Frequent Cannabis Users Have Higher Morning Cortisol: What This Means for Stress Health

Corvallis, Oregon, MMN Correspondent: For millions of Americans who use cannabis regularly, the morning routine is familiar: a cup of coffee, a glance at the inbox, a few quiet moments before the day begins. What many don't realize is that their bodies might be waking up in a state of heightened stress readiness. New research from Oregon State University suggests that frequent cannabis users have noticeably higher cortisol levels the moment they open their eyes, and that observation could offer a valuable clue about how the plant interacts with the body's stress response system.

Cortisol is often called the stress hormone, but it does far more than sound an alarm. Produced by the adrenal glands on top of the kidneys, cortisol helps keep blood pressure stable, blood sugar in balance, metabolism running, and the immune system ready to respond. During a challenging moment, a quick cortisol rise gives the body a useful boost. Over time, though, consistently high cortisol can take a toll on mental and physical well-being. That's why the new study is drawing attention.

The Oregon State team, led by Anita Cservenka, focused on the cortisol awakening response, or CAR. This is the natural surge of cortisol that happens in the first 30 minutes after waking. It's part of the body's way of preparing for the demands ahead. To measure it, researchers collect saliva immediately upon waking and then again half an hour later. The difference shows how strong that morning response is.

When Cservenka and colleagues Julia Donner and Alexia Obrochta compared frequent cannabis users with non-users, the size of that awakening surge was similar in both groups. The surprise came in the starting point. Frequent users had significantly higher cortisol at the very moment of waking, before any natural rise kicked in. In other words, their stress system was already operating from a higher baseline.

That opens an intriguing question. Could morning cortisol levels act as a biological indicator of problematic cannabis use? Cservenka thinks it's worth exploring. "Our research suggests cortisol levels upon awakening may serve as a neurobiological marker of problematic cannabis use, and that connection needs to be investigated further," she said.

The study adds important context to the larger picture of how cannabis affects the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, or HPA axis. This is the complex network involving signals from the brain to the pituitary gland and then to the adrenal glands, ultimately leading to cortisol release. It's one of the body's key systems for managing stress, and the findings suggest frequent cannabis use may influence how it operates.

The timing makes sense. In the United States, cannabis use among young adults has climbed steeply. Recent data show 29% of adults aged 19 to 30 used cannabis in the past 30 days, nearly double the rate from 15 years ago. More than 10% of that age group use it at least 20 times a month, a number that has more than doubled over the same period. With legal access expanding, researchers are eager to understand the long-term health effects.

Stress remains one of the most common reasons people use cannabis. Many reach for it to unwind or quiet anxious thoughts. But the new research suggests that frequent use might work against that goal by affecting the very systems that help the body cope with pressure. If the HPA axis becomes less balanced over time, someone could find themselves needing more cannabis to achieve the same sense of calm, a cycle worth paying attention to.

Interestingly, this study didn't replicate findings from earlier work that showed a blunted cortisol awakening response in frequent users. Cservenka points to differences in how samples were collected, how frequent use was defined, and the makeup of participant groups. Those variables can shift results, and they highlight just how complex it is to study cannabis and stress together.

What remains clear is that frequent cannabis users show differences in cortisol dynamics. Whether those differences come before the cannabis use or develop as a result of it is still an open question. Some individuals might have naturally higher morning cortisol and turn to cannabis to self-medicate. Or cannabis could directly alter HPA activity over time. Longitudinal research that follows the same people for years will be needed to untangle cause and effect.

This work also carries practical meaning for healthcare providers. Asking patients about cannabis use could become more relevant when evaluating stress-related concerns. For people who use cannabis often, it offers a chance to reflect on how the substance might be affecting their body in unexpected ways. Public health guidelines and clinical practice will benefit from more studies like this one.

The Oregon State team is careful to note that their findings are preliminary. The study doesn't prove cannabis causes elevated morning cortisol, and it doesn't show that high cortisol leads to more cannabis use. It does provide a solid foundation for future research. As Cservenka puts it, "We would need to study the same groups of people over a longer period of time to understand any cause-and-effect relationship, but we think this provides an important starting point."

The research received support from Oregon State University, the OSU Center for the Humanities, and the OSU College of Liberal Arts. As more young adults incorporate cannabis into their lives, understanding its effect on the stress system becomes increasingly important. It could help identify people who may be at risk for problematic use and point toward better ways to support them.

For now, the takeaway is simple. Cannabis offers more than a moment of relaxation. It has a real impact on the body's fundamental stress machinery, and those effects are only beginning to be understood. The more researchers learn about that connection, the better equipped everyone will be to make informed choices about cannabis and stress.