Money is tight. Weed money is even tighter. And America's need for blood and plasma is growing, thanks to the pandemic lockdowns across the country over the last two years.
Contributing to the blood crisis, the American Red Cross estimates a 62% drop in college and high school blood drives due to the pandemic. And according to some sources, in Arizona, blood donations have hit a two-year record low, down by one-third of their usual rate.
The American Red Cross says that nearly 10,000 blood plasma units are needed every day in the United States. In addition to providing lifesaving plasma transfusions to patients with blood clotting disorders, blood plasma donations are used in treatments designed to help cancer patients.
As a righteous and patriotic stoner, you may find this worthy cause to be just the ticket to raise a little more grass (or gas) money by selling some of that THC-rich blood plasma.
Every weed smoker in America should know they are eligible to donate plasma. American Red Cross verifies that cannabis consumers can donate blood and blood products like platelets as well.
The only way you might be turned away from donating plasma or blood is if upon arrival at the donation center, you are visibly impaired or if you show outward signs of memory loss or have difficulty concentrating.
So, maybe skip the wake and bake on the morning of your donation, but otherwise, you're good to go!
In most cases, weed smokers can donate blood and won't have to worry about donation centers testing for THC.
The Red Cross also says that marijuana users don't have to wait a certain amount of time after they smoke to donate blood. They're not high during the process.
And due to the high stakes, plasma donation guidelines and rules are strict, and some people, including cannabis consumers, may not meet the requirements.
Smoking weed does not immediately disqualify you from becoming a blood or plasma donor. You can donate as long as you are otherwise healthy and meet all the other eligibility requirements.
Despite being classified as a Schedule 1 substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), marijuana is not targeted for drug testing before plasma donation.
Eligibility to donate blood is regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and not the DEA. The FDA does not require blood collectors such as plasma donation centers to test for THC.
What You Need to Know About Plasma Donation and Cannabis Use
What is Blood Plasma?
A person's blood plasma has proteins, water, salt, antibodies, and enzymes. In addition to keeping healthy blood pressure and blood volume, it also helps the body's immune system. Donor plasma is used to make lifesaving medicines and therapies at hospitals and blood banks.
A donor's blood is drawn and pulled into a high-tech machine that separates and collects the plasma through a very safe process. The red blood cells and platelets are then mixed with saline and returned to the donor's body. ("Can You Donate Plasma If You Smoke Weed [Fast Facts]")
The process takes about an hour from start to finish. Before you waste your time, energy, and precious gas driving around Tucson, visiting donation centers to make those bud bucks. Make sure you are eligible to donate blood plasma.
To Qualify As A Plasma Donor, You Will Have To Meet The Following Universal Plasma Donation Requirements:
Plasma donors should be at least 18 years old.
Provide valid photo I.D. and proof of permanent address.
Plasma donors should weigh at least 110 pounds or 50 kilograms.
Must pass a basic medical examination.
Complete an extensive medical history screening.
Test non-reactive for transmissible viruses, including hepatitis and HIV.
What Can Disqualify Someone From Donating Blood Plasma?
According to guidelines established by the American Red Cross, some restrictions may disqualify you from being a plasma donor:
A piercing or tattoo within the last year.
Pregnancy or recent childbirth.
Steroid use.
Any illness presenting with fever.
Low iron levels, which may signify anemia.
HIV or hepatitis infection
Traveling to a malaria-risk country within the past three years.
Exhibiting apparent effects of marijuana abuse (cognitive impairment).
Depending on your preferred plasma donation center, specifics may vary from one location to another. If you have any concerns, contact them directly.
You may also be disqualified if you use synthetic marijuana, K2, or Spice, which you really shouldn't be using anyway. It can kill you. THC from cannabis plants, on the other hand, has never killed anyone in the history of its use. The U.S. government has been trying to accomplish that result with primates for decades without success.
Marijuana Myth: Pot Can Kill You
In the 1970s, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) conducted experiments with rhesus monkeys to determine a lethal dose of cannabinoids in primates. Scientists used doses of 6,000 to 9,000 mg/kg of THC in an attempt to determine how much THC it would take to kill a primate.
That's about 45,000 mgs of THC! For an 11 pound monkey, and despite 90% of them assuming "a sitting position, often facing the back of their cages, and rested their faces in their hands or between their knees," researchers were unable to find a dose of THC that would be lethal for a primate.
But back to that potential plasma payout!
How Much Money Can You Make Selling Blood Plasma After Fulfilling All These Requirements?
Here's the truth: selling plasma won't make you rich. The amount of plasma your body will produce and how much your doctor can safely remove from you will always have their limits. However, It is not uncommon for someone to get $200-400 extra a month just selling their blood plasma.
And with the average price of premium weed in Arizona at $297 an ounce, that's an ounce or more of high-quality weed on average. Not bad for an hour or so of your time.
Where Can I Make A Plasma Donation In Tucson?
1. CSL Plasma
4775 S Butterfield Dr
Unit 175
2. CSL Plasma
135 S Fourth Ave
Tucson, AZ 85701
8019 E Golf Links Rd
Tucson, AZ 85730
7139 E Broadway Blvd
Tucson, AZ 85710
5. United Blood Services
3915 E Broadway Blvd
Unit 200