Frequent cannabis users may start each day with higher cortisol levels than non‑users, according to a new study from Oregon State University, suggesting a possible link between regular marijuana consumption and the body’s stress‑hormone rhythm.
Study details and key findings
The research, published in the journal Cannabis, examined the cortisol awakening response (CAR) of participants who reported using cannabis often. Lead investigator Anita Cservenka of the OSU College of Liberal Arts explained that CAR reflects the rise in cortisol that typically peaks about 30 minutes after waking.
Participants provided saliva samples immediately upon waking and again half an hour later. The difference between the two readings constituted the CAR metric. While the magnitude of the rise was similar for users and non‑users, the baseline cortisol level at waking was consistently higher in the frequent‑use group.
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“CAR is the cortisol rise that all people experience in the morning, peaking around 30 minutes after they wake up,” she said. “The important difference appeared at the starting point.”
These raised waking levels did not translate into a larger overall CAR, meaning the morning surge itself was not amplified. Instead, the study highlighted a shift in the starting point of the hormonal cycle.
Context of rising cannabis consumption
Use of marijuana has climbed sharply among U.S. adults aged 19‑30. Recent surveys indicate that 29 % of people in this age bracket used cannabis in the past month, a figure that has nearly doubled over the last 15 years. Moreover, more than 10 % reported using the drug at least 20 times within a 30‑day span, a proportion also more than twice what it was a decade and a half ago.
Stress is frequently cited as a reason for cannabis use, and the hormone cortisol is often labeled the “stress hormone” because it spikes in response to pressure. While short‑term cortisol spikes help the body manage immediate challenges, persistently high levels have been linked to anxiety, depression, and cardiovascular problems.
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Given that cannabis can provide temporary stress relief, researchers warn that habitual use might interfere with the biological systems that normally regulate cortisol. The OSU team cautioned that their findings do not prove causation—higher morning cortisol could precede frequent use, or chronic use could raise cortisol, or both could be driven by a third factor.
Implications and next steps
Cservenka emphasized that the study offers a starting point rather than a definitive answer. “We would need to study the same groups of people over a longer period of time to understand any cause‑and‑effect relationship,” she said.
Earlier work had reported a blunted CAR in frequent cannabis users, a result they did not replicate. Variations in sample characteristics and analytical methods could explain the discrepancy, reflecting the complexity of the cannabis‑cortisol relationship.
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