Exclusive use of combusted cannabis does not appear to impact heart electrical activity in young adults, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Researchers from the University of California examined whether cannabis use affects cardiovascular health, specifically focusing on arrhythmia risk through measures of ventricular repolarization. The study involved 134 healthy adults aged 21 to 30, split into three groups: cannabis-only users, those who co-use cannabis and nicotine vapes, and nonusers.
The findings showed no significant differences in key heart function indicators between cannabis-only users and nonusers. However, those who co-used cannabis and nicotine electronic cigarettes (ECIGs) displayed shorter Tpeak-Tend (Tp-e) intervals—suggesting possible changes in cardiac activity.
“Chronic co-use of inhaled combusted cannabis and nicotine ECIGs, but not exclusive cannabis use, is associated with alterations in ventricular repolarization,” the researchers concluded. Heart rate variability and resting hemodynamic measures remained consistent across all groups.
While the study suggests that cannabis alone does not negatively affect heart repolarization in healthy young adults, researchers call for further investigation into the combined use of cannabis and nicotine vapes.
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