Two new Canadian studies have found a strong link between marijuana use disorder and an increased risk of death. The studies, which analyzed data from hospital and emergency room records, found that individuals with cannabis use disorder died at almost three times the rate of those without the disorder over the next five years.
Patients with cannabis use disorder were also more likely to die by suicide, as well as from trauma, drug poisonings, and lung cancer. The researchers suggest that cannabis use disorder is about half as dangerous as opioid addiction, but slightly less dangerous than alcohol use disorder.
The studies found that three in 10 cannabis users will develop cannabis use disorder, which can be caused by the potent and increasingly harmful marijuana sold today compared to what was available in the 1960s and 1970s. The researchers also noted that many people use marijuana recreationally without adverse effects or addiction.
One of the studies found that patients with cannabis use disorder had a 2.8-fold increased risk of death compared to the general population, even after adjusting for other risk factors such as mental health disorders and heart disease.
The findings have significant implications for public health, particularly in young adults who are most vulnerable to the effects of cannabis. The researchers emphasize the need for intervention, monitoring, and prevention strategies to address this growing concern.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/06/health/cannabis-marijuana-death-psychosis.html