Last week Sharon and I enjoyed two great days floating the Niangua river in central Missouri. It was a rather traditional float, even as I was breaking in yet another kayak designed for river fishing. The weather was terrific and the late summer folks enjoying the river were in abundance, particularly the younger crowd drifting along on big inflatables, rafted together enjoying music, Fireball liquor and other adult beverages. What was new was the pungent purple haze from marijuana, now legal in Missouri, but still not federally, surrounding these rafts. They were well behaved and appropriately mellow given their mind altering drug of choice. This experience prompted me to ascertain where we stand in regard to the impact of cannabis on health in the short time since it’s approval for recreational use in Missouri. Uh oh……
The legalization of this drug followed a predictable and proven trajectory. Open the door medicinally and push through a referendum after that door is cracked open. There may well be legitimate medical applications, but they have not been broadly accepted by the medical community. In fact the impacts of marijuana use on the cardiovascular system are beginning to surface, and the news is not good. Dr. Zara Latif, who is a Harvard affiliated physician, in a 2020 review in the Journal Of Clinical Medicine, has succinctly addressed these issues. He notes a major concern with the strength of today’s strains of the stuff which eclipses that of 30 years ago when we were cracking heads over ditch weed, stuff you would have to smoke a bale of to get a buzz, or so we are told. The latest concerns are enumerated below.
Cannabis contains over 500 chemicals. That is a lot of chemistry to wade through. Using the stuff alters how your body metabolizes prescription medicines, thus affecting the blood levels of these legitimate medicines with predictable results. Cannabis has been implicated in heart attacks, especially in younger men with no cardiac history. Case studies are strongly suggesting that cannabis use triggers heart rhythm disorders including atrial fibrillation and is precipitating stress cardiomyopathy. (This is brought about by the rush of adrenalin, which, in turn, causes heart muscle damage). High dose cannabis use has been linked to arteritis, an inflammation of the walls of arteries. Studies have shown that tokers are 34% more likely to develop coronary disease compared to non users. Another big finding is that cannabis users are enjoying between 17% and 24% more strokes than non users, (American Heart Association). A recent Canadian study has shown a dramatic increase in emergency room admissions among medicinal cannabis users and in Amsterdam, folks who showed up at ER’s with cannabis intoxication often presented with heart issues including chest pain and fainting. All of this so you can enjoy the high of a drug we really don’t know much about. You’ll notice I shortened this sermon so as to not bore folks with the awful stats states are racking up related to criminality and the carnage on our highways caused by users who “mellowed” a bit before hitting the road.
As a guy who has never smoked or ingested anything illegal, (not to be confused with demon rum……) and who has had a valve job and timing adjustment on his heart, I have to wonder why anyone would challenge their cardiovascular health with this stuff. The fact remains, though, the tokers and tweakers prevailed at the polls and it is, after all, their hearts to do with as they please. It is interesting to note that folks floating our rivers and lighting up (and/or drinking) are not drowning, probably as much due to their pulling one another out of the water as anything. If you are one of my friends who surreptitiously fires up an occasional fat boy, be careful. The stuff is not good for the heart, and trusted friends are in short supply.
Have a great week!
SR
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