Frequent cannabis use linked to higher morning cortisol levels
Researchers at Oregon State University found that people who use cannabis daily wake up with elevated cortisol, the body’s stress hormone.
Scientists from Oregon State University examined salivary cortisol in adults who use cannabis frequently and compared them with non-users. Published in Cannabis, the research showed that the cortisol awakening response itself was unchanged, but frequent users already had more cortisol circulating at the moment of waking. Lead researcher Anita Cservenka noted that this pattern could indicate a disturbance in the body’s daily stress regulation, potentially creating a feedback loop that encourages further use.
The study did not prove that cannabis causes higher cortisol or that elevated cortisol drives use, and the authors call for longitudinal studies. Cannabis use among U.S. young adults has nearly doubled in the past 15 years, making the findings especially relevant. Funding came from Oregon State University’s Center for the Humanities and College of Liberal Arts.
Why it matters
The findings raise concerns that daily cannabis use might interfere with the body’s natural stress management system.
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