Regular cannabis users wake up with higher levels of the stress hormone cortisol in their system compared to nonusers, according to research from Oregon State University published in the journal Cannabis. While many individuals turn to the drug for short-term stress relief, the study indicates that chronic use may disrupt the body’s daily stress rhythms over time, potentially pulling individuals into a cycle of increased use.
Morning Cortisol Levels and the Stress Awakening Response
The study centers on the cortisol awakening response, known as CAR, which is the natural spike in cortisol that all people experience during the morning hours, typically peaking about 30 minutes after waking. According to study leader Anita Cservenka of the OSU College of Liberal Arts, researchers calculate CAR by measuring a person’s cortisol immediately after waking and again 30 minutes later, then subtracting the first number from the second. The resulting difference serves as an indicator of the body’s ability to prepare for daily stressors.
While the size of the morning cortisol increase remained similar between cannabis users and nonusers, the baseline starting point differed. Frequent users began their day with more cortisol already circulating through their bodies. Cservenka noted that these elevated awakening levels could act as a neurobiological marker for problematic cannabis use, though further investigation is required.
Pro Tip: Researchers emphasize that longitudinal studies tracking the same groups over extended periods are necessary to determine exact cause-and-effect relationships between frequent cannabis use and morning cortisol spikes.
Rising Cannabis Consumption Among Young Adults
These biological findings emerge as cannabis use climbs sharply across the United States, particularly among young adults. Data highlighted by the research team show that nearly three in 10 adults aged 19 to 30, or 29 percent, reported using cannabis within the previous 30 days. That figure has nearly doubled over the past 15 years.
Furthermore, more than 10 percent of adults in that demographic reported using the drug 20 or more times in a 30-day period. That heavy-use metric represents more than double the percentage recorded 15 years prior, intensifying the urgency to understand the long-term physiological impacts on the body’s major systems.
How Cortisol Governs the Body Under Pressure
Produced by the adrenal glands, cortisol acts as a vital chemical messenger that helps individuals manage immediate pressure. Beyond its role as a stress response mechanism, cortisol assists in fighting infections, maintaining blood pressure, and regulating blood sugar and metabolism. Cservenka explained that short-term cortisol surges are beneficial, but prolonged periods of high hormone levels can lead to adverse health outcomes, including elevated risks of anxiety, depression, and heart disease.
The research team—including OSU colleagues Julia Donner and Alexia Obrochta—focused on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, the primary neuroendocrine system governing stress responses. Earlier studies by other researchers found CAR to be blunted in frequent cannabis users, but the OSU team did not replicate that specific result, pointing to potential nuances related to sample characteristics and analytical strategies.
Did You Know? The cortisol awakening response is calculated by measuring cortisol immediately after a person wakes and then measuring it again 30 minutes later, with the first measurement subtracted from the second.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use cause higher morning cortisol levels?
The research does not prove a direct cause-and-effect relationship. While frequent users wake up with higher cortisol, scientists note that longer-term tracking of the same individuals is needed to determine whether cannabis elevates cortisol or if people with higher cortisol use cannabis more frequently.
What is the cortisol awakening response (CAR)?
CAR is the natural surge of the stress hormone cortisol that occurs every morning in humans, usually reaching its peak roughly 30 minutes after a person wakes up.
How common is frequent cannabis use among young adults?
According to data cited in the study, more than 10 percent of adults aged 19 to 30 report using cannabis 20 or more times over a 30-day period, a figure that has more than doubled over the last 15 years.
What are the long-term health risks of chronically high cortisol?
Persistently elevated cortisol levels are associated with increased risks of developing anxiety, depression, and heart disease over time.
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