Effects of Marijuana on Blood Pressure and Hypertension

The effect of marijuana on high blood pressure is a frequently asked question. People need to know that marijuana can assist in lowering blood pressure. There is some evidence that suggests that the use of marijuana can help reduce high blood pressure.

Figure 1.

Is Marijuana Good For High Blood Pressure?

Clinical research on the effectiveness of marijuana in treating high blood pressure is still in its infancy. We know that in the short term, the use of marijuana brings about a slight rise in blood pressure and heart rate. It is similar to the effect of exercise on the heart.
The use of bud, hash and other forms of marijuana brings about an increased risk of developing cardiac events in the hour after use. However, the overall risk from using marijuana is still low. It is due to the stimulating effect of THC on the heart and cardiovascular system.

Smoking cannabis may raise the risk of having a heart attack by 4.8 times in the first hour of use. The use of cannabis has been associated with the development of cannabis arteritis. However, very few cases have been reported, so it is still unclear.
However, people who suffer from arthritis or Bueger’s disease should regularly have their blood pressure checked when using medicinal cannabis if they smoke cigarettes.

People (with no chronic conditions) also experience a higher risk of a heart attack after exercise with the rise in blood pressure and heart rate. This means that someone who is in great health may also experience a heart attack after a marathon. This also applies to sexual activity. Your heart rate will stabilize after a few minutes after the activity.
The time it takes to slow down depends on pre-existing cardiovascular conditions. People who have pre-existing conditions may be more at risk of having a heart attack after using marijuana. According to a study undertaken by Harvard Medical School, the risk increases 5 times after smoking marijuana and it takes longer for the heart rate to return to normal. This risk may remain high if the use of cannabis continues. Greater tolerance may develop as a result.

This reported risk relies upon animal studies, case reports, and other meta-analyses that cover a variety of variables. The studies that do exist found that there is no long-term association between the use of cannabis and heart attacks. If you are concerned about any adverse effects on your blood pressure, please consult your doctor about the use of cannabis if you have high blood pressure or any other cardiovascular disease.

Figure 2.

Does the Use of Weed Lower Your Blood Pressure?

The initial increase in blood pressure is rarely dangerous, especially for users with a high-risk factor, which leads to a decrease in blood pressure. Continued use of the drug will lead to greater tolerance and a slow decrease in blood pressure. This lowering of blood pressure can be experienced as dizziness after smoking marijuana.
Some studies report that if marijuana is used when standing up, the increase of blood pressure may be lower than expected with only a drop in blood pressure. Anandamide, released by the body, helps to reduce arterial pressure by relaxing blood vessels.
However, the discussion is quite complex. There are some components of cannabis (CBD and anandamide) that help to lower blood pressure; other parts of the plant will have different effects on your blood pressure.
Different strains of cannabis may have different effects on blood pressure. Sativa strains are more stimulating and may lead to a rise in blood pressure. Indica strains are more relaxing and help to reduce blood pressure. If you are worried, make sure that you get your heart rate monitored while using marijuana. Everyone will react differently to each strain of marijuana.

Figure 3.

Can you use Medical Marijuana to treat your high blood pressure?

It has been shown that smoking marijuana helps to lower blood pressure, similar to exercising. After exercising, there is an immediate rise in blood pressure with a low risk of cardiac arrest. After this initial period, there is a drop in blood pressure and a general reduction in blood pressure with exercise. Cannabis seems to work similarly.
There is a lack of research in this area, so it is still important to keep monitoring your blood pressure to see how smoking marijuana affects your body; There are different strains of marijuana that have different effects on your blood pressure.

Conclusion

The effect of marijuana on blood pressure needs to be further investigated. After using marijuana, there may be a slight increase in blood pressure and heart rate. It is during this time that there is an increased risk in developing a heart attack. After this, blood pressure may return to normal.
The best thing to do is to monitor (and record) your blood pressure before and after the consumption of marijuana. It is worth looking into how different strains of marijuana help to lower your blood pressure.

This article about Medical Marijuana was published on 07-16-2017 and updated on August 19, 2021 . Medical facts in this article was checked and article was medically reviewed by our Leaf Expert Medical Team . Author of this checked article is Daryl Seldon (MS) who is expert in Medical Marijuana