealed marijuana users have a 3.42 times higher risk of a high blood pressure-related death than non-users. This risk increases by 1.04 times for every year of cannabis use.  

The risk increases by more than one time for every year of cannabis use. Despite certain campaigners emphasizes cannabis is safer than tobacco, the Study shown that use of marijuana is more dangerous for the heart than cigarettes.

Experts argue the findings are particularly important given marijuana's legislation in eight US states, including Alaska, California, and Colorado.

The researchers studied 1,213 people aged 20 or over who had been involved in a National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.In 2005 to 2006, the study's participants were asked if they had ever used marijuana and, if so, how old they were when they first started. Information on use of cigarette was also collected.  

This data was merged with mortality statistics from the US National Center for Health Statistics.

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Marijuana was found to be more damaging to heart health than tobacco. The lead author of the study Ms Yankey said: 'Marijuana stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, leading to increases in heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen demand.'We found higher estimated cardiovascular risks associated with marijuana use than cigarette smoking.

'This indicates that marijuana use may carry even heavier consequences on the cardiovascular system than that already established for cigarette smoking.' No link was found between marijuana use and dying from heart disease.  

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