Cannabis use and heart health in adults with high blood pressure
Official title: Cannabis use and cardiovascular health outcomes among patients with high blood pressure
Funded at Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences · NIH-11360713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A long-term study will follow adults with high blood pressure to see how using cannabis, especially high-THC products, relates to heart health over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (East Lansing, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $582,422 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA057314-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11360713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with early-stage high blood pressure who use or are considering cannabis, in primary care settings in Michigan.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without cannabis exposure or with stable, non-escalating use may see limited direct benefit from these findings.
What this research studies
This project will enroll adults with early-stage high blood pressure from primary care clinics in Michigan and collect detailed surveys, physical exams, and biological samples over about 30 months. The goal is to map how cannabis use patterns change over time and how these patterns relate to cardiovascular risk and underlying biological processes such as inflammation, blood clotting, and artery function. By analyzing trajectories of cannabis use and linking them to heart health, the study aims to identify potential risks that could inform medical guidance for patients with hypertension.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could help patients and clinicians make better-informed decisions about cannabis use and heart risk.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has explored cannabis use and health, but this study uniquely follows real-world trajectories and mechanisms in a hypertensive population.
Where this research is happening
-
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
East Lansing, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alshaarawy, Omayma O — Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Alshaarawy, Omayma O
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Cannabis Use and Heart Health in People with High Blood Pressure
This project wants to learn how using cannabis might affect the heart health of adults who have high blood pressure.
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The effects of cannabis use on heart health in patients with high blood pressure
This study is looking at how using cannabis, especially its main ingredients THC and CBD, might impact heart health in adults who have early-stage high blood pressure, and it's for people who are interested in understanding how their cannabis use could affect their heart.
-
Hemp-derived CBD for reducing cannabis use in high-THC concentrate users
A randomized, placebo-controlled trial tests whether hemp-derived CBD can help adults who mainly use high-potency cannabis concentrates reduce their cannabis use.
-
Understanding how minority stress affects cannabis use in sexual minorities
A research project follows young adult sexual minorities to see how daily stress and coping help explain cannabis use and related problems.
-
Terminal cannabinoid CB1 receptor changes in schizophrenia and cannabis use
This grant studies how cannabis use and schizophrenia together affect a brain receptor (CB1) and what that could mean for memory and symptoms.
-
Cannabis policies and prenatal cannabis use: how laws affect moms and babies
This grant studies how changes in recreational cannabis laws influence cannabis use during pregnancy and health outcomes for mothers and children.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.