Are Edibles Safer Than Smoking? New Study Sheds Light on Cannabis and Heart Problems

While recent studies have linked daily cannabis use to a higher risk of heart problems, there’s little research into the effects of edibles compared to smoking.

A new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association found that daily cannabis use—whether through smoking, edibles, or vapes—is associated with a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.

People who use cannabis daily have a 25% increased odds of heart attack and a 42% increased odds of stroke compared to non-users, the study found. A similar association was found even among people who never smoked tobacco.

The study, consisting of survey data from over 400,000 American adults between 2016 and 2020, underscores the risk of frequent cannabis use, regardless of the method of consumption. However, smoking is the predominant method of cannabis use among a majority of the respondents.

Are Edibles Safer Than Smoking?

Although there’s not yet a comparative study between consuming and smoking cannabis, edibles don’t come with the risk of respiratory irritants.

“Cannabis edibles do not irritate bronchi and lungs and do not cause chronic cough and phlegm production, two of the most common effects of smoking cannabis on a regular basis,” said Daniele Piomelli, PhD, director of the UCI Center for the Study of Cannabis in Irvine, California.

However, edibles aren’t necessarily risk-free. Although cannabis is not highly toxic, it can lead to severe behavioral impairment, such as cognitive and motor dysfunction, anxiety, and even transient psychotic symptoms.

The delayed onset and prolonged effects of edibles also make it challenging to dose accurately, compounded by inconsistencies in labeling and formulation.

Since dosing is a guessing game with edibles, it’s easier to overdose with edibles than with smoked cannabis, Piomelli said. People often assume they need to consume more edibles because they don’t feel the effects immediately.

Edibles are also more likely to result in acute psychiatric symptoms, intoxication, and cardiovascular symptoms compared to inhalables, according to a 2019 analysis of cannabis-related emergency room visits in a hospital in Colorado. Despite accounting for only 0.32% of the total cannabis sales in Colorado, edibles accounted for almost 11% of those emergency room visits.

Is There a ‘Safe’ Dosage for Cannabis?

In states that have fully legalized cannabis, such as Colorado, guidance on consumption often designates one serving as 10 milligrams of THC, and users are advised to “use caution” and “wait” before ingesting more. However, dosage guidances can vary depending on the source.

“For an experienced adult, one serving of 5 mg of THC is already effective, and 10 mg will produce a quite strong high,” Piomelli said. “Experienced adults should make sure they don’t exceed a dose they know they can handle.”

For medical cannabis use in treating chronic pain, researchers recommend a mix of THC and CBD at 2.5–5 mg each once or twice daily and a maximum THC dose of 40 mg a day.

More research is still needed to confirm the safety profile of edibles. Ultimately, cannabis use of any form isn’t risk-free. It can make your heart beat faster and increase your blood pressure immediately. It can also impair the muscular coordination and judgment that are essential for safe driving.

Piomelli said using cannabis daily or multiple times a day can also increase the risk of cannabis use disorder, in which users can’t stop using cannabis even though it’s disrupting their physical and social health.