It's real important that you take this seriously. Don't "smoke her out" and put her at further risk. Unfortunately, the vaso-dilating effects of the cannabis don't kick in until after a risky period of vaso-constriction (tightening) that happens right after smoking, usually for an hour or more. During that vasoconstrictive period, the pulse rate increases and BP goes up because the veins and arteries constrict. Plus the smoke itself is an irritant and and an aggravator of inflammation (not the cannabinoids but simply the smoke). Smoking anything will also further deplete the less than optimal amount of oxygen that's getting to her brain and just add to any light headedness or dizziness she's already having because of the stenosis. All those things combined will put her at much worse risk of having a stroke, and she's already at risk. The vasoconstriction combined with the irritation makes it a lot more likely that a little piece of that carotid plaque could break off and be pumped up to her brain. You do not want that to happen. Just don't even go there. She's almost certainly been put on an anticoagulant like warfarin and/or an anti-platelet med like Plavix. And we don't have any idea how cannabis really affects those. There've been no studies.

I'm sure this isn't the answer you wanted to hear, but it's the one you need to heed, and I'm qualified to give you this answer. Did you happen to catch the degree (percentage) of her stenotic blockage? Do you know if she's in good enough shape to have the carotid cleanout procedure, an endarterectomy? I wish her well.
Dave Byrd Reviewed by Dave Byrd on . Carotid artery stenosis....and pot ok, so my mom has been having a problem for the last few years. She has been getting severe headaches and ocular pain on a regular basis. Recently, she went in and had many tests and scans performed, and they determined that the reason for her pain was that there was insufficient bloodflow to her brain. After some online research, i found out that it was a condition called Carotid Artery Stenosis, which basically means there are deposits of cholesterol and otehr crap in her cartoid arteries Rating: 5