Does Cannabis Use Affect the Bladder?

As cannabis use becomes more common, understanding its long-term effects is increasingly important. One area of interest is urinary health, because the lower urinary tract is rich in cannabinoid receptors. But studies linking cannabis use to lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) have been mixed (Figure 1).

Using nationwide claims data, researchers identified 170,000 adults 18 to 34 years of age with a diagnosis of cannabis use disorder (60% men) and compared them with an equal number of young adults without cannabis use disorder. The two groups were propensity-score matched based on both clinical and demographic characteristics. LUTS were measured as both a composite outcome and as specific diagnoses (e.g., overactive bladder, urinary t…