A new study has recently started to investigate the differences between stroke and marijuana users and non-users. They found that ischemic strokes in young adults who use marijuana are usually caused by stenosis or the narrowing of the arteries in the skull. For those who aren't marijuana users, their strokes are caused by other predisposing factors.

Ischemic stroke is caused by a blockage that reduces or decrease blood flow to the brain, as compared to hemorrhagic stroke, which can happen when a blood vessel in the brain leaks or ruptures.  The two most common causes of ischemic stroke are intracranial arterial stenosi, where  plaque builds up and narrows the arteries inside the skull  and cardioembolism  where a blood clot forms in the body and moves to the brain.

 The researchers from the University Hospital of Strasbourg in France, led by Dr. Valerie Wolff, PhD, checked all patients under age 45 admitted with ischemic stroke from 2005-2014, and found that among 334 patients, 58 of whom were marijuana users.

Marijuana is the number one, most commonly used illegal drug in the US. It contains dried leaves, flowers, stems and seeds from the hemp plant, Cannabis sativa. These consist of the mind-altering chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and other related compounds. The widespread use among young people is growing believing that it is not dangerous

So far there are four US states and DC where it is legal to use marijuana for recreation, and 19 other states are legalizing marijuana in some form. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) state that it is especially important for people to understand what the substance is, the adverse health effects and the potential therapeutic benefits linked to it.  As a medication, clinical trials are currently taking place to investigate the use of cannabinoids to treat conditions such as multiple sclerosis.