Hey pot smokers… listen up…
In a study published in Molecular Psychiatry, government researchers reported that smoking marijuana may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Science has long known that THC, the active chemical in marijuana, can cause impaired learning and memory. But now, researchers have discovered a possible connection between heavy marijuana use and body’s production of a protein that raises blood fats – triglycerides – that increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.
Using a protein chip to identify new target proteins, the researchers discovered significant increases in an apo-lipo-protein called apo-C-111, in people who were long term, heavy marijuana users. This particular protein is involved with the transport of triglycerides and delays their breakdown. The increases in apo-C-111 paralleled rises in triglyceride levels.
The authors of the study admit that although they don’t understand how heavy marijuana use might be causing the affect, it may be one reason why some users have increased risks of heart attack and stroke.
Marijuana Smoke Contains Higher Levels Toxins Than Tobacco Smoke
According to ScienceDaily, researchers in Canada report that marijuana smoke contains significantly higher levels of several toxic compounds – including ammonia and hydrogen cyanide – than tobacco smoke and may therefore pose similar health risks.
In the study, researchers compared marijuana smoke to tobacco smoke, using smoking machines to simulate the smoking habits of users. The scientists found that ammonia levels were 20 times higher in the marijuana smoke than in the tobacco smoke, while hydrogen cyanide occurred at levels 3-5 times higher in the marijuana smoke.
This study seems quite significant, as up until now, there has been relatively little research on the chemical composition of marijuana smoke; yet, researchers have carefully studied chemical composition of tobacco smoke, which includes over 50 toxic substances that cause cancer.
