Can marijuana users donate blood?

Every five seconds, at least two hospital residents require blood transfusions. Charles Richard Drew, an African-American surgeon and medical researcher, helped develop them, developing improved blood storage techniques and applying his expertise to establishing large blood banks early in World War II. Thanks to him, tens of millions of lives were saved. But recently donations have plummeted and lives are at risk. More needs to be donated, but can marijuana users donate blood?

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“Over the last 20 years, we have seen an overall decline in Red Cross donors of approximately 40%,” shared Eric Gehrie, MD, executive medical director of the American Red Cross. “The earlier we can connect with someone and they donate in high school, the more likely they are to become a lifelong donor.”

But the proportion of teens and young adults who have donated blood has steadily declined since 2013, according to the nationwide National Blood Collection and Utilization Survey.

Photo by Nguyen Hiep via Unsplash

Eligibility to donate blood is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The same agency is considering reclassifying marijuana, recognizing that the cannabis plant has medical benefits. The FDA understands that cannabis does not disqualify a person from donating blood, but potential donors cannot donate if their cannabis use impairs their memory or understanding. The same rule applies to alcohol. Some regional blood donation centers require that you not be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, or prescription medications. Most also require that you not take aspirin for two days before administration.

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Synthetic cannabis users are put on a different pedestal. You cannot donate blood if you regularly consume synthetic cannabinoids like Spice, also known as K2. K2 is a laboratory-discovered artificial marijuana product that has been deemed unfit for human consumption.

Donating blood is a good deed and worth considering.