7 Things To Consider Before Donating For The 420 Friendly
Donating blood saves lives, but some factors can disqualify someone from donating. Smoking cannabis does not disqualify someone from donating blood unless high while donating. Cannabis users should not feel discouraged from donating blood. Donating blood once can save up to three people. It can help people who need blood from a car accident or someone with sickle cell disease.
Donating Blood Saves Lives
According to the American Red Cross, a person will need blood approximately every two seconds. In the United States, about 6.8 million people donate blood each year. Simple, yet life-saving, donating blood saves lives.
Research shows that approximately 23.5 percent of the responding donors expressed that using any weed was acceptable before donating. The 420-friendly can donate not impaired. And donating blood saves lives.
1. Can I Still Donate Under The Influence?
People can still donate blood if they use marijuana. Although donating blood saves lives, don’t donate blood if you’re high. The blood drive team might turn you away, so you must try to stay sober. It is safer just not to intake any weed that day if you want to donate blood. But if consumption is necessary … don’t show up high and remember donating blood saves lives.
2. How Long Do I Wait To Donate Blood After Consumption?
There’s no true recommendation on how long people must wait before each use. The Red Cross has been known to recommend not showing up to donate blood if your memory is impaired or confused. As long as the person is sober, then it is okay to donate. It’s like the saying goes, “Know thyself after a few puffs in.” The time lapse between consumption and donation depends on how long the high lasts for you.
3. How Strong Can It Be?
The strain you use can be as strong as you want. Furthermore, people who use cannabis products are more likely to have a shorter weed high than someone who is not a regular user. Another factor to consider is a person’s decision is how they use marijuana.
4. If I Donate Blood, Does The Recipient Get My THC Levels?
If you are worried that the person receiving your blood will fail a drug test, the answer is no. It will not affect the transfusion recipient at all. Some medications prohibit people from donating — acne medications like Accutane, Absorica, Claravis, Myorisan, Sotret, and Zenatane. Additionally, c certain medications like Finasteride and Dutasteride can also disqualify a donor from donating. If a donor has psoriasis, they might want to check their medications and ensure they’re not taking Soriatane.
People who take blood thinners should also be ary before donating blood. If you are taking Arixtra, Coumadin, or heparin, waiting seven days before you donate blood is recommended.
5. Will Blood Banks Test for THC?
The Red Cross will not test for THC. According to the FDA, it is not required to test for THC if someone donates blood and uses cannabis. Something that can be concerning is the use of synthetic cannabis. According to the Association for the Advancement of Blood and Biotherapies, there are several cases of severe bleeding for synthetic weed users.
Synthetic cannabinoids are fake weed, pot, spice, K2, KD, OMG, Matrix, or Mr. Happy. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Synthetic cannabinoids are made by humans using chemicals to create this “fake weed.” It is not recommended to take them when donating blood at all. The blood banks will not let you donate blood if you do use it.
6. If You Used CBD, Can You Still Donate Blood?
You can still donate blood if you have used any CBD product. You can also take it the same day as you donate blood because it does not provide a euphoric effect.
CBD and THC are two compounds of the cannabis plant. THC is the compound that gives the consumer a high feeling. CBD does not give the consumer a high feeling.
People might have CBD because it can relieve pain, inflammation, nausea, migraines, depression, IBS, or mental disorders. It has also been approved by the FDA to help with seizures. THC can help people with pain, insomnia, nausea, and anxiety. According to a study by Dr. Hepler and Dr.Frank, weed can help people with glaucoma. The Red Cross will not test for CBD either. It will also not affect the transfusion recipient.
7. What Disqualifies You From Donating Blood?
Someone who consumes THC will not be disqualified from donating blood, but other factors might. According to the Red Cross, these are some of the factors that will disqualify someone.
Because donating blood saves lives
Be sure to discuss these factors at the clinic you are donating blood.
- A person cannot donate if they are injecting illicit drugs
- People cannot donate if they have received a tattoo or piercing in the past year.
- They can also not donate if they had a blood transfusion or organ transplant in the past year.
- A person who has a bleeding condition should be cautious.
- If your blood doesn’t clot normally or you are taking blood thinners, you will not be able to donate.
- If you previously have had leukemia or lymphoma, you cannot donate.
- You cannot donate if you are under 110 lbs.
- You cannot donate blood if you are pregnant
- It is recommended to donate after six weeks of the date of birth.
- A person cannot donate if they have AIDS or have tested positive for an HIV test.
- If a person is on antibiotics, it is recommended not to donate.
- They need to ensure that if the person has a bacterial infection, that might transfer to the blood recipient.
- Age: You have to be 17 years old to donate. Some who are 16 can also donate but must get parental or guardian consent.
Additional Things To Consider Before You Go
A person using any cannabis product can donate blood. They must be sober when they donate, or they will be turned away. It is recommended not to consume any marijuana products that day to prevent memory impairment or no comprehension.
People can also donate blood if they use any CBD products. The transfusion recipient will not be affected if you use weed when donating blood. The FDA does not require blood banks to test for THC. If you use synthetic cannabinoids, it is recommended not to donate because it can be dangerous. Mostly anyone can donate blood as long as they are healthy and do not check for disqualifying factors.
References —
- Borodovsky, J. T., Crosier, B. S., Lee, D. C., Sargent, J. D., & Budney, A. J. (2016, October). Smoking, vaping, eating: Is legalization impacting how people use cannabis? The International journal on drug policy. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5010515/.
- Can you donate blood if you use cannabis? Can Cannabis Users Donate Blood | Red Cross. (2020, September 16). Retrieved from https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/can-you-donate-blood-if-you-use-cannabis-.html.
- Can you donate blood if you use cannabis? Can Cannabis Users Donate Blood | Red Cross. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.redcrossblood.org/local-homepage/news/article/can-you-donate-blood-if-you-use-cannabis-.html.
- Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. (2018, June 29). Safety communication on synthetic cannabinoids. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/safety-availability-biologics/important-information-blood-establishments-regarding-brodifacoum-contamination-synthetic.
- Commissioner, O. of the. (2018, June 25). FDA approves first drug comprised of an active ingredient derived from marijuana to treat rare, severe forms of epilepsy. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-drug-comprised-active-ingredient-derived-marijuana-treat-rare-severe-forms.
- Eligibility criteria alphabetical listing. Blood Donor Eligibility Criteria | Red Cross Blood Services. (n.d.). Retrieved October 30, 2021, from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/eligibility-requirements/eligibility-criteria-alphabetical.html.
Additional References a
- MG;, A. K. D. B. (2021, July 22). Perceptions on acceptability and reported consumption of marijuana by blood donors before donation in the recreational use state of Colorado, USA. Vox sanguinis. Retrieved from https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34291819/.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2021, July 9). Synthetic cannabinoids (K2/spice) DrugFacts. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/synthetic-cannabinoids-k2spice.
- Orrange, S. (2020, March 24). Donating blood: These medications that may affect … – goodrx. Medicine & Health. Retrieved from https://www.goodrx.com/blog/these-7-medications-can-prevent-you-from-donating-blood/
- Reasons people don’t give blood. University of Maryland Medical Center. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.umms.org/ummc/community/blood-drives/reasons-people-dont-give-blood.
- Robert S. Hepler, M. D. (1971, September 6). Marihuana smoking and intraocular pressure. JAMA. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/article-abstract/338934?redirect=true.
- Russo, E. B. (2011, August). TAMING THC: Potential cannabis synergy and phytocannabinoid-terpenoid entourage effects. British journal of pharmacology. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3165946/.
- US Blood Supply Facts. Facts About Blood Supply In The U.S. | Red Cross Blood Services. (n.d.). Retrieved October 28, 2021, from https://www.redcrossblood.org/donate-blood/how-to-donate/how-blood-donations-help/blood-needs-blood-supply.html.
Further Reading
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Disclaimer: Be sure to consult with your healthcare provider for questions and concerns on cannabis consumption and blood donation.
