New Study: Medical Cannabis Lowers Blood Pressure in Older Adults
Could weed be the new wonder drug for hypertension?
A first-of-its-kind study out of Israel has found that medical cannabis significantly lowers blood pressure in older adults, offering hope for the UK’s rapidly growing population of senior cannabis users.
Conducted by researchers from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and Soroka University Medical Center, the study is the first of its kind to examine how cannabis affects blood pressure, heart rate, and metabolism in adults aged 60 and up who live with hypertension.
Why This Matters
Older adults are the fastest-growing group of medical cannabis users, yet there’s been very little research into how the plant actually affects their cardiovascular system. Until now.
“This study is part of our ongoing effort to provide clinical research on the actual physiological effects of cannabis over time,” said Dr. Ran Abuhasira, a leading researcher from BGU’s Faculty of Health Sciences.
The Findings: Cannabis Calms the Cardiovascular System
After three months of daily cannabis use (either by smoking or ingesting oils) participants saw meaningful reductions in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. On average:
Systolic BP dropped by 5.0 mmHg
Diastolic BP dropped by 4.5 mmHg
These drops were most significant about 3 hours after cannabis administration, and the effect was observed across both daytime and nighttime readings.
Interestingly, the nighttime reductions were even more pronounced. This is a particularly beneficial outcome, since high nighttime blood pressure is a known risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.
The researchers also noted an increase in the number of patients showing a healthy “dipping” blood pressure pattern overnight – from 27% before treatment to 45% after.
“The pain-relieving effects of cannabis may be playing a role here,” the researchers suggest, noting that most participants were prescribed cannabis primarily for chronic pain.
What About the Short-Term Spike?
It’s worth noting that THC can cause a short-term spike in blood pressure and heart rate. In fact, some studies have linked cannabis use to an elevated risk of heart attack in the immediate hours after use, especially in people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions.
But much of this research is based on inhaled cannabis, often consumed alongside tobacco, making it difficult to separate the effects of cannabinoids from those of smoke and other toxins.
Long-term, however, the picture is different. A 2023 study of over 91,000 UK Biobank participants found that lifetime heavy cannabis use was associated with slightly lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in both men and women. While the differences weren’t large enough to recommend cannabis as a formal treatment for hypertension, the trend is consistent.
And the 2021 Israeli study adds weight to that idea, showing significant reductions in 24-hour blood pressure after three months of medically supervised cannabis use in older adults, with no significant metabolic or cardiac side effects observed.
What This Means for UK Patients
While this study was relatively small (just 26 participants), it adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting cannabis is a viable and safe treatment for conditions beyond chronic pain, including cardiovascular issues like high blood pressure.
Here in the UK, over a million people may be using cannabis medicinally, but most do so without the support of a doctor. Studies like this could help shift the conversation and bring much-needed legitimacy to patient-led treatment choices.
At High & Polite, we’ve long argued that prohibition is outdated and counterproductive. This kind of research proves what many patients have known for years: cannabis works. And now the science is catching up.
