The timeframe in which ingredients like Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) remain active in the system before breaking down can range from a few hours up to 90 days. Detection will depend on several factors - such as dose, frequency of use, metabolism, and hydration. While the effects will fade relatively quickly, the drug is typically detectable in bodily fluids for weeks and in hair for even longer.
THC detection windows could be anywhere from 3 days to 1 month in urine, 48 hours in saliva, 36 hours in blood, and up to 90 days in hair. Much of that will depend on how much was ingested and how often. Generally, higher doses and frequent use are linked to longer detection periods. Though this will vary from person to person.
Here's how long marijuana stays in your system.
What is Marijuana?
Marijuana is a psychoactive drug derived from the Cannabis plant, used primarily for medical and recreational purposes. Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the main psychoactive component of marijuana, among the other 483 known elements of the cannabis plant.
It's often referred to as weed or pot and is most commonly smoked in either pipes, joints, or bongs. Some people choose to add marijuana to foods or beverages as well.
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What Happens When You Do Marijuana?
When marijuana is taken, THC, the main mind-altering agent, passes from the lungs and into the bloodstream. It is then carried to the brain, as well as other organs. Because THC interacts with the endocannabinoid system of the body, it can affect certain areas of mental health related to sensation, coordination, memory, judgment, and movement.
When smoking weed, the effects are typically felt right away and could last anywhere from 1 hour to 3 hours. When ingested, via an edible, you may not feel the effects immediately. It could take 30 minutes to an hour to start feeling anything, with the effects lasting several hours.
However, the different effects marijuana may have will vary depending on the person. Here are the common ones a person could experience:
- Distorted coordination
- Skewed senses
- Foggy thinking
- Mood swings
- Altered memory
- Anxiety, fear, or paranoia
- Hallucinations and delusions
- Increased appetite
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How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
If you have an upcoming drug test you’re looking to pass, you may be wondering how long it's detectable in your system. A drug test will measure the level of THC and its by-products, or metabolites in your body, along with other drugs if applicable to the test.
It's the THC metabolites that stay in your system long after the effects of marijuana have worn off. Because the metabolites are fat-soluble, they will bind to the fat molecules in the body. It will take some time to leave your system and be untraceable in a drug test.
Here's how long marijuana metabolites remain detectable depending on the drug test and frequency of use.
Urine Tests
- Moderate Users (4 times a week max): 5-7 days
- Chronic Users (daily): 10-15 days
- Heavy Users (several times a day): over 30 days
Blood Tests
THC is distributed to the tissues in the bloodstream within seconds of use, and therefore is traceable in seconds. Some THC is reabsorbed in the blood and broken down, but the metabolites stay in the blood for a few days or longer.
You are typically able to detect marijuana in a blood test for 1 to 2 days after use. In some
cases, often with chronic and heavy users, it's been detected 25 days later or even longer.
Saliva Tests
Metabolites are detectable in oral fluid when weed is smoked or ingested. In areas where weed is legal, you may encounter roadside testing where oral fluid samples are taken.
- Infrequent Users: 1-3 days
Hair Tests
Hair follicle tests can trace THC for longer periods - up to 90 days more specifically. After marijuana use, the drug will penetrate hair follicles via small blood vessels. On average, hair only grows 0.5 inches per month and a 1.5-inch strand of hair close to the scalp is taken for a drug test. This means it can take 3 months or longer to pass a drug test after marijuana consumption.
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How to Avoid a Positive Drug Test
There are a few ways you can attempt to beat a drug test and not test positive. First of all, there aren't many options to speed up the amount of time it takes for marijuana to leave your system and metabolize faster. Once the drug has entered your system, your body will need time to break it down. You could try exercising and hydrating to help it pass through faster. This may help, but will not have drastic results.
There are several marijuana detoxification remedies and kits available to purchase online. These kits are designed and developed specifically to help people pass urine tests. They could require you to drink lots of water to help dilute your urine, followed by taking herbal supplements and other nutrients, like creatinine, vinegar, niacinamide, vitamin C, and vitamin B-12. These vitamins will not speed up your metabolism and clear marijuana from your system. Instead, they help to mask the fact that you have attempted to dilute your urine.
Top Marijuana Detox Kits
PassYourTest.com
PassYourTest.com sells quality detoxification products to help people when it comes to drug testing and cleanses their bodies of toxins to pass a test. Their detox programs can also help individuals reach their personal cleansing goals.
They offer a few different products depending on your needs, including:
- Permanent Cleanse
- Total Body Cleanse
- Cleansing Shampoos
- Home Testing Kits
For upcoming drug tests, the company recommends their Same-Day Cleanse, also known as their Fail-Safe Kit.
About the Same Day Cleanse
The Same Day Cleanse is great for both avid and infrequent THC marijuana users. The kit includes a Clean Shot, which is a concentrated detox drink packed into a liquid shot form. The main ingredients in the shot are vitamin C, vitamin B1, riboflavin, vitamin B6, and vitamin B12. The shot is taken alongside the Clean Caps, which includes whey protein, creatine monohydrate, riboflavin, green tea, goldenrod, dandelion, and more.
Benefits
- Results last for up to 6 hours or more
- Can be used for heavy chronic marijuana users
- 100% money-back guarantee
Instructions
First of all, you're supposed to stop taking any toxins before beginning your cleanse. Once you take the supplements, it's important to hydrate and urinate at least twice in the first 90 minutes. From there, it'll take around 90 minutes for the nutrients and vitamins to kick in. The effects of the kit will last around 6 hours, so make sure your drug test is happening within that window.
TestClear Mega Cleanse
TestClear's Mega Clean Detox Drink is designed to flush out unwanted toxins from your urine. It can rid your system of high levels of toxins, like THC, by replenishing the body with primary vitamins and minerals within the body. TestClear recommends taking their Detoxify PreCleanse Herbal Supplement first for best results. Then, 12 to 24 hours later, you can take the Mega Clean drink.
Benefits of the Mega Cleanse
- Tropical fruit or wild berry flavors available
- Can minimize toxin levels in one hour or less
- Effects last for up to 5 hours, with the strongest effects lasting for 3 hours
- The formula is designed to work on people with higher toxin levels or body fat
- Detoxifies your body safely from toxic substances in a day or less
Instructions
You're supposed to consume up to 20 ounces of fluids every 2 hours before drinking the Mega Clean Cleansing Drink and every 2 hours afterward. Water will work as a catalyst, indicating to the body to begin the cleansing process. Additionally, you'll want to avoid any toxins and even environmental toxic elements for a minimum of 48 hours before starting the cleanse. You should also avoid drug and alcohol use, such as over-the-counter drugs, plus greasy and high-fat foods. This will aid in cleansing the body and clearing out your system.
Conclusion
With any form of THC consumption, whether smoking or ingesting, the active components can stay in your system for a few hours, a few days, or even a few months. The length of time where marijuana remains present in your body will depend on several circumstances that are personal to you. Factors like your metabolism, frequency of use, and the amount of THC consumed all will play major roles.
When it comes to drug tests, the chance you will test positive after marijuana use will vary based on the type of test. A urine test, hair test, blood test, and saliva test will detect marijuana for varying amounts of time. This is because the THC metabolites remain in different areas of the body for different windows.
If you have an upcoming test, you can try a detox kit to eliminate THC and other toxins in the body. The first step is to do a home test. If you are not clean, then you can turn to a cleanse. PassYourTest.com and TestClear offer quality products to help you pass drug tests. We hope this helps and good luck!
