A Panic-Free Guide To Reading Alarming Cannabis Studies

With so much news and information thrown at us every day, it’s easy to fall into a cycle of worry and anxiety. If you’ve seen some of the recent news about the impacts of cannabis on heart health, you may have found yourself in said cycle. With headlines like “Cannabis is worse for heart health than cocaine,” and “Marijuana Use Might Be Wrecking Your Heart,” it’s no surprise some cannabis users may end up in a worry spiral. 

The heart-health study isn’t the only one that has recently made waves, though. In February, researchers published a large study examining whether people hospitalized with cannabis use disorder (CUD) were at a higher risk of death. The study found that people diagnosed with CUD could have close to three times the risk of death in a five-year period than those without the condition. They also concluded that people treated for CUD in hospital settings were nearly 10 times more likely to die from suicide than the general population. 

These figures are alarming on the surface, but they don’t need to result in fear. Remember that associations aren’t the same as causes, and that the true cause and effects likely have an inverse relationship; the entire picture isn’t presented. Cannabis users should stay aware of the potential risks that come with consumption. 

Here are some tips for reading alarming cannabis studies without panic:

Go to the Source First

Most people lack the training to read and fully understand entire scientific studies, which is why they end up reading news reports that break down the main points. While helpful, these articles can sometimes spread more fear than knowledge. 

Before reading any news articles that break down a study, check out where it was originally published, which should be a scientific journal. You don’t have to read any of the content, but you can check to see what type of study it is. 

What Type of Study?

First, determine whether researchers conducted the study on humans or animals. Human studies generally carry more weight than animal studies, as they apply directly to the population. 

If researchers categorize the study as a meta-analysis, it means they analyzed a large pool of data from existing studies. If it’s a systematic review, that means that researchers reviewed and analyzed randomized controlled trials. These types of studies analyze existing research and data to look for patterns or answer a specific question. 

Observational studies collect data on participants over periods of time without actively manipulating or influencing their subjects. However, this also means we can’t determine cause and effect. In contrast, randomized controlled trials involve giving two groups of subjects a treatment or placebo and observing the direct effects. 

You don’t have to memorize all the types of studies (there are many), but it can be helpful to look at the nature of the study before you dive into the details. 

Who Conducted the Study?

The researchers on a given study should be listed at the top of the page. You can typically click on each author and see what types of studies they work on. This can help give you an idea of their research focus and paint a clearer picture of the study itself. 

Now, check for conflicts of interest. These should be disclosed near the bottom of the study. Researchers must identify conflicts of interest that could impact their research, such as the potential for financial gain or career advancement. 

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Who Funded the Study?

Research studies should always disclose all the financial backing received. Look for the funding or support section of the study to see which individuals or organizations supported the research. Ideally, the financial backing should not impact the study at all, but it’s important that researchers be transparent about their funding sources to maintain credibility. 

Inspiring Critical Thinking, Not Mistrust

We don’t suggest all of the above actions to sow mistrust about scientific studies. Rather, we want to encourage readers to critically evaluate the literature and feel empowered by the knowledge, not scared. 

A well-documented example that highlights this need was the MACH15 study, which aimed to identify the long-term effects of moderate alcohol use. The study, which was largely funded by alcohol industry groups, was terminated due to ethical concerns. 

Ask Key Questions

Even if you are just reading a news article about a lengthy study, you should be able to break down some of the information through key questions. If you struggle to find answers to these questions, consider changing sources or heading directly to the study. 

• How big was the study?

• • The larger the subject pool, the better. Large sample sizes tend to reflect the general population more accurately and can help to provide more reliable results. Small sample sizes can still offer good information and are  especially useful for rare diseases, but these studies likely need to be replicated with a subject pool.

• How does the study identify cannabis use?

• • • Researchers may have different opinions on what is considered light, moderate, or heavy cannabis use. It’s crucial to look into their definition of each category to get a clearer picture of what they studied. 
    • Using a recent study titled “Brain Function Outcomes of Recent and Lifetime Cannabis Use” as an example, we see that researchers found that cannabis users showed reduced brain activity during working memory tasks. Researchers grouped people into the “heavy lifetime cannabis users” pool if they had greater than 1,000 uses over their lifetime. Heavy users had to self-report their use, which opens the door to potential inaccuracies.
    • Another frequently missed opportunity to explore health outcomes and differences between cannabis smoking and other means of taking cannabis is the route of administration. Smoked cannabis can produce a lot of secondary byproducts similar to tobacco smoke, which can alter study results. 

• Does the study control for other factors?

• • • Have researchers ruled out other contributing factors, such as additional substance use? If a heavy cannabis user also consumes tobacco and alcohol regularly, their results may be skewed.
    • Severity of disease is also an important factor. Patients with more severe disease (e.g., chronic pain, depression, etc.) are more likely to reach for cannabis products anyway. Therefore, judging the end outcomes based solely on whether they used cannabis or not may create a false impression of cause and effect. If the outcomes are more likely to be more severe anyway, cannabis use as a coping mechanism may be inversely portrayed as a cause instead. 
    • Other lifestyle factors could play a role, too. Do the subjects exercise regularly? What kind of diet do they eat? All of these factors play a role in overall health and can skew the results of a study if not accounted for. 

• Is this a singular study or part of a larger body of research?

• • If a study emerges as the first of its kind, it’s important to recognize all the possible limitations and wait for more evidence. But if multiple studies emerge with similar results, there’s probably a reason for the trend. 

READ: These Top 5 Books About Cannabis Are Totally Worth the Read

Take a Deep Breath 

We love to see more cannabis research emerge. The more literature and data we have, the better we can understand the plant and its impacts on a large scale. 

While some studies emerge that make us feel validated in our cannabis use (such as research that shows cannabis can help combat insomnia) other studies can be downright scary. If you find yourself reading scary headlines and spiraling, take a deep breath and try to zoom out to see the larger picture. 

Remember that factors like illness severity, route, lifestyle, and genetics play a large role in health, too. When it comes to cannabis use, we encourage everyone to make informed choices. Nothing in life is without risk. But the more data and information we have, the more equipped we are to make meaningful decisions for our health.