It is well known that cigarette smoking is detrimental to cardiovascular health. It is associated with arterial stiffening, as well as a host of other conditions, including:
coronary heart disease
hypertension (high blood pressure)
heart attack
stroke
aneurysms
peripheral artery disease
A new study published in the Journal of Applied Physiology by a team of researchers from the University of Guelph adds to the growing body of evidence suggesting that smoked cannabis can lead to similar cardiovascular issues, too. When compared to healthy controls, the researchers found that arterial stiffening occurred even in young and ostensibly healthy cannabis smokers and that smokers also demonstrated reduced peak apical rotation when compared with controls. Heart rates and blood pressure were similar at rest, suggesting that these subtle indications of cardiovascular disease may develop before overt signs and symptoms become apparent. The study involved a total of 35 participants (17 controls and 18 cannabis users) between the ages of 19 and 30.
The Journal of Applied Physiology has more.