Marijuana Users Less Likely to Develop Metabolic Syndrome

People who use marijuana are less likely to develop metabolic syndrome, according to a new University of Miami study.

Metabolic syndrome is a precursor condition to diabetes that includes a cluster of symptoms: high blood sugar, elevated blood pressure and excess abdominal fat, to name a few.

The study found that marijuana users are about 50 percent less likely to develop the condition than people who have never used cannabis.

Better blood sugar?

Some research also suggests that marijuana users in general have better blood sugar than non-users.

"These findings have important implications for the nation as marijuana use becomes more accepted and we simultaneously face multiple epidemics of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes," the authors wrote.

The current study found that people with no history of cannabis use had the highest rate of metabolic syndrome, at 19.5 percent, while past users came in at 17.5 percent and current marijuana users clocked in at 13.5 percent.

The authors concluded that "future studies should examine the biological pathways of this relationship.”

Source: Daily Caller