Can You Donate Blood While Taking Medical Marijuana?

Donating blood is a volunteer activity that many people take very seriously. Donated blood is used for many medical procedures, especially emergencies. The blood you donate could save a life, as the American Red Cross reminds us periodically when blood supplies are low.

If you’ve ever donated blood, you know there’s a screening process to qualify you for donation. There are a series of questions you must answer and a small sample of your blood is tested to be sure it is safe and free of disease.  In the 1990s, when HIV was new in this country, there was a risk of contracting the disease from a blood transfusion. Since then, the screening process for donated blood was tightened.

People who have certain types of cancer can’t donate blood because of the risk of spreading the disease — there’s a risk that some component of the disease remains dormant in the blood and could be passed to the blood recipient. If you’ve traveled to certain countries or have been exposed to certain diseases, you’re also asked to wait the incubation period for those diseases before giving blood.

Your donated blood in most cases can’t be tested for a potential disease. The donation center must rely on the information you provide them with to be sure the blood they’re getting will be safe for the recipient. Medical marijuana is also something that could be present in your system but not detectable in the screening interview.

Which Drugs Disqualify You From Blood Donation?

The American Red Cross is the largest blood donor organization in the United States, but the FDA sets the standards for blood donation and inspects donation sites regularly. The Red Cross is responsible for public education about blood donation and for carrying out required blood screening procedures.

THC, or the active ingredient in marijuana, is not one of the substances that donated blood is tested for. There are no specific prohibitions against donating blood if you’re a medical marijuana user. If you’re noticeably under the influence of marijuana, the blood donation center may send you away and ask you to come back when you’re feeling better.

Everyone who donates blood is asked about any drugs they are taking. People who are treating with antibiotics are asked to wait until their treatment is finished. Most over-the-counter medicines and routine prescriptions for blood pressure or birth control won’t keep you from donating blood.

The pre-donation questionnaire asks about illegal drug use. The answers to these questions remain confidential, but can prevent you from being eligible to donate. Injecting illegal drugs makes you ineligible to donate blood for life. Other types of drug use may subject you to a waiting period following your last dose.

What to Consider Before Volunteering to Donate Blood

Some of the screening process for blood donation is meant to protect the health of the donor. If you’re not well, donating blood may not be a good choice for you.

As a medical marijuana user, here are some things to consider before showing up to the blood donation center to give blood:

• Do you weigh in? You must be at least 110 pounds to donate blood. If your body weight is in that neighborhood, you may want to check it before you go to donate blood. Getting turned down at the blood donation center can make you feel self-conscious and lower your self-esteem. If the weight limit is a problem for you, consider planning to gain a little weight before you try to donate blood.
• Unpack your bags. If you’ve traveled out of the country, it’s best to wait several months before trying to donate blood. You may carry a disease you were exposed to in your travels that hasn’t shown itself yet. After a reasonable incubation period, if no disease develops, you’ll be okay to donate.
• Rest up. Your overall health will be assessed when you go to donate blood. If you’re sick or just in poor health, you won’t be allowed to donate. Donating blood can take the starch out of you even on a good day. Be sure you’re well rested before you donate blood, and the experience will be much more positive.
• Hydrate. Veins that are well hydrated are easier to tap into. The staff at a blood donation center are experts in drawing blood, but you don’t need to present them with a challenge. There’s nothing worse than being stuck with the needle two or three times for your donation. When your body is properly hydrated, your veins are big and plump, and the blood will flow out of them easily.
• Wait one hour. Just like waiting to swim after eating, it’s a good idea to wait one hour after eating to donate blood. A healthy meal will improve your strength and prepare you for the donation. It may be difficult to stomach a blood donation while you’re digesting your breakfast, though. By the time your donation is finished, those cookies and juice will really hit the spot.
• Go between doses. There’s no problem with donating blood if you use medical marijuana, but no one wants to receive blood with THC in it. A good way to avoid any problems is to wait until you’re not feeling the effects of your last dose. If you can’t feel the effects of the medical marijuana, it’s probably already metabolized out of your bloodstream. That’s a good time for you to donate blood and help save lives.

With the proper preparation, you can donate blood every 56 days, even when you use medical marijuana.

Learn More

To learn more about the effects medical marijuana could have on your system, use our search feature to find a marijuana doctor near you. A doctor who’s experienced in using marijuana to treat patients can help you understand the medical benefits of cannabis and how they might help improve your quality of life. They can also answer any additional questions you have about giving blood as a MMJ patient.