Cannabis smokers are far more likely to develop the early stages of diabetes, according to new research.
People who smoke marijuana were found to be 65 per cent more likely to have abnormally high blood sugar, which is a precursor for type 2 diabetes, a study found.
Scientists analysed more than 3,000 Americans and discovered that people who have smoked the drug more than 100 times in their life had an almost 50 per cent greater chance of developing prediabetes.
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Cannabis smokers are far more likely to develop the early stages of diabetes, according to new research (file picture)
Prediabetes sees sufferers' blood sugar levels rocket to abnormally high levels, but lower than the threshold for diagnosing full-blown diabetes.
Doctors believe as many as one in 10 people with prediabetes develop the full disease.
The study, published in the Diabetologia journal, said likelihood of cannabis smokers becoming prediabetic was not affected by people's weight or size, the Independent reported.
The research was carried out by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
One of the authors of the paper, Mike Bancks, said: 'Marijuana use, by status or lifetime frequency, was not associated with incidence or presence of diabetes after adjustment for potential confounding factors.
'However, marijuana use was associated with the development and prevalence of prediabetes after adjustment. Specifically, occurrence of prediabetes in middle adulthood was significantly elevated for individuals who reported using marijuana in excess of 100 times by young adulthood.
'These results contrast with those previously reported on marijuana use and metabolic health. Future studies should look to objectively measure mode and quantity of marijuana use in relation to prospective metabolic health.'
People who smoke marijuana were found to be 65 per cent more likely to have abnormally high blood sugar, which is a precursor for type 2 diabetes, a study found (file picture)
The report did not find a direct link between full-blown diabetes and smoking marijuana.
The research flies in the face of previous studies which had shown cannabis could actually reduce the risk of developing diabetes.
A 2013 study published in The American Journal of Medicine found pot users had significantly lower levels of the hormone insulin - indicating better blood sugar control.
Marijuana is commonly used by patients suffering with cancer, multiple sclerosis and other painful conditions.
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