Does smoking weed affect how much a person bleeds?

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On its own, no evidence supports a link between occasional cannabis use and the start of excessive bleeding or bleeding disorders.

However, researchers have found connections between smoking cannabis and rare complications of stroke and lung bleeding disorders. There is also evidence of interactions between cannabis and blood-thinning medications. These researchers often base their findings on case studies of one or two people, so more research is necessary.

Cannabis and warfarin

A 2019 case study found a risk of drug interactions between THC and the blood-thinning medication warfarin. According to the authors’ review of existing studies, THC might interfere with an enzyme called CYP2C9 that helps the body process and absorb warfarin.

THC is one of the compounds found in the cannabis plant. It is responsible for the psychoactive effects of cannabis.

Another case study reported as context for this research involved a man using liquid CBD as an epilepsy treatment. The doctors recommended reducing the dose of warfarin by 30% to reduce the chance of excess bleeding while using CBD. In their conclusion, the authors accept that data is sparse but advise against using cannabis while taking warfarin.

Cannabis, stroke, and diffuse alveolar hemorrhage

A 2022 review found that young people who use cannabis might also have twice the stroke risk of nonusers, including acute ischemic stroke and aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH).

ASAH involves a blood vessel bursting and leaking blood in the brain. According to the review authors, cannabis use may increase the chance of a life threatening complication called delayed cerebral ischemia (DCI). DCI is when there is evidence of a lack of blood flow in the area of the brain that medical professionals may not be able to spot for hours, days, or weeks after an event, such as aSAH.

Studies on rats showed that CBD and THC might have effects that reduce the effectiveness of a blood-clotting enzyme called thrombin, according to a 2019 review. There may be a link to an increased risk of bleeding. However, studies have not yet demonstrated the effects of CBD and THC on thrombin in humans.

According to a 2019 case study involving two people, reduced clotting may lead to a rare but dangerous complication called diffuse alveolar hemorrhage in some people who smoke cannabis. It causes blood to leak into balloon-like sacs in the lungs called alveoli and may trigger respiratory distress.

Cannabis and surgical complications involving bleeding

According to a 2021 review of data involving over 113,000 people, researchers found that cannabis use may have links to an increased risk of bleeding and cerebrovascular problems such as stroke during heart surgery.

Doctors may caution cannabis users to limit or restrict use ahead of heart surgery.

No reliable research has explored the intensity, regularity, or frequency of menstrual bleeding during a female period.

However, some females smoke cannabis for its pain-relieving properties during painful periods, according to a 2022 review.

A small 2018 study involving 52 females, 13 of whom used cannabis and tobacco and 39 of whom used just tobacco, found that those who used cannabis and tobacco had a significantly shorter luteal phase than those who used just tobacco.

The luteal phase occurs from days 14–28 of the menstrual cycle and leads to increased progesterone, a hormone that stimulates the fertilization of an egg and its implantation in the womb.

Cannabis has several mental and physical effects, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). Affects on the brain and mind include:

• altered senses
• time perception
• mood

It may also lead to impaired thought processes, movements, and memory. High doses of cannabis might lead to hallucinations, psychosis, and delusions if a person uses it regularly.

Cannabis may also have several adverse effects on the body, including:

• breathing problems
• higher heart rate
• nausea
• vomiting

It may also cause issues if people use cannabis during pregnancy.

The following are answers to some questions people frequently ask about the use of cannabis and bleeding.

Can smoking make your period irregular?

A meta-analysis from 2020 linked smoking tobacco to prolonged periods. Research from 2019 found that smoking cannabis contributed to shorter luteal periods, although it did not specify whether this affected the length of the overall menstrual cycle.

Can your period make you feel high?

Extreme mood changes may occur during menstruation. Some people may interpret some parts of this as feeling “high,” but this experience is subjective. Periods are highly personal and vary between individuals.

Do you bleed more when you are high?

In typical circumstances, feeling weed-induced euphoria does not affect bleeding. Research on this area is limited. However, healthcare professionals have found that warfarin may interact with cannabis to contribute to excess bleeding. Some research also suggests a link between cannabis and an increased risk of excess bleeding during heart surgery.

Small studies have linked cannabis to reduced effectiveness in blood-clotting medications and a risk of rare bleeding disorders in the lungs and brain.

Research has also suggested that cannabis may increase the risk of excess bleeding during heart surgery. However, in most casual, infrequent, or low dose users, no evidence supports an increased risk of bleeding.

While cannabis use may influence certain factors of the menstrual cycle, such as the length of the luteal phase, no studies have found that it makes bleeding more severe or more frequent. Regular, high dose cannabis use can affect lung function, increase the heart rate, and contribute to increased nausea and vomiting.