Cannibis use may be associated with an increased risk of stroke, based on a review of 34 case reports on 64 patients.
A temporal relationship between cannibis use and stroke was noted in 81% of the 64 patients. In 70% of cases, the patient evaluation was strong enough to exclude other potential sources of stroke, Dr. Daniel Hackam reported.
About 25% of the patients had further strokes and continued to use cannabis. Half of the patients had concomitant risk factors for stroke, with tobacco and alcohol being the most common.
“Heightened clinician awareness of this association, particularly in the treatment of young adults, is necessary for preventing recurrent events from future re-exposure to cannabis,” Dr. Hackam concluded.Find the full study in Stroke (doi: 10.1161/STROKEAHA.115.008680).