[vta]

Acceptance. What a powerful word. There is a growing body of medical groups that are giving cannabis a second look. Kudos go out to Harborside for giving back to the community with something that really helps.

Medical California -- Harborside Health Center, one of San Jose's largest cannabis collectives, will host a blood drive for the American Red Cross on Tuesday. It's almost certainly the first time that a local medical marijuana dispensary has sponsored such a bloodletting, but after Harborside officials laid claim to being the first Red Cross pot spot in the agency's 129-year history, some confusion set in.

A Red Cross spokeswoman said there was no way to verify that. Then a Harborside spokeswoman said the Red Cross had approved the press release in which the claim was made.

In any case, the event Tuesday will take place from noon to 6 p.m. For anyone who feels light-headed after giving blood, there will be munchies.

Harborside is part of a coalition of medicinal cannabis clinics seeking a regulatory ordinance from San Jose's city council. But because the Red Cross has a policy of remaining politically neutral, top officials at the relief agency's Washington D.C. had to approve the event. Mona Helmhold, a local Red Cross representative, inspected the facility, and found that it met the requirements for a blood drive.

Initially, Red Cross officials had misgivings about drawing blood from patients who were dosing themselves with marijuana, according to spokeswoman Sara O'Brien.

The drug's active ingredient, THC, reaches the brain through the bloodstream. A ruling by the agency's head nurse determined that "as long as they are not at that moment high," Harborside patients can donate blood, O'Brien said.

Harborside dispenses cannabis by prescription to patients who typically suffer from conditions such as chronic pain, glaucoma, migraines, arthritis, cancer and AIDS. The dispensary has already signed up 30 donors, according to spokeswoman Gaynell Rogers.

Potential donors may call 866-236-3276 or 408-321-8424 to find out if they qualify.

Information is also available at: https://www.redcrossblood.org

Harborside Health Center is located at 2106 Ringwood Ave.

Source: San Jose Mercury News (CA)
Author: Bruce Newman

Thats pretty cool, I have always liked Harborside and their philosophy. On another note, the fact that I now know I can give blood even though I use MMJ is also pretty cool, I like giving back to the community and this is just another way of doing that!

[Motta-Tokka]

It would be funny to see non smokers see this. They might think we are trying to infect the blood banks with thc infused blood, lol

[Toyot4]

i dont like this idea at all. if you are donating blood you should do so on a sober state of mind which is what they are trying to do, but its still very hard for people to tell weather someone is medicated or not.

after you donate blood and feel like a good samaritan the american red cross will go out of their way to bug you to donate like 5 times a week from 5 different phone numbers in 5 different states.

serving munchies at a blood bank is common but the fact that they change the name from snack to munchies is pretty damn funny.

[bicycle racer]

yeah god forbid they bug you to donate blood to save lives how terrible and inconvenient for you.