Donating blood saves lives, and I highly recommend it. For weed smokers, anytime someone wants a sample of your blood it can be kind of nerve wrecking. So, the question is: do blood drives test your blood for THC? Can you get in trouble for trying to donate ‘tainted’ blood?
The Short Answer
I’ve contacted several blood donation companies and here is the general consensus: It’s totally cool for weed smokers to donate. Blood centers do not test for THC in your blood; however, they may turn you down if you are visibly high at the time you arrive to give blood.
So weed smokers can give blood without any worries (just lay off it before going in.) This sounds pretty reasonable to me.
Keep reading if you are interested in the exact wording I received from the two different blood centers.
Here’s the Email I wrote:
Hello,
I’m writing an article, and wanted to get some information. Do you test blood for THC? If so, does the presence of THC make someone ineligible to give blood?
Thanks
American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross Responded very quickly with the following:
Thank you for contacting the American Red Cross. We appreciate your time and willingness to keep our blood supply at a safe level by wanting to donate at one of our collection sites. In regards to your question and the information you provided and by looking at our guidance I have determined that this will not prevent you from donating blood. As long as you are not under the influence at the time of donation, the presence of THC will not prevent you from donating.
Thank you so much for your willingness to donate. If you have any other questions or concerns please feel free to contact us by replying back to this email or by calling 1-866-236-3276. Have a great day and once again thank you for taking the time to contact us.
America’s Blood Centers:
America’s Blood Centers was a pain to get in contact with. I sent them several emails with no response. Finally, I looked up a center within their network and got a super speedy response from Bonfils Blood Center in Denver.
The purpose of testing donated blood is to detect infectious diseases that are transmissible by transfusion. Donated blood is not tested for THC.
Bonfils Blood Center, as is the case with many other blood centers across the industry, does not defer donors for marijuana use unless the donor is visibly impaired or has another condition for which he/she is using medical marijuana such as cancer which would preclude him/her from donation.
Please let me know if you have any further questions.
So there you have it folks. You may donate blood without fear or tyranny. Got a story about giving blood? Tell me about it in the comment section below.
If you enjoyed this article then here’s a few of my other articles you might enjoy:
I am a regular Marijuana user and have been donating regularly for years. I never go when feeling high(my appointment is usually early). In fact, I usually will take 1 extra juice and fruit gummie for munchies later.
Just remember to drink as close to a gallon of water as you can within 24 hours of donating. It will make the process faster, easier, and overall more enjoyable.
Also, eat the sugary snacks and juices they provide. You just got blood taken from you, your blood sugar is going to be low. If you do anything that could be strenuous with low blood sugar you will most likely pass out or feel SUPER weak so eat the yummy snacks and juice!
Great advice. Thanks for sharing 🙂
I knew I was going to donate today so I didn’t smoke for a couple of days, I am hypoglycemic so knowing this I always chug oj and chocolate chip cookies before and eat the snacks after. Today was no different before, but after they gave me one 100 calorie snack pack and a bottle of water. My mind was totally blown when I asked why that was it, weren’t they worried about ppls blood sugar? They said people only need a little sugar to be fine and it keeps them from overeating and gaining weight. By the time I got off (I work at a miserably hot manufacturing plant), I could barely walk and was trembling horribly. Needless to say I will not be donating through them anymore!
Im a Freshman in college and began smoking regularly this year. I began smoking at the beginning of the school term and was asked if I wanted to donate blood. Not even thinking I agreed to it. Mind you I’ve always donated at blood drive s. With six under my belt I had become a regular donor. However when I got to the blood drive it all hit me and I decided to ask if I could donate blood if I smoked. The last time I had smoked was two days before and I informed the worker of this. He looked me dead in the eyes and said “Yeah of course you can donate kid. I’m a huge pothead. Probably going to smoke after we shutdown here.” I was super relieved. It was cool to know that I can be high AND save lives.
I love how chill the technician was. Thanks for sharing 🙂
This was helpful info thank you
Awesome! So glad you enjoyed it
I’m so glad I found this article! I really want to donate blood but my friends told me that it’s not safe to donate when you smoke, it was heart breaking for me but thanks to this article now I’m gonna sign up for the next blood drive! Thanks!
Hey so good to know that I can donate blood while consuming mary jane on a regular basis. 😀 Thank you so much for sharing your experiences guys. I’ll get the next possible appointment. 😀
Hi This is very helpful, i will be donating blood for my best friend’s father.
This is a great post for a marijuana blog, and I can testify that blood donations save lives because mine is one of them. I had an internal injury once and without even realizing what was happening I almost bled to death. I became increasingly disoriented until I got to the point where I could no longer walk, and even crawling around my home on my hands and knees I couldn’t manage to go anywhere in a straight line without tipping over and falling on my face. In desperation I called a friend and he helped me to get to the hospital ER. Once inside they discovered my HG (hemoglobin count) was down to around 5.7. A healthy HG is anything over 13, and dropping below 7 is most often fatal unless your body is strong. The HG level I dropped down to would have killed a child, elderly person, or someone in poor physical condition. I quite literally came within a hair’s breadth of kicking the bucket that day. It took eight units of blood to revive me. Needless to say, I am a big believer in donating.
What blood group are you?
Fuck giving blood. They discriminate against gays.
They might, but they’re not exactly checking to make sure you’re gay. I’m gay and yet I continue to donate, because I’m not going to let people die just because I disagree with one thing. It’s the non-douschebag thing to do.
I totally agree with you.
Besides if you’re ever in a terrible accident or you need blood as an emergency don’t you want to be able to have enough blood out there for you? Gay or not you’re offered or given blood.
It’s not discriminating against gays for the fact of being gay. It is to stop the spread of aids or other diseases.
Oldest weed my friend an i smoked was like 9 years old. It had belonged to my dad when he had cancer his doctor gave it to him but he forgot about it after he got well. It was in a plastic baggie put up in necklace box in a dark shelf was shit in taste but still worked bomb my dads doc had great taste.
Also what is bubble hash?
Go watch some YouTube
Hi I’m smoke weed and I want to donate blood . and I am scared to donate because I am user.
If I donate blood through my job, can my blood test be shared with my job?