Is it ok to smoke cannabis or use cannabis products before surgery? Not all doctors and medical professionals have come to a consensus. But why? And what should you believe? Should you take certain precautions? We’ll discuss this and more in this article.
Using Cannabis Before Surgery
According to Harvard Health Publishing, the increasing prevalence and legalization of cannabis has given many patients the assumption that they need not discuss their use with their physicians. However, this is not the case. While many of us see cannabis as a “medicine” (as it has been approved for medical use), this doesn’t mean consumption won’t have consequences on surgery day.
After all, whether or not you partake for medicinal purposes, any medicine is, by definition, also a drug. And using drugs of any type have consequences. After all, that’s why we use them. However, negative responses can happen. This is especially true when you begin mixing them with other substances.
Think about it. An Ibuprofen is a pretty basic over-the-counter drug for pain treatment. No big deal right? Well, combine it with another NSAID and you can experience gastrointestinal bleeding. Combine the herb St. John’s Wort with some cough medicines and you could suddenly experience feelings of confusion, trouble controlling your muscles, and in rare cases, even death!
We Still Don’t Know Enough
If you ask one doctor, his or her opinion on using cannabis before surgery may vary wildly. Some may have medical evidence to site. Others may have preconceived notions or prejudices against the plant. Misconceptions or poor education may play into their views and opinions about using cannabis before surgery.
On the other hand, when anesthesia is involved, play it safe! The ways in which you ingest cannabis, the frequency, and how much you consume can all affect how your body responds to anesthesia. Cannabis and anesthesia both affect the central nervous system, people who use marijuana regularly may need different amounts of anesthesia medicines. In order to know which medicines and how much to use, your doctor needs to know ahead of time how much and how often you use marijuana.
According to Harvard Medical School, regular users of cannabis frequently need “larger doses of anesthesia in order to achieve the same degree of sedation.” Therefore, a failure to communicate with your anesthesiologist may result in improper dosing. Additionally, the higher the dose of anesthesia the greater the risk of complications during your procedure. These may include a decrease in blood pressure, delayed awakening from surgery, etc. Smoking cannabis may increase the risks further. Again, talk to your doc!
Honesty is the Best Policy
Don’t be afraid to disclose your cannabis use to your physician. Be honest with your doctor. While you may not agree with his or her views on cannabis, it’s better to be safe than sorry. When the time comes, talk to your surgical team. Honesty is the best policy. However, should you partake against orders, your surgery could be delayed or canceled. So keep that in mind.
Preferably, have this talk before your surgery date. Some doctors may not take issue with cannabis or CBD use. Others may. Either way, make sure to mention any cannabis use to your anesthesiologist. After all, just because cannabis is legal in the state of Nevada, it doesn’t mean its effects won’t have some effect on anesthetic drugs. Don’t risk it! Just be upfront. This is your life we’re talking about.
In the end, it’s up to you to make the final call. So do your research. However, don’t give yourself too much credit and think you know it all. Make sure to talk to your doc. Get your surgeon’s opinion about using cannabis before surgery. You may learn a thing or two and you may
About OMG THC
We’re homegrown in Las Vegas, Nevada. We embrace niches others in the Cannabis market ignore or reject. Vegan? Diabetic? Old-school hash connoisseur? Looking for a specific ratio of CBD and THC in your products? You got it! We’ve got you covered!
Additionally, we care about quality and the effects our products have on people’s lives & health. OMG THC use only CO2 and ethanol extraction methods. We NEVER use butane or other petrochemicals to extract our oils. We want our products to be easy on the body and safe for our team to make.
Our products are simple and they are great. From the cannabis oils, we use to the packaging and the varieties of our products. Finally, and best of all, our edibles are damn delicious! In other words, if we wouldn’t want to eat them, we aren’t going to sell them to anyone else.
For Adult Use Only
OMG THC products are intended for use by and available to adults 21+ and over. Keep our products out of reach of children and pets. Be smart. Be Vigilant. Finally, enjoy our products responsibly and keep everyone safe.
As always, feel free to Contact OMG THC with any questions or comments you might have. We’re here for you and we’re responsive to your needs. If you’d like to locate OMG THC products, check out our dispensaries list. You can also find out more about OMG THC on Leafly.
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