Does cannabis use increase the risk of death? Systematic review of epidemiological evidence on adverse effects of cannabis use
Abstract
Issues. To conduct a comprehensive search of the peer‐reviewed literature to assess risk of cannabis‐related mortality. Approach. Systematic peer‐reviewed literature searches were conducted in Medline, EMBASE and PsycINFO to identify data on mortality associated with cannabis use. Search strings for cannabis and mortality were used. Searches were limited to human subjects and the publication timeframe of January 1990 to January 2008. Reference lists of review articles and of specific studies deemed important by colleagues were searched to identify additional studies. A list of the selected articles was emailed to experts in the field asking for comment on completeness. Key Findings. There is insufficient evidence, particularly because of the low number of studies, to assess whether the all‐cause mortality rate is elevated among cannabis users in the general population. Case–control studies suggest that some adverse health outcomes may be elevated among heavy cannabis users, namely, fatal motor vehicle accidents, and possibly respiratory and brain cancers. The evidence is as yet unclear as to whether regular cannabis use increases the risk of suicide. Conclusions. There is a need for long‐term cohort studies that follow cannabis using individuals into old age, when the likelihood of any detrimental effects of cannabis use are more likely to emerge among those who persist in using cannabis into middle age and older. Case–control studies of cannabis use and various causes of mortality are also needed.[Calabria B, Degenhardt L, Hall W, Lynskey M. Does cannabis use increase the risk of death? Systematic review of epidemiological evidence on adverse effects of cannabis use. Drug Alcohol Rev 2010]
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Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
There is a possible link between cannabis use at high doses and suicide.
“Risk of death due to cannabis toxicity is very low, but there is a link between cannabis use at high doses and lethal motor vehicle collisions, cardiac pathophysiology and possibly suicide [17, 77, 78].”
From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [78]
There is a link between cannabis use at high doses and cardiac pathophysiology.
“Risk of death due to cannabis toxicity is very low, but there is a link between cannabis use at high doses and lethal motor vehicle collisions, cardiac pathophysiology and possibly suicide [17, 77, 78].”
From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [78]
Risk of death due to cannabis toxicity is very low.
“Risk of death due to cannabis toxicity is very low, but there is a link between cannabis use at high doses and lethal motor vehicle collisions, cardiac pathophysiology and possibly suicide [17, 77, 78].”
From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [78]
It is unclear whether mortality is related to cannabis use, predisposing factors or combinations thereof.
“It is unclear whether mortality is related to cannabis use, predisposing factors or combinations thereof.”
From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [78]
There is a link between cannabis use at high doses and lethal motor vehicle collisions.
“Risk of death due to cannabis toxicity is very low, but there is a link between cannabis use at high doses and lethal motor vehicle collisions, cardiac pathophysiology and possibly suicide [17, 77, 78].”
From Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits (2025) · cites this paper as [78]
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Cannabis, cannabinoids and health: a review of evidence on risks and medical benefits
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- Authors
- CALABRIA, B., DEGENHARDT, L., HALL, W., & LYNSKEY, M.
- Affiliations
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- The University of Queensland (AU)
- Washington University in St. Louis (US)
- Corresponding author
- CALABRIA, BIANCA
- Venue
- Drug and Alcohol Review
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2010-05
- Volume
- 29
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 318-330
- ISSN
- 0959-5236 (ISSN-L)
- 1465-3362
- OpenAlex
- W2167157066
- Cited by
- 185
- References
- 5
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 14 · 2023: 25 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 16 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 13 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 12 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 8 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Drug and Alcohol Review (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Portal (King's College London) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pharmacology › Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Substance Abuse Treatment and Outcomes
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Smoking Behavior and Cessation
- Keywords
- cannabis use, all-cause mortality, fatal crashes, respiratory cancer, brain cancer, suicide risk, heavy cannabis users, longitudinal cohort, adverse health effects
- MeSH terms
- Accidents, Traffic, Marijuana Abuse, Cause of Death, Humans, Neoplasms, Risk, Suicide, Epidemiologic Studies
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