People who frequently use cannabis may start each day with higher levels of cortisol than non-users, according to new research from Oregon State University. The study was published in the journal Cannabis.
Cortisol is often called the stress hormone because the body releases it in response to pressure. It plays several roles beyond stress, including helping the body fight infection, maintain blood pressure, and regulate blood sugar and metabolism. When cortisol stays elevated for long periods, researchers say it can lead to negative health effects.
The study was led by Anita Cservenka of the OSU College of Liberal Arts. It is among a relatively small number of studies to examine how frequent cannabis use relates to the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis, the major neuroendocrine system that coordinates the body's response to stress. Stress is one of the most commonly reported reasons people use cannabis, and it is also associated with problematic patterns of use.
The researchers note that while cannabis can provide temporary relief from stress, frequent use over time could potentially interfere with the biological systems that regulate the stress response. The findings do not establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Cservenka says it is not clear from this study whether frequent cannabis use causes higher morning cortisol levels, or whether people with elevated cortisol are more likely to use cannabis frequently.
"We would need to study the same groups of people over a longer period of time to understand any cause-and-effect relationship, but we think this provides an important starting point," she said.
The study comes as cannabis use among young adults in the United States has risen sharply. Twenty-nine percent of adults ages 19 to 30 report using cannabis in the previous 30 days, a rate that has nearly doubled over the past 15 years. More than 10 percent of that age group report using cannabis at least 20 times within a single 30-day period, which is more than twice the rate from 15 years ago.
Researchers say future studies would need to follow the same individuals over time to determine whether there is a direct relationship between cannabis use and changes in the body's daily cortisol rhythm.
