Background
Marijuana is the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. A recent study showed that over 22 million Americans have smoked marijuana in the past month. While marijuana is illegal under federal law, individual states are allowed to legalize it for either medical or recreational use. As more states legalize marijuana, there is a greater need for understanding how it affects the body.
One question that people frequently ask is “how long does cannabis stay in your system?” In this blog post, we will explore that question and provide some answers.
Types of cannabis
There are two main types of cannabis: hemp and marijuana. Both are variations of the Cannabis sativa plant, but they have vastly different uses and effects.
Hemp is a type of cannabis that contains very low levels of THC (the psychoactive compound in marijuana). Hemp has been used for centuries as a source of fibers, oils, and food. It was originally cultivated in the Middle East and Asia before being introduced to Europe during the 16th century. In the United States, hemp production was banned in 1937 with the passage of the Marijuana Tax Act. The ban lasted until 2018 when it was lifted with the passing of the Farm Bill.
Hemp is highly versatile and can be used for a variety of applications such as textiles, paper, building materials, fuel, bioplastics, food additives, and cosmetics. It is also rich in essential fatty acids like Omega-3 and Omega-6 which are important for human health. Hemp has been found to have several potential health benefits including cardiovascular protection, anti-inflammatory properties, improved digestion and gut health, better sleep patterns and stress management.
Hemp also provides an ecological benefit as it is a highly renewable resource that requires little water or fertilizer to grow and can be cropped multiple times per year. Hemp products are often considered safer alternatives to synthetically derived substances due to their natural origin and lack of harmful chemical processing.
How long does THC stay in your system?
The answer to the question of how long THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, stays in your system will depend on a variety of factors. These include how often and how much you use, your body composition, metabolism and other individual health factors. Generally, it is believed that THC can be detected in urine for up to 12 days after last use for an occasional user, but it can take up to 21 days for more frequent users.
THC is fat-soluble and is stored in fat cells throughout the body. When you consume cannabis with THC, it is quickly absorbed into your bloodstream and then moves through your entire body within minutes. From there, it binds to receptors in your brain, resulting in the psychoactive effects of marijuana use.
As your liver metabolizes THC over time, metabolites are produced which can be detected by drug tests. Blood tests have a relatively short window of detection because THC is rapidly cleared from the bloodstream; however, urine tests have a longer detection window due to metabolites being excreted over time.
It is important to note that although most drug testing measures are designed to detect THC-COOH (a metabolite of THC), some are also capable of detecting trace amounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) itself as well as other metabolites such as cannabinol (CBN) and 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC).
When testing for THC or its metabolites, bear in mind that due to its fat-soluble properties, they may remain detectable in the body long after initial consumption. As such, it may be possible that traces could still be found even four weeks later among heavy or chronic users depending on their individual metabolism rate and body composition.
Does CBD from hemp stay in your system?
Cannabidiol (CBD) derived from hemp may stay in your system for a period of time, although the exact duration is still not definitively known. Hemp-derived CBD is considered to be non-psychoactive and will not cause any feelings of intoxication, unlike THC which is derived from marijuana.
The amount of time that CBD stays in your system will depend on several factors such as the method of consumption, dosage, body mass and metabolism. Factors such as age, general health, and individual differences can also play a role in determining how long it could stay in your system.
When ingested orally, CBD typically takes anywhere from 20 minutes to two hours to become fully active in the body. However, the effects usually last much longer than this; peak concentrations in the bloodstream are typically seen four to eight hours after ingestion and then slowly decrease over the course of 24 hours. This suggests that some metabolites may remain detectable even a few days after use.
Some studies suggest that CBD could be detectable up to five days after ingestion if taken at high doses or if you have a slower metabolism rate. Similarly, if you’re taking other medications that interact with CBD or you have an underlying health condition like liver disease or diabetes then it may take longer for CBD to pass through your system completely.
For most people though, hemp-derived CBD should not remain detectable beyond three days after use even at higher doses since it has a half-life of only one to two days when compared with THC’s half-life which can range up to 10 days depending on frequency and amount used. Furthermore, since drug tests are designed specifically to detect THC metabolites they do not normally detect other cannabinoids like CBD so you should generally not worry about it showing up on any kind of drug test unless you have been using marijuana as well.
How much THC do CBD products have?
The amount of THC present in CBD products varies greatly depending on the type of product in question. Broadly speaking, cannabis-derived CBD products typically contain more THC than hemp-derived CBD products as they are made from marijuana, which has higher levels of the psychoactive compound. Hemp-derived CBD on the other hand is made from hemp plants which are not as high in THC content and therefore have much lower levels of this compound present.
In general, most hemp-derived CBD products contain 0.3% or less THC by dry weight. This is a minuscule amount and will not cause any psychoactive effects when consumed or inhaled, however it is still enough to be detectable through drug tests since even trace amounts of THC can show up in results.
On the other hand, cannabis-derived CBD products can range anywhere from 2% to 30% THC by dry weight, depending on the strain used and how concentrated it is. While these products may contain low enough levels to be considered non-intoxicating (with anything below 1% being classified as such), they could still result in positive drug tests if taken at high enough doses.
To ensure that you do not consume more than your desired amount of THC when taking CBD products, always check third party lab test results before purchasing them. This will give you an idea of what exactly you are consuming so that you can make an informed decision about your health and safety.
Does THC from CBD products stay in your system?
The answer to this question is yes, THC from CBD products can stay in your system. Depending on the method of consumption, dosage, body mass and metabolism, as well as other individual factors such as age and general health, the amount of time that THC may remain detectable in your system differs. When taken orally, THC typically takes around 20 minutes to two hours to become fully active in the body. The effects will then remain for up to 24 hours with peak concentrations in the bloodstream being detected between four to eight hours after ingestion. However, studies suggest that when taken at high doses or if one has a slower metabolism rate, metabolites may be detectable even a few days after use. Likewise, if you are taking other medications that interact with CBD or have an underlying health condition like liver disease or diabetes then it could take longer for THC to pass through your system completely.
Due to marijuana-derived CBD having higher levels of THC than hemp-derived products (which can range anywhere from 2% to 30% THC by dry weight depending on the strain used), more time may be needed for its metabolites to leave your body. This is why it is important to check third party lab test results before consuming any kind of CBD product so that you are aware of what exactly you are consuming and know how much THC is present in it. Finally, since drug tests are designed specifically to detect THC metabolites they do not normally detect other cannabinoids like CBD so while there is a slight chance that it could show up on a drug test if taken at high enough doses, hemp-derived CBD should not remain detectable beyond three days after use even at higher doses due to its half-life being only one to two days when compared with THC’s half-life which can range up to 10 days depending on frequency and amount used.
Tips to pass a drug test
If you are facing an upcoming drug test, there are some steps you can take to increase your chances of passing. The first and most important step is to abstain from using marijuana or other drugs with THC for as long as possible before the test. Depending on factors such as body composition, metabolism rate and frequency of use, THC metabolites can remain detectable in the body anywhere between one and four weeks after consumption. Therefore, it is advised that frequent users abstain from marijuana use at least 4 weeks prior to the test.
In addition to abstinence, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly can also help flush out any traces of THC metabolites in your system. Drinking water helps dilute urine samples which may contain trace amounts of metabolites while exercising aids in boosting your metabolism which helps break down and eliminate toxins faster. While these methods may not guarantee a negative result they can help reduce the amount of metabolites present in your system which could potentially result in a negative result if the sample contains very low levels of THC metabolites.
It is also important to note that certain medications taken prior to a drug test may affect its results. For example, certain types of antibiotics like rifampin or rifabutin act as enzyme inhibitors by speeding up the breakdown process of THC allowing it to be cleared from the body more quickly resulting in a negative drug test result even when consumed within days before being tested. Similarly, taking diuretics such as dandelion root extract or cranberry juice could potentially dilute your urine sample enough to show a false-negative result even when taken shortly before testing due to their natural diuretic properties.
Finally, it is always best to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider if you have any doubts regarding dietary supplements or medication that you may be taking prior to a drug test. They will be able to advise you on which substances could interfere with the testing procedure and how best to proceed if faced with an upcoming drug test.
Summary
In summary, it is generally accepted that hemp-derived CBD should not remain detectable beyond three days after use. This is because it has a short half-life of one to two days and drug tests are designed specifically to detect THC metabolites rather than other cannabinoids like CBD. However, this time frame may be extended depending on factors such as the dose taken, underlying health conditions, and any medications taken prior to drug testing. To increase the chances of passing a drug test, it is best for frequent users to abstain from marijuana use for at least 4 weeks before being tested. Finally, it is always best to consult with your doctor or healthcare provider about any doubts you have regarding dietary supplements or medications taken prior to a drug test.