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Can You Donate Plasma If You Smoke Weed?

Those who smoke weed may ask: “Can you donate plasma if you smoke weed?”. Different forms of toxic chemicals can disqualify one from being a plasma donor. When planning to donate blood, you must consider your health status to ensure the safety of another. 

You can donate plasma if you smoke weed or consume cannabis. However, you have to ensure you have not taken any form of synthetic weed. You cannot donate plasma if you have ingested any human-made chemical that stands in place of the natural herbs. Aside from this rule, there are also some guidelines to follow before you can donate plasma.

There are certain measures for any smoker to adhere to when planning to donate plasma. In this post, you’ll know if you can donate plasma if you smoke weed and what it takes.

What Is Blood Plasma?

The plasma is a yellowish part of the blood that keeps all its particles together. Donated blood separates from plasma after standing alone for a short time.

Plasma is necessary for people who are sick. Blood plasma maintains electrolyte balance in the body and protects against infections and blood disease development. 

Donation of blood can save lives. The process is simple and takes about 10 to 12 minutes. 

According to several health experts, the process of donating blood is also beneficial to the body. It makes the body replace lost blood, improving cardiovascular health and lowering the risk of obesity and cancer. The same principle applies to blood plasma donation.

Blood banks also need plasma contributions. Trauma and severe bleeding necessitate the use of blood plasma.

How Does Plasma Donation Work?

When donating plasma, the blood particles separate from their liquid components. Some top-notch machines pull this blood from the arm and store it. They return the remaining particles like the red blood cells when they’ve finished the process. 

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Plasma donation is a relatively safe operation that only takes a few minutes longer than whole blood donation. They preserve the plasma’s valuable clotting properties by freezing within 24 hours following donation. Medics can keep it frozen for up to a year before being thawed and administered to a patient.

You cant just donate plasma without checking some necessary factors. To begin with, only apply if you are in good overall health. Furthermore, in most countries, you must be 17 years old before you can donate. 

If they have parental consent, certain states may allow16-year-olds to donate. A healthy plasma donor must also have a good weight of at least 110 pounds. Plasma can only be donated once every 28 days or four weeks. 

Can You Donate Plasma If You Smoke Weed?

Here’s to you asking, ‘can you donate plasma if you smoke weed?’ It’s legal to donate plasma if you’ve used no cannabis products for at least 24 hours before the donation. 

Cannabis opponents may argue that cannabis users’ blood is unfit for a baby, infant, or toddler. However, this point doesn’t have any scientific backing and is simply untrue. 

THC (the psychoactive component of cannabis) will no longer be present when they give the plasma to another individual. However, if you’ve used or consumed synthetic marijuana, you won’t be able to donate.

Synthetic marijuana, often known as K2 or Spice, is an artificial narcotic that resembles marijuana in appearance and behaviour. It is an unregulated chemical that fits into new psychoactive drugs (NPS).

Another popular synthetic marijuana product is Marinol, an FDA-approved medication. Anyone who is currently on a Marinol dosage is not fit to donate plasma for whatever reason.

What Is Plasma Used For?

Doctors can utilize plasma to treat a range of severe health problems. Plasma contains antibodies and chemicals that aid in blood clotting and can be used to heal burns and injuries. Its donation can also help in the treatment of the following conditions:

  • Treatment creation: Antibodies and proteins help develop drugs for rare diseases, including immune system deficiencies.
  • Plasma transfusions: Some adults and adolescents with malignancies such as leukaemia may require such treatment.
  • Bone marrow transplant: Some individuals undergoing liver or bone marrow transplants require plasma.
  • Haemophilia: This rare blood condition in which the body’s clotting factors are insufficient to stop bleeding.
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Additional Guidelines for Donors Who Use Cannabis

The question ‘can you donate plasma if you smoke weed?’ may still pop up during donation. You don’t have to worry. Simply remember that cannabis users must take the following measures before donating blood:

  • Stop smoking for 24 hours before donating. This method should result in no active THC in your plasma.
  • You should not consume any food containing cannabis. THC will stay in your plasma for longer because edibles take longer to leave your system.
  • Also, you risk developing low blood pressure or hypertension if you donate while high or intoxicated.

These blood and plasma donation guidelines remain unchanged regardless of how frequently a person uses cannabis. You no longer need to ask: Can you donate plasma if you smoke weed? 

To be factual, TCH in the body doesn’t easily break down, so it won’t leave the body of a regular user quickly. However, weed-infused blood does not affect the donor recipient. Hence, the level of THC in your bloodstream makes no difference.

Conclusion

Blood plasma is a vital part of the blood as it aids in clotting. It also assists when treating and preventing haemophilia, immunological deficits, and genetic diseases. So, if you wonder and ask, ‘can you donate plasma if you smoke weed?’, you now know you can.

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