Award
National Institute on Drug Abuse 5R01DA057314-04
Cannabis use and cardiovascular health outcomes among patients with high blood pressure
Recipient
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
Award Amount
$582,422.00
Ceiling
$582,422.00
Awarded
June 19, 2026
Identifier
5R01DA057314-04
A research project funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse to study how cannabis use affects cardiovascular health in adults with early-stage high blood pressure in Michigan, analyzing various cannabis use patterns and their health impacts over 30 months.
Description
This project aims to study the association between cannabis use trajectories and cardiovascular health among adults with early-stage high blood pressure (hypertension). The study will recruit patients from primary care clinics in Michigan, where cannabis is legal for adult consumption, and will analyze data from questionnaires, physical exams, and biospecimen collections over 30 months. The research hypothesizes that persistent or escalating high THC cannabis smoking trajectories will predict worsened cardiovascular risk status compared to other use trajectories or non-use. The study will assess cannabis potency, route of administration, and their effects on systemic inflammation, platelet aggregation, and arterial vasospasm. The project is timely given recent cannabis policy changes in Michigan and aims to inform medical cannabis recommendations and public health strategies.