Cannabis Lowers Blood Pressure in Older Adults, Study Finds

A study by researchers at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev (BGU) in the European Journal of Internal Medicine suggests medical cannabis might have beneficial effects on blood pressure (BP) for older adults, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution . The researchers considered subjects 60 and older with hypertension, who were prescribed cannabis and monitored with 24-hour ambulatory BP devices. A significant lowering of 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP values was observed, with the lowest point occurring three hours after oral cannabis ingestion or smoking. Patients exhibited reductions in BP in both daytime and nighttime, with more significant changes during the night. The researchers think the lower BP may be because cannabis eases any pain symptoms they had. "This study is part of our ongoing effort to provide clinical research on the actual physiological effects of cannabis over time," said BGU's Ran Abuhasira.