How Long Does Cannabis Stay in Your System?

Drug tests detect cannabis, also known as marijuana, weed, or pot, by searching for THC and its byproducts. THC can be detected in blood or saliva within 2-24 hours after consumption, while urine and hair tests can detect THC for up to 1-90 days afterward.

THC is a major component of cannabis and is the target of drug tests, persisting in the body even after the effects of weed wear off. After cannabis use, THC remnants attach to the body’s fat cells, leading to a gradual elimination process, particularly in individuals with higher fat content.

The duration of THC presence in the body varies depending on the frequency and quantity of cannabis consumption. Higher consumption rates and frequencies correlate with longer detection periods.

How Long Does Cannabis Stay in Your System? Different types of drug tests have varying detection capabilities. Blood and saliva tests typically detect THC for shorter durations compared to urine or hair tests, which can reveal cannabis use for several months, with some instances extending beyond 90 days.

Exploring How Long Cannabis Can Be Detected in Drug Tests

Urine tests

Urine analysis stands as the predominant method for drug testing. According to a review from 2017, detection periods for cannabis in urine can vary based on usage patterns:

• Occasional use (like one joint): detectable for about 3 days
• Moderate use (around four times weekly): detectable for 5–7 days
• Regular use (daily): detectable for 10–15 days
• Heavy, regular use (multiple times daily): detectable for over 30 days

Blood tests

Blood tests usually find out if someone has recently used cannabis or used it in the past 2 to 12 hours. But if someone uses a lot, it can still show up in tests even up to 30 days later. Using cannabis a lot for a long time can make it stay in the body for even longer.

Saliva tests

THC can permeate saliva via exposure to secondhand cannabis smoke, but its metabolites are only detectable in saliva if you’ve directly smoked or consumed cannabis. Saliva tests have a brief detection time frame and could potentially identify recent cannabis use, possibly even on the same day.

A review from 2020 revealed that THC remains detectable in the oral fluid of regular smokers up to 72 hours post-use, potentially surpassing its detection in blood after immediate consumption. In regions where cannabis is prohibited, oral fluid testing might be employed for roadside screening purposes.

Hair tests

Hair tests can check for drug use for about three months. When drugs are used, they get into hair follicles through tiny blood vessels, as well as from oils and sweat around the hair. Since hair grows about half an inch every month, taking a 1.5-inch piece of hair near the scalp can show if someone has used cannabis in the past three months.

Understanding the Track of THC in the Body: How it Travels and Breaks Down

How long does THC last? When you smoke or eat weed, THC goes into your bloodstream. Some get stored in organs and fatty tissues for a bit. Your liver breaks down THC. It makes over 100 different forms, but the main ones are 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH. Later on, your body gets rid of THC and its forms through pee and poop. If you have lots of THC forms, it takes longer to leave your body.

How Various Elements Influence the Duration of THC and Its Byproducts in the Body

Several variables influence the duration that cannabis byproducts linger in your body. Some of these factors, such as body mass index (BMI) and metabolic rate, pertain not to the substance itself but rather to how your body metabolizes it. 

Other variables relate directly to cannabis consumption, including:

• Dosage
• Frequency of use
• Method of ingestion (such as smoking, dabbing, or consuming edibles), and overall potency. 

Elevated doses and more frequent consumption typically prolong the period needed for THC and its metabolites to exit your system. Additionally, ingested cannabis may persist in the body slightly longer compared to smoked cannabis, while higher THC concentrations in more potent varieties may also extend the duration of detection.

Methods to Speed Up THC Metabolism: Exploring Ways to Accelerate the Breakdown of THC and Its Derivatives

There aren’t many effective methods for accelerating the elimination of THC metabolites from your body. After THC is ingested, your body requires time to metabolize it. While activities like exercising, maintaining a balanced diet, and staying hydrated might offer some assistance, the impact is minimal.

Various weed detox solutions and products can be found online, but their efficacy is uncertain. Many involve consuming excessive amounts of water to dilute urine, followed by the use of herbal supplements like creatinine or vitamin B12 to mask the dilution. However, these methods are unreliable, and consuming large volumes of water rapidly can pose serious health risks, including fatality.

When Do Cannabis Effects Kick In?

How long does herbe stay in your body? The impacts of cannabis become evident almost instantly upon smoking it, whereas ingesting it may lead to effects peaking within 1 to 3 hours. THC, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, induces a feeling of being “high.” Typical effects encompass alterations in sensory perception, such as time distortion, mood shifts, challenges in cognitive function and problem-solving, and memory impairment.

Additional immediate consequences may involve:

• feelings of nervousness
• disorientation
• reduced motor skills
• dryness of the mouth and eyes
• sensations of nausea or lightheadedness
• difficulty concentrating
• heightened hunger
• accelerated heartbeat
• agitation
• drowsiness

In exceptional circumstances, excessive amounts of marijuana can lead to hallucinations, false beliefs, and acute psychotic episodes.

Regularly smoking or eating weed might cause more effects on your brain and body.

Although research results are varied, using marijuana might raise the chances of:

• Problems with thinking, like memory issues.
• Heart and blood vessel diseases, such as heart problems and strokes.
• Lung sicknesses, like bronchitis and lung infections.
• Mood troubles, like feeling sad or anxious.

Using marijuana while pregnant can harm how the baby grows and develops.

What Is the Duration Until Cannabis Effects Diminish?

How long does marijuana stay in your system? The short-term effects usually begin to lessen after 1 to 3 hours. Scientists are unsure about how long the effects of using cannabis for a long time last.

The long-term effects could stick around for days, weeks, or even months after stopping. Some effects might never go away.

FAQ

What Is the Duration of THC Presence in the Body? 

THC metabolites can linger in the body for 1–30 days after last use, particularly in regular users.

How to Detect Weed in Urine Tests? 

A single use of cannabis can trigger a positive urine test for up to 3 days afterward, as per a 2017 review.

What Is the Specificity of Urine Tests for Cannabis? 

Only urine tests designed to identify THC metabolites will detect cannabis use; not all urine tests will show this.

How to Know About the Detox Timeline for Cannabis? 

The detox duration varies based on usage frequency. Even after 30 days, heavy, consistent cannabis use may still yield positive results on urine tests for THC metabolites.

Final Words

After you stop using cannabis, THC and its byproducts might remain in your body for some days to a few months.

Various tests for cannabis can spot it in your system for different periods. Usually, if you used more cannabis often, it stays detectable for longer.

These tests only show if you’ve used cannabis within a specific timeframe. They can’t tell if you’re currently impaired.