In recent years, cannabis has made a massive resurgence as an accepted medical treatment for a number of ailments. But very little is still known about how cannabis can be used as a treatment for those who have recently undergone surgery. If you’re about to undergo a procedure and you have questions about how your cannabis use will affect you pre and post-op we recommend you ask your doctor, but we’ve also included a few helpful tips to get you started.

In short–and for obvious reasons–there have been very few studies conducted that can say anything conclusive about cannabis and surgery. Most doctors are not even properly trained to understand the endocannabinoid system since more than 40 years of prohibition has kept it firmly out of the med-school curriculum and research.

When it comes to consuming cannabis before surgery, it’s almost impossible to be high by the time you hit the table if you’re following your doctor’s instructions and hospital rules. This is because the effects of smoking cannabis usually wear off long before you’ve been prepped for surgery and are ready for the procedure, unless you smoke in the hospital and that’s not an option.

As for edibles, doctors routinely order their patients fast before surgery and require that someone who is about to undergo a procedure has not eaten anything for up to eight hours. Drinks are restricted to up to two hours before the procedure, so a patient could drink something that contains a cannabis extract in it before surgery, though we wouldn’t recommend it.

What is recommended is letting your anesthesiologist know if you consume cannabis regularly, or have done so prior to your procedure. This is true even if you have done so illegally. After all, anesthesiologists aren’t cops—they just want to make sure you’re going to make it through the procedure without any complications.

“The biggest risk would be with drug interaction with anesthesia,” Dr. Michael Verbora, Chief Medical Officer at Aleafia, told Herb. “When you go in for a procedure, you’re going to get a cocktail of drugs and all of them can affect your consciousness or your respiratory rate [and a number of different factors]. While cannabis probably won’t have a significant effect you don’t want to compound the effects if you’re already going to be on drugs that have been studied more thoroughly and are specifically used for surgeries.”

According to one recent study patients who regularly smoked cannabis were far more difficult to sedate during surgery than those who had not consumed cannabis. Some medical experts believe that, because cannabis can decrease blood pressure in patients, their cannabis consumption can impact how anesthesia affects their bodies. Since anesthetics commonly contain ingredients to help control hypertension, if an anesthesiologist adds this to the mix without knowing beforehand that the patient had consumed cannabis, it could cause a serious drop in blood pressure and complicate the procedure.

Smoking weed post-surgery can hinder recovery.

It impairs lung function, reduces oxygen crucial for healing, and may interfere with medications. This can significantly increase risks like infection.

Consider safer alternatives like edibles or tinctures, and always consult your doctor before deciding to smoke up after your surgery.

The ideal time to resume smoking weed after surgery varies based on the type of surgery, your overall health, and specific medical advice.

Generally, it’s wise to wait until you’ve fully recovered and are no longer on prescription pain medications. This could take anywhere from a few weeks to several months.

Smoking too soon can compromise your healing by affecting blood flow and oxygen levels. Always consult with your healthcare provider to determine a safe timeline based on your personal recovery process.