Marijuana is the most common non-prescription drug in the United States, and there are several misconceptions regarding its use.
Many cannabis users wonder, “How long does cannabis stay in your system?”
Unfortunately, there is no one answer to this question. Cannabis will remain in your system for some time, depending on the amount and frequency of consumption.
You might be able to pass a drug test after smoking pot, or you might be able to beat it all together.
The truth, however, is that the amount of time marijuana can be detected in your system varies significantly.
Marijuana drug detection timeframe can depend on several factors, including your weight and frequency of use.
The following facts about marijuana drug detection time frames are based on the detection periods for urine, saliva, and blood.
If you fail a drug test due to marijuana use, the amount of time before your body is free of the substance varies depending on many factors.
For example, how often you smoke, how much you smoke, how long you’ve been using, the method you use to ingest, and your age all play a role in the drug detection timeframe.
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Marijuana’s active ingredient is stored in your fat cells and released slowly over time.
Because of this, drug tests are designed to look for marijuana metabolites that can remain in your system for up to a month after use.
If you are a heavy user or use frequently, you should plan and abstain for at least a month before a test.
The only ways to test for marijuana use are by doing a hair test, blood test, or saliva test.
These tests are much more expensive and difficult to administer.
When Will It Leave Your System?
You need to take into account how you will use it.
Nobody can say for sure how long a person remains drug-free in a drug test, the reason for this being that marijuana is metabolized in many different ways.
The primary active metabolite of cannabis, THC, can be detected in urine, blood, oral fluid, or hair.
How long cannabis will show up on a drug test depends on a range of factors, such as your metabolism, how you take it and how much you take.
With edibles and topicals, you could feel the effects of cannabis for several hours, but it can take weeks for the metabolites to leave your system.
If you’ve been smoking cannabis, it could be detected in your system for up to three weeks; however, if you smoke it but don’t consume it, it could take up to four days for it to leave your system.
Based on your drug test results, there are several ways to determine how long cannabis stays in your system.
Based on the amount and frequency of consumption, your body will produce specific chemicals as it attempts to remove the psychoactive THC from your system.
Saliva can be used to analyze your blood and tissue samples for other drugs, but it cannot analyze your urine.
Because of this, saliva testing kits are frequently used to determine the presence of THC in the bloodstream of chronic users.
This is because all levels of THC are usually present in the urine of chronic users, whereas only some levels are detected in the blood.
Time estimates include:
- One time: 4-8 days
- 1-3 times a month: Up to 18 days
- 3-5 times a week: Up to 35 days
- 6-9 times a week: Up to 48 days
Of course, if you use it daily, it will take a substantially longer time to leave your body.
Variables That Determine How Long Marijuana Remains In Your System?
Multiple variables can affect how long marijuana lingers in your system and how quickly it is discovered, such as:
- Body fat percentages. Thinner users have fewer places to store THC. Users with higher body fat percentages tend to retain THC for longer.
- How much fluid was consumed at the time of testing.
- THC is excreted rapidly by those with fast metabolisms.
- Exercise frequency.
- How you ingest it.
- Test type used for detection.
- Several health conditions affect your body’s ability to metabolize marijuana and store it.
- If you already have drugs in your system.
How Long Does It Stay In Your Hair?
When it comes to hair testing, cannabis can be detected in hair for up to 90 days after use, depending on the length of your hair.
Is It In Your Blood For Long?
For 1 to 2 days after smoking, cannabis is detectable in the blood. Although some cases are found after 25 days, it isn’t easy to give a definite answer.
It is detectable for a long time when heavily used.
As soon as marijuana is inhaled, it will be detected in the bloodstream. It is distributed throughout the tissues of your body.
It is possible, however, for it to be broken down in the blood.
Estimated Detection Periods For Different Test Varieties:
- Blood: 36 hours. However, chronic use (>3 months) can result in symptoms lasting up to 7 days.
- Hair: Tests cannot detect first-time use within 7-14 days. 1 cm of hair length is equivalent to one month of detection.
- Saliva: Up to 34 hours
- Urine: 1-4 days. Chronic treatment (more than 3 months) can last up to 70 days.
Depending on which method of drug testing you use, it may not be possible to receive the results within one month.
All testing must be performed in a clinical setting, with the patient and their doctor present.
Tips For Passing A Drug Test
You can use these tips to ensure you pass a drug test even if you have indulged in some weed before.
Detox your body
Although many people believe that water is the cure to everyone’s problems, it won’t work in this case.
Not only is it a waste of time, but excess water consumed before the test can cause bodily harm as well.
Drink two to three liters of water on the day you take the test.
If your urine is clear instead of light-colored or deep color, it is being diluted, which is what you’re aiming for.
You Should Avoid Exercising The Day Before
Workouts before a drug test can spike THC levels significantly, which may seem odd since exercising naturally get rid of toxins.
The advice here is not to stop all exercising, but probably do not exercise hard just before your drug test day.
Take The Green Route
Make sure you consume lots of green vegetables in the days leading up to a drug test, such as broccoli and kale, since they contain vitamins and can naturally rid the body of THC.
These tips depend on knowing that you will be receiving a test sometime in the future. So stuffing your face with veggies on the day of a snap test really won’t do much.
Summary
Testing for cannabis is a complex process, and there are many factors in determining whether the test will be positive.
The amount of use, frequency of use, and tolerance level play into the results and how long marijuana stays in your system.
