Marijuana and myocardial infarction

Marijuana precipitates acute myocardial infarction through multiple converging mechanisms: increased myocardial oxygen demand via sympathetic activation, impaired oxygen delivery through carboxyhemoglobin elevation, coronary vasospasm, endothelial dysfunction, and a prothrombotic state characterized by enhanced platelet activation. Genetic variability can worsen susceptibility, Sam Houston State University et al warned.