In France alone, a million patients are treated every year thanks to blood sampling. fast and painless, these gifts are essentialbut still sufficiently numerous to fully meet medical needs at specific times.
Therefore, donating blood is an extremely useful act. Nevertheless, it is necessary to be able to do this without risk for the recipients. Can you donate blood if you use cannabis? (Marijuana as legal CBD cannabis)? That’s our question of the day.
Can you donate blood if you smoke cannabis?
Contrary to popular belief, smoking cannabis does not prevent blood donation
In France, smoking cannabis remains illegal. Marijuana is indeed considered a narcotic and is considered a drug alongside stronger substances like cocaine. However, the effects and risks are obviously not comparable. As for blood donation Smoking cannabis is not a sufficient reason for not being able to donate blood.
Specifically, it is simply asked for do not consume within 48 hours of donation to minimize the presence of THC in the blood. In fact, the mode of consumption can be more of a problem for the recipient than the substance itself.
So while injecting drug use is absolutely forbidden for a donor, occasional smoking is not not a big risk. The pre-donation questionnaire does not mention cannabis.
However, the conversation with the doctor should bring up the topic of drugs. With occasional consumption and without further contraindications, he usually accepts the donor blood collection. However, he can reserve it Right to refuse collection if in doubt about the date of last consumption or if he thinks that the person is not in their right mind.
Blood donation and CBD cannabis: is it compatible?
Yes, without doubt ! Donating blood while consuming cannabis is possible with certain precautions. In addition, the risks mentioned are systematically linked to two elements: the way of ingestion and the presence of THC.
Le CBD is itself a molecule legal, with no psychoactive effect or risk of addiction. It therefore does not pose the risks of its cousin THC. In addition, CBD is not intended for smoking. It is taken in drops (CBD oil), in infusions (hemp herbal teas, CBD flowers, CBD resins) or in the kitchen. Here again, no risk to the person receiving the blood of a cannabidiol user.
And elsewhere
- Belgium: In Belgium, cannabis is listed as a soft drug. It means it is him possible to donate blood if you are a consumerunless the person is under the influence at the time of the donation.
- Canada: Cannabis is legal in Canada, including for recreational purposes. Donating blood to those who smoke marijuana is absolutely legal. Donors are simply asked to wait 12 hours after the end of the effect.
Did you know: Contraindications for donating blood
A recent piercing is more likely to prevent you from donating blood than a joint
Cannabis use is far from the only element that can prevent blood donation! Some are obvious, others surprising or even shocking as the reasons justifying the decision are disputed.
You have to be old to donate bloodat least 18 yearsbut under 70 years. It is also necessary weigh at least 50 kg. Logically, it is also not possible to donate blood if you are ill (positive for Covid, infection and/or fever above 38°C in the two weeks before blood collection).
surprising, after a tattoo or piercing (including classic earrings) blood donation is not possible for 4 months. Just after a dental operationa deadline must also be respected (24 hours for a cavity or scale, 7 days for an extraction) to avoid the risk of the presence of bacteria in the blood.
If you’re traveling, it may be too, depending on that destinations visitedthat we refuse to draw your blood.
finally had Sex with multiple partners in the last 4 months is a reason to refuse a blood donation. In France, homosexuals have only been allowed to donate blood without a period of abstinence since March 2022.
Until 2016, gay men just weren’t allowed to do that. Between 2016 and 2019 they had to justify a year’s abstinence and between 2019 and 2022 “only” 4 months. In other countries like Belgium, the abstinence period of one year is still relevant.
To find out if and where you can donate blood, you can easily assess yourself online at the EFS websitethe organization responsible for blood transfusions in France.
What are the risks of donating blood after consuming THC?
The blood taken is systematically examined and processed
A person who needs to receive blood has a health problem (illness, accident). Therefore, for obvious reasons of public health, it is imperative not to take the slightest risk.
This explains the rather strict rules towards donors: priority in favor of donors the patient’s right to receive uncontaminated bloodand whether it is a chemical substance, a bacterium or a virus.
However, and according to Laurent-Paul Menard, spokesman for Héma-Québec, the organization in charge of blood transfusions in Quebec:
“The amounts found in the transfused products are so small that it poses no risk to recipients.”
This is all the more true as blood samples are systematically subjected to a number of procedures biological tests medium and preparatory treatment before they are used. In conclusion, if you use cannabis occasionally and want to donate blood, be honest with the staff at the donation center : This is not a sufficient condition for not helping others!
