Stoners make great donors!

Bud for Blood is an educational health initiative powered by the cannabis industry. This cause was curated by Kristen Yoder — a 17-year cannabis industry veteran.

After managing successful cannabis businesses in every sector of the California cannabis industry, Yoder now does revolutionary work with her podcast, CannaBS Detector, and gives cannabis employees (as well as essential causes) a voice in the industry through her apparel designed via Cynical Stoner.

In January of this year, the American Red Cross and the American Hospital Association, American Medical Association and American Nurses Association announced a critical blood shortage. Due to the pandemic, appointment cancellations and an aging donor population, among other factors, there is a severe need to reach and encourage a new generation of blood donors.

If you’re thinking that your cannabis consumption has an impact on your eligibility… it does not! So what’s stopping you from joining the movement to bring more blood donations across the country?

“I was searching for kind things to do to give myself and others a boost, as I had recently started my random notes of kindness campaign, where I’d give a note to people in service jobs that seemed like they were having a tough day,” Yoder shared with High There. “I decided to start Bud for Blood after learning cannabis has no impact on donor eligibility, and there is a critical blood shortage. Who better to meet the need than stoners?”

Bud for Blood Identifies Consumers as Ideal Donor Pool
A recent poll of U.S. adults showed that only 15 percent of those aged 18 to 34 years donated blood in 2020. Millennials are the largest cannabis customer age group by a very wide margin, supplying nearly half of all U.S. cannabis sales last quarter. Less than 1 percent of all blood donations come from African-Americans. According to a 2019 SAMHSA report — 30.5 percent of cannabis consumers are biracial and 20 percent are African-American.

“Demographics show that cannabis consumers are the ideal donor pool; diverse, younger, health-conscious, pro-social and [more] compassionate than non-consumers. Plus weed rhymes with bleed,” Yoder shared. “Coincidence?! I think not!”

The Bud for Blood campaign is running until August 15th. The goal of the cause is to get 100 donations across the country. Yoder will be sending out free “Team Bud for Blood” hemp-blend T-shirts to the first 100 donors to submit their donor selfies and application on their website, Bud for Blood.

Yoder is passionate about this cause and does not hold back her intentions for the cause.

“I’m obsessed with this campaign and want to go nonprofit and just go pedal to the medal [and] bring the industry together to solve the blood crisis. It’s the most amazing distraction, the most impactful thing I’ve ever been a part of,” said Yoder. “I’ve got seven companies ready to host drives, just got our first Budforblood blood drive scheduled in November with a children’s hospital in Colorado with Ajoya Dispensary. So I’m hoping to figure out a way to keep this going!”

Yoder is “cynical AF,” through her own words. She also has created a printable note for others to use through her Kindness is Contagious! movement. The cards are unbranded — just kind. “I’m actively fighting my cynicism because I’m not ready to give up yet.” Yoder shared. “And if I’m not ready to give up, no one should be.”

Bud for Blood has partnered with cannabis businesses and media outlets to spread awareness about the considerable impact of giving blood on saving lives.

For more information, visit budforblood.com, follow @budforblood on Instagram, and use the hashtag #budforblood. You can also follow their Linkedin page.

For the original article please visit the High There publication.