LANSING, Mich. (WLUC) – The Michigan Society of Anesthesiologists is educating the public about why patients must discuss their use of cannabis and psilocybin mushrooms before a surgery or procedure.

According to a press release from the MSA, while cannabis, including marijuana and CBD, is legal in Michigan, and specific cities have decriminalized entheogenic plants like magic mushrooms, patients still need to tell their doctors if they use any of these substances. These drugs can impact how much anesthesia a patient needs and can increase the risk for heart or respiratory issues, nausea and vomiting during surgery. They also could affect post-surgery pain management.

“Patients may not realize that these naturally derived substances affect anesthesia, so it’s important to educate patients why they must discuss this with their anesthesiologist,” said MSA President Dr. Michael Lewis. “For example, smoking marijuana before going under anesthesia could increase a patient’s risk of heart attack during or after the surgery. Our top priority is patient safety, and this is one of many factors we take into consideration as we care for our patients.”

MSA experts say patients who consume cannabis should inform their anesthesiologist whether they smoke or ingest it. While many patients think that their doctor only needs to know if they smoke cigarettes, smoking marijuana can also impact the lungs and needs to be taken into account as the anesthesiologist makes decisions about anesthesia.

“A patient’s anesthesiologist needs to know if they smoke, regardless of if it is cigarettes, marijuana or something else,” Lewis said. “Anesthesiologists are not there to judge; they are focused on giving the best possible care, which is why being up front and transparent about all the substances a patient consume is important, so the anesthesiologist has the full facts in front of them.”

Anesthesiologists use their medical judgment to establish an individualized anesthesia plan based on several factors in a patient’s medical history and the procedure or surgery to be performed. Anesthesiologists are the medical experts who keep patients safe at every stage before, during and after surgery.

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