Your cannabis habits could shape how anesthesia works—and keeping quiet about it could put your life at risk.
As marijuana becomes more socially accepted and legally available across the United States, more people are using it regularly, both for medical and recreational purposes. But while lighting up might seem harmless, especially in legal states like Michigan, it’s a different story once you’re on an operating table.
Anesthesiologists—doctors who specialize in keeping you asleep and pain-free during surgery—are raising red flags. They say patients who use marijuana, especially daily users, could react differently to anesthesia, requiring higher doses or risking dangerous side effects if their usage isn’t disclosed before surgery.
What’s the big deal?
THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, affects the central nervous system—just like anesthesia does. Regular cannabis users may have a higher tolerance, meaning standard anesthesia dosages might not be strong enough. This can make it harder for doctors to sedate a patient properly, or keep them under during longer operations.
In some cases, anesthesiologists say they’ve had to adjust medication amounts significantly for patients who admitted to regular marijuana use. But when patients don’t disclose that habit? That’s when it can get risky.
“We need to know everything about what’s in a patient’s system. It’s not about judgment—it’s about safety,” says Dr. Tarek Mezher, a Michigan-based anesthesiologist.
Hidden risks on the table
Patients who mix cannabis with other medications, like antidepressants or blood pressure pills, could also face unexpected complications under anesthesia. Marijuana can increase heart rate and lower blood pressure—two vital signs that anesthesiologists carefully monitor.
Daily cannabis use has also been linked to airway sensitivity, which can complicate intubation—the process of inserting a breathing tube during surgery. If doctors don’t know about cannabis use ahead of time, they could be caught off guard, leading to slower responses or potentially harmful delays.
So what should you do?
Tell your doctor the truth.
Surgeons and anesthesiologists aren’t there to report you to the police. Their only concern is keeping you safe. And as cannabis becomes more mainstream, many hospitals are updating their pre-surgery checklists to include specific questions about marijuana use.
Whether you vape, eat edibles, or smoke occasionally—it’s worth mentioning. Honesty could literally save your life.
For more on how cannabis affects health and wellness, explore how medicinal marijuana is being used to manage chronic pain and a surprising study on CBD-infused pillowcases helping nurses get better sleep. As research into cannabis deepens, it’s becoming clear that its role in both medicine and daily life is more complex—and more promising—than many once believed.
