Cannabis and Anesthesia: Considerations for Anesthesia Providers

Document Type

Contribution to Book

Publication Date

2026

Publisher

IGI Global

Source Publication

Clinical Integration and Specialty Practice in Cannabis Nursing

Source ISSN

9798260020357

Original Item ID

DOI: 10.4018/979-8-2600-2035-7.ch005

Abstract

Cannabis use in the United States has increased over the past several decades. This rise in prevalence parallels expanded legalization, increased societal acceptance, and the proliferation of commercially available cannabis products. These evolving patterns of use present unique and increasingly complex challenges for anesthesia providers. Cannabis has been shown to exert clinically significant effects across multiple organ systems, including the pulmonary, cardiovascular, and neurologic systems. Moreover, cannabinoids interact with numerous anesthetic agents. Although the body of literature examining cannabis use and anesthesia is expanding, evidence-based perioperative management guidelines remain in early stages of development. Anesthesia providers must therefore rely on a growing evidence base to guide clinical decision-making for patients using cannabis. This chapter examines historical and contemporary patterns of cannabis use, routes of administration, physiologic effects relevant to anesthesia, and the implications for perioperative assessment and anesthetic management.

Comments

"Cannabis and Anesthesia: Considerations for Anesthesia Providers," in Clinical Integration and Specialty Practice in Cannabis Nursing. Eds. Kathleen Marie Pinto Araya and Rana R. Zeine. Hershey PA: IGI Global, 2026. DOI.

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