Move over, SAFE, there’s a new cannabis banking bill in town.

On June 23, US Representatives Troy A. Carter, Sr. (D-LA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) introduced the Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses (CLIMB) Act. 

If signed into law, the bill would enable cannabis businesses to access a wide array of banking services, from lending to credit card services and money transfers. It would also allow the New York Stock Exchange, Nasdaq and other national securities exchanges to list cannabis businesses, providing them with a new avenue to generate capital and grow. 

The bill’s sponsors intend to provide targeted financial relief to small businesses, and businesses run by veterans and members of disenfranchised communities.

“The CLIMB Act is critical because it provides state legal American businesses with traditional funding and support mechanisms for this emerging industry, which other domestic industries currently enjoy,” said Saphira Galoob, Executive Director of the National Cannabis Roundtable, in a recent press release. 

“The more financing sources available to cannabis businesses the better, particularly for entrepreneurs, small and minority-owned businesses that may have otherwise faced challenges in obtaining access to capital,” Galoob added.

What’s in the CLIMB Act?

The CLIMB Act would primarily allow the cannabis industry to access a multitude of “business assistance” opportunities from banking institutions. The term encompasses a wide range of activities: Not just credit card services, but money transfers, accounting services, and lending, to name a few.

“American cannabis companies are currently restricted from receiving traditional lending and financing, making it difficult to compete with larger, global competitors,” said Rep. Reschenthaler via the same press release. 

“The CLIMB Act will eliminate these barriers to entry, and provide state legal American cannabis companies, including small, minority, and veteran-owned businesses, with access to the financial tools necessary for success. This bipartisan legislation will boost the economy, create jobs, and level the playing field for American businesses,” he added.

At press time, neither Representative could be reached for comment.

The bill would additionally allow government agencies to offer grants and other sources of government funding to cannabis businesses, with an emphasis on those in areas most impacted by the War on Drugs.

Lastly, the CLIMB Act would amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to create a “safe harbor” for national securities exchanges like NYSE and Nasdaq to list cannabis businesses and permit stocks of these businesses to be traded on the market.

Currently, cannabis businesses can only be found on the Canadian Securities Exchange and traded via over-the-counter (OTC) markets, which do not provide the security of a third-party broker, like a conventional exchange. Since a third party doesn’t set a value for a specific stock in an OTC market, the prices of OTC stocks are determined solely by buyer and seller.

Business Insider reports that OTC markets are prone to scams and criminal activity.

For the time being, the future of the CLIMB Act is as clear as month-old bong water. What the bill’s passage would mean for businesses big and small, how it would operate in concurrence with the SAFE Banking Act, and whether it can garner enough support to pass Congress in the first place, all remain to be seen.

Stay tuned for more updates on the CLIMB Act, the SAFE Banking Act, and other federal cannabis reform legislation on Leafly.

Max Savage Levenson

Max Savage Levenson likely has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any writer on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled folk. He co-hosts The Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.

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To celebrate 166 years, the annual California State Fair has finally gotten on the weed train. Joining its established roster of olive oil, beer, wine, and cheese competitions is the inaugural California State Fair Cannabis Awards. 

A total of 60 awards were dolled out to the creme de la creme from submissions of over 300 licensed operators this past Thursday. But rather than a roster of celebrity judges smoking their way through the samples, the California State Fair partnered with SC Labs for a “science-based” approach that centered cannabinoid and terpene content in 10 divisions via three umbrella categories for growing techniques: indoor, outdoor and mixed light.

There was also the overall Best of California category, whose winners were awarded golden bear trophies. The vertically-integrated MOCA Humboldt led the pack with six wins; their Grape Cookies and Wookies took Best in California for CBGA and THCA respectively, as well as the golds for indoor flower. Grape Cookies also took home gold for ocimene, and their ZOG won silver for caryophyllene. 

Cannabis is agriculture

Beyond the recognition for good weed, contestants also consider the competition a badge of legitimacy as agricultural workers. “This years inaugural awards are symbolic in the sense that the state is recognizing cannabis as a valid agricultural contribution and granting awards based on science rather than a tasting (not that we don’t love a good tasting competition),” wrote Greenline Organic Nursery on Instagram, winner of the indoor gold for their Animal Tree’s pinene.  

Both Esensia Gardens and Greenshock Farms, regular contenders at the Emerald Cup proved how dank outdoor can be with five wins each. For Greenshock, their G Lime Burst (CBDA) and Passion Orange Guava (ocimene) were both overall and outdoor gold winners. Esencia had terps on lock with multiple category gold wins for their Lemon OG (caryophyllene) and Buddha’s Hand (terpinolene).

“We are honored and humbled to be recognized for our craft, amongst top notch California cultivators and alongside the best agricultural products the state has to offer,” said Esensia Co-founder Ben Blake in a press release. “It takes three-to-four years of meticulous work for us to develop a strain from scratch to sale, akin to wine making; it is truly a craft process.”

Both NorCal and SoCal shined   

Other “Best of” winners include North Country Pharms, (Tractor Gas) Naughty Squirrel Farms (Lemon Vuitton) Gentleman’s Cut (Laughing Gas), and Silver Dragon Cannabis (Mendo Crumble). Category winners include seasoned vets like Ridgeline Farms, Talking Tree Farms, Huckleberry Hill Farms, and dispensary chain Harborside.

In a twist, Emerald Spirit Botanicals’s THCV-rich Pink Boost Goddess, which also won at the 2021 Emerald Cup,  was given a “unique” category win.   

You can find the full list of winners here. There will be an official ceremony for winners (but no consumption!) at the upcoming fair’s CA Cannabis Exhibit, which runs from July 15-31, 2022, at the Cal Expo Fairgrounds in Sacramento, California.

Amelia Williams

New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program, and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle’s GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews, and The Bold Italic.

View Amelia Williams’s articles

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2022 is the year of the gummy, no ifs, ands, or buts. While brownies and rice crispy treats may have gotten the edible sector of the cannabis industry rolling, gummies now outsell all ingestible alternatives. When you look at cost, efficacy, and options, the “why?” is obvious: they’re your best bet for a long, stony summer. 

But then you pop into the shop or fire up a delivery app, and there are. Too. Many. Choices. We traversed the edible markets coast to coast to find top sellers and the best bets from Florida to Oregon. 

California: 710 Labs gummies, and more

Space Gems, Papa & Barkley Kitchen gummies, Clscs rosin gummies

If you’re noticing a theme, well, I will admit I am extremely biased. I have tried a lot of gummies in my past life as a Bay Area budtender—and I mean a lot. Pectin, gelatin, squares, worms (RIP the fun candy shapes of the medical days), belts, oblong shapes, you name it. I’ve tried distillate gummies and live resin gummies and nano-technology gummies and everything in between. This is all to say, I think the only acceptable formula for gummies is with hash or rosin. 

All of these brands have shown— whether it be with cannabis awards, sales, or the court of public opinion—that they taste good and hit hard. The jury is still out on the efficacy of strain-specific edibles. Some use single-strain and others a melange, but I’ve always found the highs on these to be even-keeled, hilarious, and enduring. Wendy Baker, the founder and leader of Humboldt-based Space Gems, was inspired by dispensary trips to Oakland, back in the Prop 215 days. Edibles on this day were, shall we say, uneven.

“I knew I could make it better,” Baker said.

After months of experimentation and a brief dabble with a BHO-based formula, Baker perfected her recipe for her current ice water hash-infused and vegan gummies in 2015. The gummies speak for themselves and aren’t going anywhere. But being a craft producer means constant competition with the big labs; “I’m from the prop 215 days. Some of us are treading water, some of us are winning, some of us are drowning. The goal is to make rainbows every day. I paved that way.”

See also: Alien Labs Galactic Gummies made with hash in Cotton Cluster; Lunar Orange; Blue Moon; and Cherry Eclipse.

Oregon: Wyld gummies

So these aren’t made with hash, but they are undoubtedly the biggest gummy in the states that manufacture them right now. Data from Headset confirmed that these are the ultimate people pleasers, thanks to a solid flavor selection and fast-acting effects. They also mix it up, with some cannabinoid blends with CBD, CBN, and CBG in addition to THC. Their rectangular shape and soft feel also make them easy to parse into smaller pieces for mix-and-match microdosing. www.leafly.com/brands/wyld

Ohio: The Botanist gummies

Medical marijuana company and dispensary chain, The Botanist, make their gummies with cannabinoid isolates but don’t write them off just yet. These vegan, pectin-based gummies harness natural fruit flavors and a spectrum of dosages and cannabinoid combinations for both maladies and recreational fun. You can choose from CBD to THC ratios like 5:1, 2:1, 1:1, and even a 1:1 CBN:THC when it’s time for bed. Amarena cherry or pink pomegranate anyone? ShopBotanist.com

Washington: Craft elixir

Over the last four years, Craft elixirs have racked up over a dozen cannabis awards for their unique line of fruit Pioneer Squares and savory potato chips. Their winners include the black and blueberry and kiwi strawberry THC gummies, and 1:1 THC:CBD gummies, in 10-milligram doses. www.leafly.com/brands/craft-elixirs

Colorado: Dialed In

If you have things “dialed in,” you’re winning, and so is this rosin-based edible brand. In two years, they’ve collaborated with dozens of Colorado growers to produce small batches of strain-specific rosin gummies in rotating strains and flavors; recent batches are made from Oreoz, Mac, and Super Lemon Haze; flavors run the gamut of exotic fruits, from dragon fruit to guava and papaya. 

Keith Portman, the brand’s VP of marketing says that their founder “saw this empty part of the market that no one was taking care of. Solventless is the cleanest way to make an edible and rosin is taking off.” 

There are also 500mg batches made exclusively for Colorado medical patients. Each batch has its lab test results posted online for transparency and agency for the consumer to choose their desired experience.

www.leafly.com/brands/dialed-in-gummies 

Oklahoma: Smokiez

Smokiez have made a splash across recreational and medical states in recent years, with over a dozen in their network. These are more fruit chew than gummy, both gluten-free and vegan for any sensitive stomachs, with more flavors than you’ll find in an Edible Arrangement. Founded in 2010, Smokiez’s Director of Marketing Bill Thompson believes that they’ve withstood the evolving industry landscape and come to thrive in over dozen states, with Puerto Rico and Canada in the works. “Oklahoma is one of our busiest states,” he says. “They’re delicious. It’s a really good quality product. Quality of product and consistency, as with anything, are key.”

www.leafly.com/brands/smokiez 

Massachusetts: Impact Extracts Hashables

The crusade for hash-based edibles goes bicoastal with Impact Extracts’ “hashables” gummies. Solventless gummies are on the rise, and for good reason: they’re easier to make and provide a broad-spectrum, entourage effect for a comfortable intoxication that doesn’t knock you out or exacerbate paranoia. These aren’t so much about unique flavors as they are a unique experience, one that’s guaranteed to impact your view on hash edibles.

Illinois: Mindy’s edibles

These gummies look and feel like an artisanal farmer’s market find. Chicago-based and James Beard award-winning chef Mindy Segal formulated these with Cresco Labs to elevate the edible experience using delectable fruit flavors and a smooth texture. These orchard-inspired flavors, including honey sweet melon, glazed clementine, and cool key lime kiwi, tend to be on the low-dose end; 5 mg is the standard dose for these, but some flavors go as low as 2 mg to fit into your schedule. www.leafly.com/brands/mindys-edibles 

Michigan: Kiva Lost Farm gummies

This California-born edible juggernaut has spread its wings across the country, including Michigan. It’s hard to impress a market with taste, and Kiva’s live resin gummies and chews have never disappointed. Both are delicious and invoke that stoney-baloney vibe perfect for summer, though I’m partial to the Starburst-esque fruit chews in blueberry. Their strains cycle in and out, but don’t rule out the classic Blue Dream in edible form. www.leafly.com/brands/kiva-confections

Florida: Wana chews

Finally, Florida is getting with the program. The Sunshine state has let edibles into the market, but not all are created equal. MUV’s Wana vegan fruit gummies offer hybrid, sativa, and indica options with multiple flavors to choose from (yuzu looks delish), as well as some THC/CBD formulas. These gummies follow the standard 10 mg dose but can be easily fractionated or doubled up depending on the occasion. Also, they won’t melt if you forget them in the car! 

www.leafly.com/brands/wana-brands

Nevada: The Gummy Co.’s mango Tajin gummies

This is about as close to an edible michelada as we’re gonna get, at least for now. The Gummy Co. is a subset of Nevada-based cultivators The Grower Circle, known statewide for supplying the zaza. Their edible endeavors set their own lane, with succulent gummies and chocolate bars that use, you guessed it, hash rosin. These sweet and spicy gummies embody the high-low cultural marriage that is Las Vegas in both taste and effect.

www.leafly.com/brands/the-grower-circle 

Maine: Wisely Hash chews

Wisely is first and foremost a concentrate and flower company, so they knew exactly what Maine consumers wanted, and lacked, in the edible sector: more hash. These chews come in 10 mg squares and 10 to a pack for the adult use market, made with rosin. They aren’t strain-specific, so expect a hybrid effect. For anyone abstaining from animal products, these do contain gelatin. www.wiselycannabis.com/#menu 

Maryland: Betty’s Eddies

It’s giving cottagecore. These small-batch and fruit-laden edibles may inspire you to take a trip to the country and start living off the land. These eddies are made with both fruits and veggies, and weed of course, with cozy flavor profiles like honey lemon and apple pie. Since they’re in the medical market, Betty’s gummies usually come five to a pack at a 20 mg dose, but also have an extra strength option at 50 mg a pop, so tread carefully. www.leafly.com/brands/betty-s-eddies

Arizona: Pure gummies

These homegrown gummies are beloved by locals (with an award to prove it) for their great taste and flexible dosing. As a medical marijuana product, Pure gummies have two strengths, a 10 mg dose and a 30 mg dose. They come 10 to a tin with accessible and naturally derived flavors like watermelon and mango, and you can choose between either sativa or indica-based options. They’re also vegan, affordable, and contain distillate cannabis oil. https://pureedibles.com/about/ 

Amelia Williams

New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program, and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle’s GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews, and The Bold Italic.

View Amelia Williams’s articles

The 28-year-old could face up to five years in state prison if convicted, but his lawyers claim he did nothing wrong

NBA big man Montrezl Harrell is facing serious felony drug trafficking charges in Kentucky after being pulled over on May 12. But Harrell’s lawyers, speaking for the Charlotte Hornets forward earlier this week, says their client did nothing wrong.

The incident happened last month when Kentucky State Trooper Jesse Owens says he pulled Harrell’s rental car over for following too closely behind another vehicle on I-75. The stop occurred about 30 minutes outside of Lexington.

Troopers claim they discovered a backpack with three pounds of marijuana in vacuum-sealed bags on the backseat. Harrell now faces charges that could ultimately result in one to five years in state prison, and a fine ranging from $1,000 to $10,000.

But Harrell’s lawyers say he wasn’t even behind the wheel of the 2020 Honda.

Cloudy details about the charges

The trooper cited Harrell for the weed at the time of the stop, but didn’t charge or arrest him for trafficking on the scene. State Trooper Owens said “[he] observed [the] odor of marijuana” coming from the vehicle and asked Harrell if he had any weed.

The police report says Harrell admitted he did, and presented a baggie of green from his pants pocket. Trooper Owens then says he searched the vehicle and found 3 pounds vacuumed-sealed in a backpack on the back seat.

The smell alone of marijuana is not enough probable cause to search a vehicle in Kentucky. But since Harrell admitted to possession, the search may have been warranted. 

Trafficking between 8 ounces and 5 pounds in Kentucky is a Class-D felony for first time offenders and a Class-C for second time offenders. Possession of 8 ounces and under is a Class A misdemeanor punishable with up to 12 months in jail and a fine of up to $500 for first-time offenders.  

Lawyers are confident he will beat the charge

This week, Harrell’s attorneys told TMZ that Harrell did nothing wrong. “We want to be clear that Mr. Harrell was not driving the vehicle and following the stop he was only given a ticket to appear in court at a later date for a marijuana-related charge as were all occupants of the vehicle,” Harrell’s attorneys said.

A bummer for his free agent summer

Harrell played college ball for the Louisville Cardinals before being drafted in 2015. He’s made over $24 million so far in his career, and is an upcoming free agent who played well for the Charlotte Hornets last season. While he picks a new team this summer, he will now have the added distraction of appearing in court next month.

NBA free agency negotiations begin July 1. He was traded to Charlotte this past February from the Washington Wizards. The Hornets have yet to comment on the charges. Harrell’s court date for his preliminary hearing is set for July 13.

Kaileigh JaKirra Robinson

Kaileigh JaKirra Robinson is an activist, filmmaker, and traveler. She’ll be featured in the upcoming independent film ‘Solstice,’ set to release in 2022.

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Every day for the past week, I’ve luxuriated in the effects of one of the most enjoyable cannabis products that I’ve come across in a long time.

When I say “most enjoyable,” however, I don’t mean the one that got me the highest. Far from it.

Yes, my friends, I’m talking about one of the underrated, unsung heroes of cannabis: The microdose edible. Specifically, the 1 mg Relief 5:1:5 Ginger mints from multistate brand Mr. Moxey’s. 

Before we go on, I’d like to point out that this is not a paid ad. The ginger mints caught my eye at the superb Seattle shop Dockside, and the rest is history.

I was drawn to the mints for reasons beyond their tiny quantity of THC: They also include 5 mg of CBD and 5 mg of super-soothing CBG. Taken together, this bouquet of minor cannabinoids proved to be much more potent and effective than the sum of its parts. In other words, the entourage effect in action.

And look, I don’t have much trouble imagining you, dear reader, rolling your eyes right now. Rest assured, many of my friends already beat you to the punch. I get it. Micro microdose products ain’t for everyone.

But I ask only this: Don’t knock it ‘til you try it.

Microdose edibles provide a wealth of benefits

I first stumbled onto microdose edibles a few years ago, thanks to Kiva’s 2.5 milligram Petra mints.

Even though the mints felt like outliers in the market, similar products exist in nearly every legal state: Goodship is rocking 2.5 milligram pastilles in Washington State, Colorado’s Lucky Edibles slings 2 milligram candies, and in California, Zeno boasts a 0.4 milligram tablet, just to name a few.

These products provide a handful of benefits. They make cannabis more accessible to novice consumers. They allow for exceptionally fine-tuned dosing. And for those of us prone to cannabis-induced anxiety (hello to you, too), they offer a near-guaranteed solution.

Some of America’s most popular microdose edibles

CBG gets by with a little help from its friends

I was particularly thrilled to see that the Relief mints contain CBG (cannabigerol). This non-intoxicating cannabinoid is often referred to as the mother of all cannabinoids: As a cannabis plant grows, CBG is one of the first cannabinoids to appear. Over time, the plant converts it to THC, CBD, and other cannabinoids. By the time the plant gets harvested, only trace amounts of CBG remain.

CBG has a reputation for providing substantial pain relief. Additionally, as Leafly’s Amelia WIlliams reported earlier this year, it shows promise as a remedy for anxiety and insomnia.

Low-dose products like these mints can be particularly effective when taken in conjunction with each other—this reaction is known as the entourage effect. 

As Nick Jikomes recently noted in his Leafly column, the entourage effect enables cannabis products containing multiple cannabinoids, like CBD and THC, to reduce pain much more than an isolated cannabinoid.

I was curious to find out whether that would be the case with these joyful ginger jollies, and in particular, whether the entourage effect would amplify the effects of the CBG.

The short answer? Hell yes. 

Relief mints induced splendid, indica-like effects

On each occasion that I’ve taken a Relief mint, I’ve experienced surprisingly pronounced effects from the CBD and CBG.

I felt these cannabinoids’ soothing properties most prominently in my knees and upper back muscles. The tension there—in my case, caused by both hunched prolonged computer work (including, yes, right now) and rock climbing—melted away. 

Furthermore, my mind felt at ease, utterly tranquil. I felt centered, clear-headed, and extremely calm.

Despite the tiny dose of THC, I nonetheless felt a bit spaced and slowed down, and I don’t recommend taking the Relief mints if you’re trying to engage in much intense physical activity.

As I mentioned, I’ve taken one of the mints every day since I bought them last week. My favorite experience with them took place during a mellow concert in Missoula. I felt myself sink, relaxed, into my theater seat and was able to savor the music in an extremely chill state. When the show ended, I left the concert feeling not just mellowed out, but mentally refreshed as well.

Honestly, though, the most rewarding thing about these microdose mints was that they reminded me that cannabis can serve us all in myriad ways. Sometimes you gotta embrace a product your smoking buddies might scoff at. Otherwise you might be missing out on a new, positive, and empowering cannabis experience.

Max Savage Levenson

Max Savage Levenson likely has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any writer on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled folk. He co-hosts The Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.

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No matter how minor a procedure, having surgery is an anxiety bomb. Depending on the procedure, you may have a protocol to follow before and afterward, and it may disrupt your regular cannabis smoking, vaping, dabbing, or ingesting routine. 

Cannabis has remained part of our medical repertoire for centuries because, well, it works! In ancient China, Egypt, the Americas, and more, humans have documented weed usage to treat all kinds of maladies. Be sure to only consume products from a safe, lab-tested source, and be honest with your anesthetist and other healthcare providers.

We’ll go into whether you might have to temporarily abstain from weed, or if cannabis can help your healing routine.

What is anesthesia and how does it work?

Put simply, anesthetics is a medical treatment, often composed of more than one form of medication, designed to sedate the patient, relax their body, and prevent them from feeling pain during an operation, surgery, or invasive medical test like a biopsy.  

There are three main forms of anesthesia given to patients before an operation: 

• Local, in which only the immediate area round the surgical site is numbed and the patient remains conscious
• Regional, where a broader area is numbed but the patient may still remain conscious (such as for a cesarean section)
• General, where the patient is entirely sedated and unconscious during the procedure

These are commonly given to patients, as you may see in shows like Grey’s Anatomy, via an IV injection or gas inhalation with a mask, but topical and transdermal options exist as well.     

Despite its prevalence and necessity in the medical world for over 150 years, we still lack a complete understanding of the nuances of how anesthetics impact our body’s systems and functions. Some research indicates that anesthetics prevent interactions between neurons. 

Provided there are no underlying allergies to a medication, anesthesia does not impact respiratory or cardiovascular functions.   

Local and regional anesthesia are used more frequently for oral surgeries, cavity fillings, administering stitches to a wound, and epidurals during childbirth. More intense and longer surgeries, such as organ transplants, reconstructions, and emergency removals, require general anesthesia, under which the patient will be unconscious for several hours. These differences impact how cannabis use may interact with the efficacy of your anesthesia plan.

How does cannabis use affect anesthesia?

Evidence remains scarce, though studies have found that a general anesthesia, propofol, interact with our endocannabinoid systems. Some researchers believe this could lead to cannabinoid-based anesthetics without the risks associated with substances like fentanyl. A British Journal of Pharmacology article indicates propofol may enhance brain endocannabinoid levels, giving it sedative properties, but can’t predict how individuals will fare based on their use.     

A study in the Journal of Osteopathic Medicine found a strong correlation that cannabis users show a higher tolerance to propofol and other forms of anesthesia compared to non- or infrequent users, which can alter how it will affect them during surgery and how much is needed for a successful operation. But due to lack of research studies on humans, it’s unclear how same-day cannabis use influences anesthesia, if at all.

Do I need to stop smoking before surgery?

While we do not currently have the breadth of research required to definitely say whether it is safe or not to smoke before surgery, current findings point toward some potential risks that are not necessarily cannabis-related, but pertain to smoking in general. We advise that you speak with your primary care doctor about cannabis use and how it may interact with anesthesia during surgery. 

While smoking cannabis has a myriad of potential benefits, it still involves burning a plant and exposing one’s lungs to carcinogenic material. Anesthesia can potentially impede the body’s air passages and influence blood pressure; long-term damage and irritation from smoking can lead to complications. 

Currently, there are no known documented cases of cannabis use leading to death during surgery.

How long before surgery should one stop smoking cannabis, if necessary?

This is a personal choice that depends on the procedure. For operations where only local anesthesia is involved and the heart and airways are largely unaffected, the risk is lower. For edible lovers, patients should stop ingesting within the same time frame their doctors recommend they should abstain from eating and drinking beforehand. 

Some experts recommend abstaining from all forms of consumption weeks beforehand out of an abundance of caution, while others, as stated in a 2018 article in research journal Heliyon, recommend stopping smoking at least 72 hours beforehand.

How to talk about marijuana use with healthcare providers

Many medical marijuana patients and recreational consumers alike consider cannabis use a private matter. The last century of US-led cannabis prohibition and the decades of the War on Drugs has unfortunately eroded many people’s trust in the medical establishment to provide them accurate information on cannabis and its potential side effects. 

Given how weed and its compounds can interact with anesthesia during surgery, it is crucial for your health and long-term benefit to disclose your cannabis use to your primary care team. Despite its Schedule I status, disclosing cannabis use to a doctor or healthcare provider falls under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Under this, cannabis use cannot be used against you or reported to law enforcement unless there is an imminent threat to public safety or your health. Please note that these protections may not extend to minors. 

However, doctors can refuse services to patients. And keep in mind that because there is not a lot of concrete research on cannabis, doctors may tell you to abstain from using marijuana because they cannot confirm or deny claims.

But as states continue to expand medical marijuana programs, many have made finding a doctor familiar with cannabis therapy and its impacts on other medications and treatments easier. If you live in a state with medical or adult-use cannabis, the state health department may have resources for finding doctors familiar with cannabis. 

Will cannabis affect anesthesia for heart patients?

Many high profile health organizations, such as the American Heart Association and the CDC, advise against using cannabis to mediate heart-related conditions, and suggest that cannabis use could actually worsen symptoms and vulnerability to heart disease. However, they also state that these beliefs are based on minimal and observational research, as cannabis’ Schedule I status makes it incredibly hard to fund research for and study.

They also largely refer to smoking cannabis, not other methods such as ingestion. Smoking cannabis can lead to increased heart rate and blood pressure, and research shows that cannabinoids have both vasodilation and vasoconstriction effects in studies on animals; a recent study by scientists at Stanford Medicine concluded that marijuana use has some connection to heart disease, but not enough evidence supports this as a guaranteed outcome of cannabis use.

What’s the best method of consumption before surgery?

If abstaining from cannabis consumption simply isn’t an option, there are various methods that don’t involve smoking or eating. Most surgery protocols require the patient to abstain from eating for a certain number of hours before the operation to prevent complications with anesthesia and digestion. Eating an edible or smoking on an empty stomach will also increase the intensity of cannabis’ effects. 

This doesn’t leave too many options, but a tincture dose or a transdermal product would be safest, as any method that minimizes inhalation and ingestion are ideal.

Is cannabis good as a post-op medicine?

Despite the risks associated with marijuana before surgery, it has many potential benefits for the recovery process. Surgery is invasive and will almost always cause some amount of inflammation at the surgical site. 

Cannabinoids like CBD and CBG have gained popularity for their anti-inflammatory properties, which can simultaneously hasten physical recovery and improve mental well-being. THC remains an acknowledged alternative to opioids for addressing pain, as well as an appetite stimulant, and is good for preventing nausea. 

While your primary care doctor may not be able to prescribe or recommend cannabis as part of your treatment plan, it’s in your best interest to alert them to your usage. Prolonged cannabis use can potentially affect opioid tolerance, which can impact recovery time. Because smoking can cause coughing and irritation in the lungs and throat, we recommend topicals, edibles, and tinctures post-op. A full-spectrum product with both CBD and THC will help the body’s endocannabinoid system more fully engage and you may receive more benefits.

Amelia Williams

New York-based freelance cannabis journalist Amelia Williams is a graduate of San Francisco State University’s journalism program, and a former budtender. Williams has contributed to the San Francisco Chronicle’s GreenState, MG Magazine, Culture Magazine, and Cannabis Now, Kirkus Reviews, and The Bold Italic.

View Amelia Williams’s articles