Oregon State study links regular cannabis use to higher morning cortisol levels

Researchers at Oregon State University examined the relationship between frequent cannabis consumption and stress response by measuring cortisol in saliva samples. The study involved 39 regular cannabis users and 43 occasional or non‑users, who provided samples immediately after waking, 30 minutes later, and at night over two workdays. Results published in the journal *Cannabis* showed that regular users had a higher baseline cortisol level at wake‑up, while the cortisol rise during the first 30 minutes after waking was similar across both groups. The team suggests that elevated morning cortisol could serve as a neurobiological marker of problematic cannabis use, but they caution that the findings are cross‑sectional and do not prove causality. Further research is needed to clarify the direction of the relationship between cannabis use and stress.

The findings were reported in science news outlets in Croatia and North Macedonia, highlighting growing interest in the health implications of increasing cannabis consumption worldwide.