Researchers suspect marijuana linked to increased stroke risk

Regular marijuana users may want to think twice before taking another puff: a new study by researchers at the University of Auckland found that an unusually high number of stroke patients smoke the stuff.

Drug test results showed that 16 percent in the test group had marijuana in their system shortly after suffering a stroke, versus eight percent in the control group. Researchers found that middle-aged stroke patients were about 2.3 times more likely to have used marijuana before falling ill, but they were careful to note that the study did not directly link marijuana use to stroke.

Researchers lamented that they were not able to eliminate tobacco users from the test group of about 160 stroke patients, and noted that most of the patients who tested positive for marijuana also smoked cigarettes, which can double one’s risk for stroke, according to the National Stroke Association.

In other words, about one in six stroke patients smoked marijuana — roughly the same number of marijuana smokers in the general population, according to The National Institute on Drug Abuse.

more here: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/02/06/researchers-suspect-marijuana-linked-to-increased-stroke-risk/