CBD Use And Eligibility For Blood Donation

Benefits Of CBD
Benefits Of CBD
Eligibility For Blood Donation
Eligibility For Blood Donation

According to the report of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, about 5 million Americans receive blood transfusions every year. It could be something like a severe accident or injury, diseases like hemophilia or anemia, or a surgery that demands blood transfusions.

Health authorities across the world encourage people to donate blood. However, not everyone is eligible for blood donation. Certain criteria define one’s eligibility for blood donation.

Cannabis Users And Eligibility To Donate Blood

Because you are a cannabis smoker, you won’t become ineligible for donating blood. However, if you are visibly high during your appointment, the clinic might not let you donate.

The American Red Cross has said that it does not consider the use of marijuana, cigarettes, or alcohol as a factor that disqualifies a person from donating blood. However, the Red Cross has also made it clear that it does not encourage the habits. The donors are not allowed to give while they are under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs.

Can CBD Users Donate Blood?

CBD is a cannabis-derived compound. As the authorities do not consider cannabis use as a criterion to disqualify one from donating blood, the same would apply to CBD. Cannabidiol users can donate blood.

Factors That Disqualify One From Donating Blood

Here are some of the general disqualifiers.

  • Use of illicit injection drugs
  • Testing positive for HIV, hepatitis B or C.
  • History of Ebola virus infection
  • Use of injection drugs like steroids not prescribed by your doctor
  • Having an inherited blood clotting disorder

You might also be disqualified from donating blood if you are taking certain medications. They include:

  • Blood thinners
  • Acitretin-a drug used to treat severe psoriasis
  • isotretinoin-an acne drug
  • dutasteride- used to treat enlarged prostate glands
  • teriflunomide- Drug used to treat multiple sclerosis

In some cases, you will have to wait a few days after taking the medication to be eligible to donate. In some other cases, you might even have to wait three years.

In some rare cases, you might be disqualified from donating for a lifetime because of taking some medications. Human-pituitary-derived growth hormone and etretinate (a psoriasis drug) are two examples. Both drugs are currently banned in the US.

Even though smoking nicotine does not disqualify you from donating blood, the conditions caused by the habit may be considered disqualifiers. Examples include cancer, heart, and lung disease.