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As marijuana use becomes more common and legal in most U.S. states, patients who use cannabis may face a significantly higher risk of heart attack around the time of surgery, while also showing an unexpected lower risk of dangerous blood clots in the veins, suggests a study presented at the ANESTHESIOLOGY 2026 annual meeting.
"Our findings show that it is vitally important to tell your anesthesiologist before your procedure if you use marijuana, whether for medical or recreational purposes," said Nader D. Nader, lead author of the study and professor of anesthesiology and surgery at the Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo, New York.
"This is not about judgment; it is about safety. Cannabis can affect your heart, your blood vessels and how your body responds to anesthesia. Knowing about a patient's cannabis use allows the anesthesiologist to take extra precautions to keep patients safe during and after surgery."
Reviewing five studies including data from 44,312 surgical patients, the authors found cannabis use was associated with a 46% increased risk of myocardial infarction, or heart attack, during or shortly after surgery compared to nonusers. They found no significant links between cannabis use and stroke, respiratory failure, acute kidney injury or death.
In a surprising finding, researchers found cannabis use was associated with a 22% lower risk of venous thromboembolism, or blood clots in the veins.
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