Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Meg Fraser
Advanced Heart Failure Program, Mechanical Circulatory Support Service and Cardiac Transplant Program, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Arianne C. Agdamag
Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Valmiki Maharaj
Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Bellony Nzemenoh
Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Cindy M. Martin
Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Tamas Alexy
Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Daniel J. Garry
Lillehei Heart Institute and Cardiovascular Division, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
Cardiac transplantation requires the careful allocation of a limited number of precious organs. Therefore, it is critical to select candidates that will receive the greatest anticipated medical benefit but will also serve as the best stewards of the organ. Individual transplant teams have established prerequisites pertaining to recreational drug, tobacco, alcohol, and controlled substance use in potential organ recipients and post-transplantation. Legalization of cannabis and implementation of its prescription-based use for the management of patients with chronic conditions have been increasing over the past years. Center requirements regarding abstinence from recreational and medical cannabis use vary due to rapidly changing state regulations, as well as the lack of clinical safety data in this population. This is evident by the results of the multicenter survey presented in this paper. Developing uniform guidelines around cannabis use will be imperative not only for providers but also for patients.
