Reviewed 8 November 2026. General information for readers in Ireland, not individual medical advice.
If you have surgery or a procedure planned, tell your surgical and anaesthetic team about cannabis and CBD. Include prescribed medicinal cannabis, occasional use and products you buy yourself. This information belongs alongside your medicines, allergies and medical history, so the team can make a plan that fits your circumstances.
Raise it before the day of surgery
The College of Anaesthesiologists of Ireland patient FAQ advises attending pre-operative assessment, giving details of medicines and supplements, and telling the anaesthesiologist about recreational substances. Bring up cannabis or CBD at that assessment, rather than assuming a product described as natural is irrelevant.
If your assessment has already happened, contact the hospital or surgical office to ask how to update your history. You do not need to decide for yourself whether a product matters. Let the team assess that with the rest of your information. You can prepare your questions in advance and take a copy to the appointment, particularly if you are worried about forgetting details.
What details are useful?
A short written note can make the conversation easier. Record what you know, and say when a detail is uncertain:
- The product name and whether it contains CBD, THC or both, if known.
- Whether it is prescribed, and who prescribes it.
- How it is taken, such as an oil, edible, smoked or vaped product.
- The usual amount, how often you use it and when you last used it.
- Any effects or difficulties you have noticed when using it or stopping.
- Other prescribed medicines, over-the-counter medicines and supplements.
The American Society of Anesthesiologists patient resource explains why these details, including CBD use, matter. This is supporting information from the United States, not an Irish hospital policy. A label or current medicines list may help you describe the product accurately.
Why the anaesthetist needs to know
Cannabis use may be relevant to anaesthetic requirements, heart and breathing risks, pain, nausea, withdrawal and interactions with other medicines, according to the US resource. Those considerations do not predict what will happen to one person. They explain why an individual assessment is more useful than a general internet rule.
Your anaesthetist considers the planned procedure, your health and the medicines involved. Monitoring during anaesthesia includes breathing, heart rate and blood pressure, as described in the Irish College's FAQ. For further background on medicines history, see our cannabis, CBD and medicines interaction review.
Ask for your own pre-operative plan
Ask the team what to do with each medicine or product before the procedure. If cannabis is prescribed, discuss it with the prescribing clinician and surgical team before changing it. Explain any previous problems with stopping, rather than trying to manage the uncertainty alone.
There is no single stop-and-restart timetable in this article. Follow the medication and fasting instructions supplied for your procedure. The NHS overview of general anaesthesia also describes pre-operative assessment and instructions tailored to the patient. If instructions are unclear or appear to conflict, ask the hospital to clarify them.
Mention concerns about withdrawal
The HSE's cannabis information describes possible symptoms after stopping regular use, including irritability, anxiety, sleep problems and reduced appetite. Tell the team about regular use and any previous symptoms when stopping.
Do not assume that new symptoms around surgery are withdrawal. Tell the clinical team what has changed so they can assess it. Our article on recognising cannabis dependence and finding support in Ireland provides further context.
Before you go home
Ask who to contact with concerns, how to follow your discharge medicines plan, and what restrictions apply to driving and other activities. Ask specifically about cannabis or CBD alongside any medicines supplied after the procedure. The US resource notes that a generally safe postoperative resumption time has not been established.
Follow the hospital's collection, supervision and discharge instructions. Keep those instructions somewhere accessible, and make sure the person helping you knows whom to contact if a question arises.