The anti-cannabis movie Reefer Madness is considered one of the most discredited films ever made.
It was a propaganda film that helped fuel the failed war on drugs. It blamed every “evil” you can think of on marijuana use…including assault, murder – even a teenager’s descent into psychosis.
Flash forward to today and medical marijuana is legal in 34 states and Washington, D.C.
I found myself remembering Reefer Madness when my research turned up a new study thank linked marijuana use with an increased risk of heart attacks in young people.
But, what the study really shows is how biased U.S. medicine is against cannabis.
Let me show you what I mean…
Researchers at an American Heart Association conference presented data from 819,354 heart patients under the age of 40.
They reported that over 11 years, the number of marijuana users who suffered heart attacks nearly tripled, from 2.4% to 6.7%.1
However, the study has several glaring problems.
First, it doesn’t specify whether they were smoking, vaping, or consuming edibles like gummies.
That makes a big difference in heart attack risk.
The study also fails to factor in whether or not they also smoked tobacco… And were they using dangerous drugs known to affect heart function, like amphetamines or cocaine? Were they drinking excessive amounts of alcohol?
None of these questions were answered.
This means the researchers can’t say what caused an elevated heart attack risk, assuming there is one.
But what is clear is that cannabinoids offer significant health benefits – including for your heart.
Cannabinoids Benefit Your Heart – And More
Cannabinoids contain anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, reducing the risk factors leading to cardiovascular diseases, such as high blood pressure and blocked arteries.
In a study published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, researchers gave a group of healthy men either a 600 mg dose of CBD oil or a placebo. They found that just a single dose of CBD effectively lowered blood pressure.2
A 2020 study found that CBD can open blood vessels and improve blood flow to the heart.3
In addition to heart health, CBD also helps:4
- Ease anxiety and depression
- Reduce inflammation
- Relieve chronic pain
- Inhibit arthritis symptoms
- Reduce insulin resistance in diabetics
- Protect against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s
- Protects lungs by opening bronchial passageways
3 Ways To Get The Most Out Of Your CBD
A lot of my patients are new to using cannabinoids for health benefits. Here are a few guidelines I put together to help them out when it comes to knowing what to use.
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- Don’t put price over quality. The expression “you get what you pay for” is incredibly true when it comes to CBD oil. Since hemp was legalized, a lot of companies got into the business. And many CBD makers cut corners wherever they can to increase their profit. Cheap brands can’t give you the benefits you’re looking for because they contain smaller concentrations of CBD than they promise. And they could even make you sick… Inexpensive CBD comes from farmers who generally cut corners. That means they have a non-organic plant with pesticides, herbicides, and other toxins that end up in the final product. Look for an organic product that’s been lab-tested and grown to the highest standards.
- Don’t expect immediate results. Just like any other supplement, it can take time for CBD to build up in your body. Some people give up on their oil too quickly because they didn’t notice any benefits. The length of time you need before you notice results is different for everyone. But in general, you should feel results within a month of continued use. How CBD gets into your bloodstream also comes into play… Generally, only about 6% of the oil you take orally gets absorbed. Look for a nanotechnology product. It will get almost five times more CBD past your cell membranes and into your body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS).
- Choose a full-spectrum CBD. Terpenes are fatty oils found in the essential oils of almost all plants. They occur naturally in hemp and are extracted along with CBD and other compounds to create full-spectrum CBD products. These compounds work together and amplify each other’s benefits, a synergy known as the “entourage effect.” Terpenes increase CBD bioavailability and enhance the therapeutic effects of cannabinoids.
To Your Good Health,
Al Sears, MD, CNS
References:
1. Desai D, et al. “Increasing trend of cannabis use disorder among young patients admitted due to acute myocardial infarction.” Circulation. 2021;144:A13627
2. Jadoon K, et al. “A single dose of cannabidiol reduces blood pressure in healthy volunteers in a randomized crossover study.” JCI Insight. 2017 Ju15; 2(12): e93760
3. Baranowska-Kuczko M, et al. “Vasodilatory effects of cannabidiol in human pulmonary and rat small mesenteric arteries: modification by hypertension and the potential pharmacological opportunities.” J Hypertens. 2020 May;38(5):896-911.
4. Perez L. “9 Science-Backed Benefits Of CBD Oil.” Forbes. June 2021.