Cardiovascular Disease and Medical Marijuana


Cardiovascular disease is public enemy number one.  Disorders of the heart and circulatory system cause more death than any other disease, more than war, more than starvation.  The main cause of cardiovascular disease is inflammation.  Lesions form which cause blood vessels to narrow.  Hyperactive immune cells affect the proper function of smooth muscle cells and lipids and other extracellular materials tend to stick and amalgamate, forming plaques.


"With heart disease, everything seems tiring. You lose your feeling for live, everything becomes bland and life seems hopeless."  - Longjack

The medicinal ingredients found in Medical Marijuana address the root cause of cardiovascular disease by reducing inflammation and modulating an overactive immune system.  Cannabinoids such as CBD (cannabidiol) was found to protect the liver from damage from toxic compounds found in the diet, including alcohol.  A healthier liver contributes to a cleaner blood supply, which in turn leads to less arterial plaque.



Medical researchers at major medical institutions have jumped on the Cannabis bandwagon, with clinical evidence coming in, seemingly daily, that attests to the beneficial properties of Cannabinoids - THC, CBD among others.

In the 1980's it was discovered that inflammation and tissue injury repair was controlled by a receptor system that set in motion a cascade of metabolic processes.  In fact, this receptor system was discovered when scientists were trying to establish what made marijuana go.  Hence the naming of the body's own endocannabinoid system.   These researchers soon realized that the cannabinoids of marijuana were chemically similar, thus they might be used therapeutically to shore up deficiencies, deficiencies that caused the body's immune system to over-react.  

It turns out the some cannabinoids tend to balance receptor and resultant bodily function, while others can either dial up or dial down mental and physical activity.  For example, THC increases appetite, while the slightly modified naturally occurring THCV suppresses hunger.  Interestingly, the mixture of THC and THCV tends to normalize eating behavior.

In cardiovascular disease, the worldwide focus is to understand how cannabinoids in marijuana can shore up the body's own short in supply endocannabinoids.  Initially, research focused on the cannabinoid THC, the psychoactive ingredient of fame.  As some of the lesser know marijuana ingredients were studied, it became blatantly obvious that the cannabinoid CBD was highly medicinal as well.  In fact, the consensus opinion among medical cannabis professionals, is that the non-psychoactive CBD is better and more effective in treating pain, inflammation and psychological issues.   

Perhaps the world's most acclaimed medical cannabis researcher and discoverer of THC itself, Dr. Mechoulam, believes that THC with CBD and other cannabinoids and Terpenes afford the best results, pretty much across the board.


THC was found to work on its own to inhibit atherosclerotic plaque; both natural and synthetic forms of THC modulated a receptor named CB2, which is intimately involved in the body's anti-inflammatory mechanism.  It was discovered that that CB2 receptor malfunction was strongly associated with atherosclerosis, restenosis, stroke, myocardial infarction and heart failure. CB2 receptors are found throughout the body and are especially concentrated in the immune, brain and central nervous system.   

Cannabinoid therapy stimulates the CB2 receptor  to control and restore normal cellular response of; immune cells, endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, cardiomyocytes, macrophages/monocytes and leukocytes.

Cannabinoids, Synthetic and Natural, Protect Cardiac Cells

A number of research groups confirmed independently that both synthetic and organic THC modulates the CB1 receptors found in nervous and immune cells,   Experimentally, THC was shown to regulate both blood pressure and the pumping action of the heart.  Further, the body's own endocannabinoids were found to protect cardiac cells and this suggests a line of research, to study how marijuana's cannabinoids could assist in protecting heart tissue after a heart attack.

These fundamental discoveries sparked deeper investigations into how Cannabinoids work in the human body. For example, the production of nitrous oxide was found to be activated by Cannabis   Nitrous oxide itself has anti-anxiety, euphoric, anesthetic properties and is neuroprotective properties.  This discovery provided a theoretical understanding that medical doctors can hang their hat on.

420 EvaluationsOnline: The following studies provide a wealth of information about the cannabis based medicines and cardiovascular disease.  Patients with cardiovascular disease may qualify for a medical doctor's recommendation.  

With a licensed physician's recommendation for medical marijuana, patients can buy, use, possess and transport medical cannabis within the State of California.  Nevada dispensaries, cannabis clubs, cooperatives, delivery services and other licensed suppliers accept 420EvaluationsOnline documents. The California board of Medicine encourages patients to use Telemedicine - online doctor's visits, whenever it conveniently used to provide services equivalent to an in-house doctor or clinic visit.

Apply online here, patients don't pay unless they're approved by a medical doctor for medical marijuana.

Further Reading - Cardiovascular Disease and Medical Cannabis

Protection of Heart Cells with Medical Cannabis

Pharmacology of Cannabinoids in Heart Disease

Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol Mitigates Hypoxia

Cannabinoids,  The Key to Cardiometabolic Disease?

Therapeutic Agents, Cannabinoids in Cardiovascular Disease

Cannabinoids Prevent Heart Failure - Animal Study

Cannabis, Cardiovascular Effects

CB2 Receptors, How The Work - Cardiovascular Disease

Neuroprotective Action of Cannabinoids, Raphael Mechoulam, PhD

Marijuana Chemical Fights Hardened Arteries

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