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STUDY: Marijuana use increases risk of metabolic syndrome

A participant smokes a marijuana joint while marching in the annual Hemp Parade on August 9, 2014 in Berlin. Supporters of cannabis legalization are hoping legalized sale in parts of the USA will increase the likelihood of legalization in Germany. 

ATLANTA — According to a study by researchers at Georgia State University, the longer a person uses marijuana, the more the risk for developing conditions linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

The longer a person uses marijuana, the more the risk increases, according to the study conducted by researchers in the School of Public Health at GSU.

The study found that "every year increase in marijuana use is associated with at least a 5 percent increase in odds of having metabolic syndrome."

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of symptoms that increase a person’s risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes.

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“Duration of marijuana use seems to be a significant factor associated with metabolic syndrome,” the researchers said.

The researchers gathered data on more than 3,000 adults above the age of 20. The results are published in the Journal of Addiction Research & Therapy. The study’s lead author is Barbara Yankey, a Ph.D. student in the School of Public Health.

By the end of 2016, 28 states had legalized marijuana for medical use, and eight states and the District of Columbia had permitted recreational use of marijuana, according to the study.

Cox Media Group

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