Marijuana and blood donation

Da_Viper

Hi there, I originally posted this in health sciences but nobody replied so though I might get an opinion here at least

I want to donate blood/platelets and just did the questionnaire on Ibts.ie which said
"Chances are you can give blood today. However, there are other reasons why you may not – we will go through these with you in detail at the clinic."

I'm fit and healthy with no complaints so should be fine but I'm just wondering will they accept my blood if I smoke a joint from time to time (maybe once every week or two)

I've seen the question asked in several places online and the consensus seems to be that like alcohol once you are not under the influence then it's fine.
I'm sure countries which have legalised it don't stop smokers donating but I don't know anything specific to Ireland.

I'd really like to help out by going and doing this but I don't want to end up going and then possibly being turned away for a "drug" reason
Obviously I can see the dangers and reasons for not accepting blood from someone who has taken hard or chemically addictive drugs and would never want to donate if I thought I would potentially put something harmful into someone else's body.

Anyway if anyone able to tell me the situation regarding this it would be great

Thanks

flahavaj

Da_Viper wrote: »

Hi there, I originally posted this in health sciences

I'd say you'll definitely get a more balanced and measured medical opinion on this forum anyway.

Tbh someone getting some blood with a bit of the aul THC floating around in could be seen as a nice little surprise treat.:pac:

Saila

ring them and find out

Never give blood if:
You have received a blood transfusion (other than an autologous transfusion) in the Republic of Ireland on or after the 1st January 1980
You received a blood transfusion (other than an autologous transfusion) outside the Republic of Ireland at anytime
You have spent 1 year or more, in total, in the UK in the years 1980 to 1996
You are a male who has ever had anal or oral sex with another male, even if a condom or other form of protection was used
You have ever used a needle to take unprescribed drugs, this includes body building drugs
You or your partner is HIV positive
You have had jaundice of uncertain cause after the age of 13 years
You have had hepatitis B or C
Do not donate blood for 12 months after:
You have visited a malarial area
You were pregnant or gave birth to a baby
You received an autologous blood transfusion
Do not give blood for 6 months after:
You have had major surgery
Do not give blood for 4 months after:
You have had acupuncture. However, you will not need to wait 4 months if the acupuncture was performed by a medical practitioner registered with the Irish Medical Council or,
by a registered general nurse, registered with An Bord Altranais, working for a medical practitioner who is registered as above or,
by a chartered registered physiotherapist, registered with the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists. A certificate from your practitioner is no longer required.
You have had a piercing, tattoo or semi permanent make-up
You have had an endoscopy
Do not give blood for 3 months after:
You have visited a tropical area.
Do not give blood for 1 month after:
You have had contact with infectious diseases (where you have not previously been infected) e.g. chicken pox, mumps, measles or German measles
You have visited the United States of America, Canada, certain parts of Europe, the Southern Federal District of Russia or Israel, during the West Nile Virus at risk season, because of the possibility of onward transmission of West Nile Virus via blood transfusion. For further information on current at risk areas, please contact us at 1850 731137.
Do not give blood for two weeks after:
You have fully recovered from the ‘flu
You have fully recovered from gastroenteritis
You have fully recovered from an acute infection (and are off antibiotics for at least one week). If you are taking antibiotics for acne, please click here.
Do not give blood for one week after:
You have had a dental extraction
Do not give blood for 24 hours after:
You have had an uncomplicated dental filling or scaling
Do not give blood until you have recovered after:
A cold

That was easy.

NotExactly

Is that ''Da_Viper'' from the Hardybucks ,drinkin',shlappin' and shmokin' marijuana?

Saila

Deleted User wrote: »

That was easy.

there is some strange on that list...

Pace2008

Never give blood if:


You have spent 1 year or more, in total, in the UK in the years 1980 to 1996

Oh_Noes

Pace2008 wrote: »

That's when aids was spreading a lot I think.

Northern Monkey

Pace2008 wrote: »

Mad cow disease

**Timbuk2**

Oh_Noes wrote: »

That's when aids was spreading a lot I think.

No CJD, or Mad Cow Disease.

Da_Viper

Thanks for the list bogman I could only find a questionnaire on their site that still never covered everything

Seems weird though I was assuming if you took addictive drugs you would be unable to donate for the fact you might be passing on the same just like a baby born to a mother who was on crack or something.

AlkalineAcid

As far as I can remember there is no question about smoking cannabis or even cigarettes on the questionaire or during the pre donation interview. There are however questions about injecting drugs and snorting nonprescribed drugs. You're grand I think, so long as you have never injected drugs or snorted something in the last 12 months.

TheZohanS

They don't care if you smoke the odd joint, if you take cocaine or any other drug you have to inform them and that goes for the likes of aspirin.

**Timbuk2**

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

No CJD, or Mad Cow Disease.

Yup, it's why I'm incapable of giving blood in this country.

celj

Oh_Noes wrote: »

That's when aids was spreading a lot I think.

Its because of BSE actually.

Da_Viper

TheZohan wrote: »

They don't care if you smoke the odd joint, if you take cocaine or any other drug you have to inform them and that goes for the likes of aspirin.

That sounds pretty sensible tbh.

I somehow thought being Ireland they would have some backwards logic attached to it.
Cool I'm off to something good in the morning then so

Pace2008

Northern Monkey wrote: »

Mad cow disease

So what's the story for UK citizens donating blood in their own country? AFAIK there's no simple blood test to check for the prions responsible for CJD, so are do they just have to take the risk (which I'd imagine is pretty low)?

Da_Viper

NotExactly wrote: »

Is that ''Da_Viper'' from the Hardybucks ,drinkin',shlappin' and shmokin' marijuana?

How's it goin,

What's the craaaic!!

TheZohanS

Da_Viper wrote: »

That sounds pretty sensible tbh.

I somehow thought being Ireland they would have some backwards logic attached to it.
Cool I'm off to something good in the morning then so

Make sure you haven't had any piercings/tattoo's or any sort of intrusive medical procedures(eg. a scope) in the last 12 or 6 months respectively. A double platelet donation takes around 55min depending on your white cell count and the test beforehand will take around 15min. You'll probably be in there for the guts of 1h45min on your first donation. The staff are lovely and they have nice sandwiches and coffee.

Krieg

What if the blood recipient works for an organisation that performs mandatory drug testing? (army etc.)



Just thought id throw that one in to stir the pot

Da_Viper

TheZohan wrote: »

Make sure you haven't had any piercings/tattoo's or any sort of intrusive medical procedures(eg. a scope) in the last 12 or 6 months respectively. A double platelet donation takes around 55min depending on your white cell count and the test beforehand will take around 15min. You'll probably be in there for the guts of 1h45min on your first donation. The staff are lovely and they have nice sandwiches and coffee.

Thanks Zohan but I should be good on all other counts.

I've checked it up and if possible I'll go for a platelet donation as it seems they get more out of it so to speak and the recovery time is faster since you don't lose your red blood cells.

I do a lot of running so I'd like to keep those if possible although it would be interesting to see if I lose performance after giving a full blood donation

**Timbuk2**

Da_Viper wrote: »

I do a lot of running so I'd like to keep those if possible although it would be interesting to see if I lose performance after giving a full blood donation

You won't notice any loss in performance at all. You shouldn't go on any big runs the day of the blood donation, and probably the day directly afterwards, but your body will have replaced the lost fluid within 48 hours. The 13 week wait is required to build up your red blood cells.

Da_Viper

Krieg wrote: »

What if the blood recipient works for an organisation that performs mandatory drug testing? (army etc.)



Just thought id throw that one in to stir the pot

Good question but I'd say anyone in need of a blood donation wouldn't/shouldn't be put in front of a drug test for at least a few weeks.

Then even at that 1 pint out of 14 in your body containing a little thc wont fail a test.

brimal

They definitely allow cannabis users to donate blood. I asked one of the nurses before giving blood.

mikom

I asked John Q, and he said he would rather die than accept blood from a druggie.

Oh_Noes

mikom wrote: »

I asked John Q, and he said he would rather die than accept blood from a druggie.

Those crazy Jehovahs.

Oranage2

Nope - the recipient would only get high

GAAman

Da_Viper wrote: »

I do a lot of running so I'd like to keep those if possible although it would be interesting to see if I lose performance after giving a full blood donation

**Timbuk2** wrote: »

You won't notice any loss in performance at all. You shouldn't go on any big runs the day of the blood donation, and probably the day directly afterwards, but your body will have replaced the lost fluid within 48 hours. The 13 week wait is required to build up your red blood cells.

I have donated 28 times now and never notice even a faster heartbeat let alone any other effects, have gone training and to the gym many times an hour or two after donating not even a dizzy head, you will be grand