If marijuana is legal in Ohio, why must I stop consuming it before bariatric surgery?

Just because a drug is legal has nothing to do with whether it should be stopped before surgery. Aspirin, blood thinners, and diet pills are all legal medication that we have patients stop before surgery. Smoking is also legal but we have patients quit before surgery. Ask your surgeon why they have asked you to stop your marijuana. Good luck with your surgery.

Thanks for your question, if a patient uses marijuana the day before surgery or even hours before the procedure, it can seriously cause some dangerous effects on your blood vessels.
Marijuana is know to cause an effect call vasodilation and this can cause lower blood pressure and this will automatically will increased heart rate causing high risks in the procedure. Marijuana can also affect the way our body’s reacts to the anesthesia, in fact you will need more anesthesia.
Marijuana will also have an important effect in your recovery and you will be more likely to need a ventilator after the surgery.
In conclusion Marijuana use can increase the risks of surgery. These risks include requiring more anesthesia, experiencing more pain, and trouble with breathing, blood pressure, and heart rate.
Thats why we recommend stop using marijuana 1 month prior the procedure. Hope this was helpful.