This study uses the term “half-life” in its biological context, which refers to the amount of time it takes the human body to eliminate half of a substance it ingests. Even those who inhale secondhand marijuana smoke or use CBD products are potentially at risk of failing urine tests and other types of tests if they don’t know how long weed stays in your system. In this guide, learn everything you need to know regarding drug testing for marijuana and how it pertains to delta-9 THC — with a special focus on understanding how long THC stays in your body after use and why. And while hair-based drug tests are fairly accurate, tests of blood and urine are simply unable to detect the vast majority of drugs, so long as you haven’t used for about a week. Heroin, for example, is generally undetectable in urine after three to five days.
What is THCV? The Weight Loss and Focus Cannabinoid
However, there are some cannabis withdrawal symptoms that are more common, the severity of which depends on a host of factors, including frequency of use and overall health. THC can stay in your system for several weeks, but how long exactly depends on a range of factors such as frequency of use, your individual metabolic rate, and body fat percentage. That said, THC detection times rarely exceed 30 days, according to a 2005 fact-sheet written by Paul Cary, director how long does weed stay in your system of the Toxicology and Drug Monitoring Laboratory at the University of Missouri. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals. The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider.
Effects of THC
- This marijuana withdrawal symptom usually fades after two weeks, but some former smokers report continued symptoms for several weeks or even months.
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- Cannabis use can sometimes cause a substance-induced anxiety disorder.
- Each of these cutoff points, of course, results in a widely different window of detection.
- Cannabis drug tests measure the presence of either THC or THC by-products in your bodily fluids or hair, but how long after consumption a test can detect them depends on the specific type of test.
A moderate dose from a joint can last 3-5 days, whereas a few hits from a vaporizer may last 1-3 days. So, if you may get testing for THC, it’s best to stick to CBD products that are THC-free. It may be best to avoid delta-10 if you know you’ll receive testing for cannabis. Eventually, your body eliminates THC metabolites via your urine and stool. Cannabis concentrates contain potent amounts of THC, the chemical in cannabis that makes you feel intoxicated.
Saliva tests
A recent study found that cannabis smokers have higher levels of heavy metals in their blood and urine. THC metabolites can be detected in saliva for one to three days after occasional consumption or a month if you consume regularly. This inactive metabolite is stored in body fat and gradually eliminated or metabolized. It remains in the body far longer than active THC, which is why so many cannabis detox drinks and kits claim to eliminate or mask the presence of THC metabolites.
Health Products
- But if it is ingested, the chemicals are broken down more slowly and may remain detectable longer.
- Those with higher levels of fat content store cannabinoids more readily than leaner folks.
- For the study, researchers cut hair into 1-centimeter sections to test for exposure up to a month prior.
- The same applies to delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products, which can cause you to test positive for drug use.
In most cases, the more often you take Delta 9, the more quickly the effects will wear off. Other factors, including serving size and tolerance level, can influence a Delta 9 gummy’s onset time. Ed Rosenthal is a leading authority in weed horticulture, educating others for decades on the art of growing.
Does Weed Lose Potency Over Time?
It’s possible if a test is particularly sensitive and the weed is high in THC. However, the odds of getting a positive test after just one hit are much lower if you never consume weed than smokers who consume every day. Give our compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigators a call to discuss your treatment options, verify your insurance or learn about payment options, and to begin your journey to a rich and rewarding life free from addiction. For a drug test to be negative, the body must eliminate THC from the system, as well as metabolic chemicals that have links to THC. People with faster metabolisms typically eliminate THC more quickly than those with slower metabolisms. However, since weight, and therefore BMI, increases with muscle mass, BMI is not a perfect measure of body fat.
How “high” a person feels is also not a reliable measure, because numerous factors other than THC dose can intensify or weaken this feeling. Without sensitive laboratory equipment, a person cannot reliably determine the strength of their cannabis. The THC elimination times are categorized based on sex, height, weight and smoking habit. Testing urine for marijuana (THC-COOH metabolite to be exact) is the standard procedure that employers use in order to determine if you’ve been using cannabis. Much of the THC in marijuana is processed by your liver, so boosting your metabolism can help your liver clear THC from your system faster. Exercising and having good hydration are two ways to boost metabolism.
Ultimately, there is no definitive method to get cannabis out of the body faster. However, strategies that may help to remove cannabis from the body quicker involve breaking down body fat cells, speeding up THC metabolism in the liver, and removing THC metabolites from the intestines. An older study notes a slight increase in THC levels following exercise in people who regularly use cannabis.
Sian Ferguson is a freelance health and cannabis writer based in Cape Town, South Africa. She’s passionate about empowering readers to take care of their mental and physical health through science-based, empathetically delivered information. Some internet users have warned that delta-10 products have caused them to test positive for cannabis use, but this is only anecdotal — and it’s possible that those delta-10 products also contained delta-8 or delta-9 THC.
Estimated periods of detection of the marijuana metabolite THCCOOH
However, this initial “false positive” would not hold up to the more rigorous second round of confirmatory testing, which specifically measures THC-COOH. Given these preliminary grains of salt, however, several studies have explored this question over the years, offering some general guidance for those awaiting an impending drug test. While it’s still illegal under federal law, marijuana is legal in some capacity in 38 states, plus Washington, D.C. Many use it recreationally, but there is also scientific evidence cannabis can be used for pain control and management. The nationwide push to legalize marijuana got a major boost when the Biden administration announced a plan to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug to a Schedule III drug in April 2024. A community connecting cannabis consumers, patients, retailers, doctors, and brands since 2008.