Donating blood certainly saves a lot of lives, and stoners are known to help others in need. Blood donation is a nice and easy way to make a difference in your community. Do you want to become a donor but regularly smoking weed has you wondering can you donate blood if you smoke weed?
Society has started recognizing marijuana as a recreational and medicinal substance, but federal laws still vary in different states. In this blog, we will learn about weed and donating blood.
General Qualification for Donating Blood
Here are the general qualifications for donating blood or platelets –
- You should be in good overall health
- You should weigh a minimum of 110 pounds
- You should be a minimum of 16 years old. Parental consent is necessary for 16 years old to donate blood, and they cannot donate platelets.
- Parental consent is not needed for those 17 years old and above
- For people 76 years old or above, written approval by a doctor is necessary for donating blood or platelets
Can You Donate Blood if You Smoke Marijuana?
Yes, it is possible to donate blood and plasma if you smoke weed, even though most consumers believe they cannot take part in THC blood donation. There are no rules or regulations banning cannabis users from donating blood.
The Red Cross says that a person is not disqualified from blood donation for using weed. However, if cannabis use impairs the comprehension or memory of an individual, then he cannot donate blood.
High THC levels can affect cognitive functions and lead to stress or anxiety. If a person is visibly high or intoxicated, then he will not be allowed to donate blood. Most blood banks do not test for THC, but you should try not to smoke on the day of marijuana blood donation.
What Red Cross Says?
The Red Cross encourages every eligible person to donate blood, and the presence of marijuana bloodstream does not affect this. The stoner test or blood donation test does not include THC, and weed smokers can donate plasma and blood.
If a person experiences impairment in comprehension or memory from cannabis use, he should not donate blood. The US Food and Drug Administration regulates blood donation, and they don’t test samples for THC. The guidelines for a normal person and cannabis users for donating blood are the same, but there is some concern related to synthetic cannabis users.
How Long Does Cannabis Stay in the Bloodstream?
Cannabis can be detected in body fluid for around 1 to 30 days after the last consumption. A hair follicle test can detect cannabis for several months, especially in people who smoke weed on a regular basis. The duration for which cannabis stays in the body depends on the amount ingested or smoked. Regular use and high doses increase the detection time among users.
How Long Do Edibles Stay in the Bloodstream?
Some edibles are easily digested and cause the THC to enter the bloodstream quickly, while some take a longer time. The duration for which they stay in the body is influenced by multiple factors, like the half-life of marijuana.
The half-life generally ranges from 3-12 days, and it varies from strain to strain, tolerance level, and quantity. Marijuana metabolites take longer to process and stay longer than inhaled THC in the body. Usually, edibles stay in the bloodstream for a few hours up to three months.
Wrapping Up
Can you donate blood if you smoke weed? If this question is bothering you, don’t worry because you can donate both plasma and blood even if you smoke cannabis. Make sure you follow all blood donation requirements and are in good health when you want to donate blood.
To know more, you can visit your local blood donation center before you finalize your decision.
FAQ: Donate Blood
A: No, marijuana is still considered an illegal substance, and you cannot donate blood if you have used any illegal drugs in the past 12 months.
A: Yes! There are many other ways to give back that have nothing to do with donating blood. Consider donating to an organization that supports marijuana reform, volunteering your time at a food bank or homeless shelter, or simply helping out your local community in any way you can.
A: Yes, the waiting period is 12 months. You must not have used any illegal drugs in the past 12 months in order to donate blood.
