Frequent cannabis users often start their day with unusually high levels of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone, according to recent scientific research that points to potential disruptions in daily biological stress rhythms. Published in the journal Cannabis, the study conducted by Oregon State University investigators examines how chronic cannabis use interacts with the neuroendocrine systems that regulate how the human body responds to pressure and daily demands.
While adults turn to cannabis seeking short-term relief from stress, scientists warn that chronic use may gradually interfere with the very biological pathways designed to help people manage tension. The research highlights a distinct physiological difference in morning hormone patterns among regular consumers, raising new questions about the long-term impact of frequent cannabis intake on human health and neurobiology.
The study specifically centers on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, which serves as the body’s main neuroendocrine system for handling stress. Led by Anita Cservenka of the Oregon State University College of Liberal Arts, alongside colleagues Julia Donner and Alexia Obrochta, the project investigated a specific physiological marker known as the cortisol awakening response, or CAR. According to the researchers, CAR represents the natural surge in cortisol that individuals experience every morning, typically peaking roughly 30 minutes after waking up.
To calculate CAR, investigators measure an individual’s cortisol levels immediately upon waking and again a half-hour later, subtracting the initial measurement from the second to determine how effectively the body prepares for anticipated daily stressors. While both cannabis users and nonusers demonstrated similar upward trajectories in cortisol levels following waking, a significant divergence appeared at the starting line. Frequent cannabis users consistently woke up with elevated baseline levels of cortisol already circulating through their systems compared to nonusers.
According to [scitechdaily.com](https://scitechdaily.com/frequent-cannabis-users-wake-up-with-more-stress-hormone/), the findings suggest that morning cortisol measurements could potentially act as a neurobiological marker for problematic cannabis use, though researchers emphasize that further investigation is required. Previous scientific literature examining the cortisol awakening response in regular cannabis consumers yielded mixed results, with some prior projects identifying a blunted CAR response. Because the Oregon State University team observed elevated waking baselines rather than a blunted overall awakening curve, researchers note that subtle variations in analytic methods, sample populations, and user consumption patterns introduce substantial nuance into how the body reacts.
Public Health Context and Rising Consumption Trends
The investigation arrives at a time of rising consumption rates across the United States. Data highlighted by [news.oregonstate.edu](https://news.oregonstate.edu/news/frequent-cannabis-users-wake-more-‘stress-hormone’-their-system) indicate that approximately 29 percent of young adults aged 19 to 30 reported using cannabis within the preceding 30 days. This figure represents nearly double the proportion recorded over a 15-year retrospective window. Furthermore, more than 10 percent of adults within that specific age bracket reported using cannabis on 20 or more days out of a 30-day period, marking a more than twofold increase compared to rates documented a decade and a half prior.
Cortisol itself plays an essential role in human physiology beyond simply reacting to pressure. Produced by the adrenal glands, the chemical messenger assists the body in fighting infections, maintaining steady blood pressure, and regulating metabolic functions and blood sugar levels. Although temporary spikes in cortisol help humans navigate acute challenges, prolonged or chronic elevation can inflict cumulative damage on health, correlating with heightened risks of developing anxiety, clinical depression, and cardiovascular disease.
Understanding Cause and Effect in Stress Rhythms
Despite the notable association between frequent cannabis consumption and elevated morning cortisol, researchers caution against drawing premature conclusions regarding direct causality. Cservenka emphasized in published statements that the study design cannot definitively prove whether chronic cannabis use directly causes higher morning cortisol levels, or alternatively, whether individuals who naturally possess higher morning cortisol are inherently more inclined to use cannabis frequently.
Establishing a definitive cause-and-effect relationship will require longitudinal studies tracking identical cohorts of participants over extended periods. Nevertheless, investigators maintain that the current findings provide a vital empirical baseline. The data reinforce the hypothesis that regular cannabis consumers may experience impairments in their natural daily stress rhythms. In turn, a dysregulated biological stress system could potentially feed into a reinforcing cycle, driving individuals toward further cannabis consumption to cope with persistent physiological discomfort.
Funding for the research was provided by Oregon State University, alongside the OSU Center for the Humanities and the OSU College of Liberal Arts.
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