Introduction - How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System
This article talks about how long does weed stay in your system and how it gets detected in different drug tests. With marijuana becoming legal for recreational and medicinal usage in many US states, many people run the risk of failing drug tests in workplaces. Indeed, there is a fine line between using marijuana frequently and being cleared for drug tests.
Here we take a look at how THC is processed in the human body and how it is detected in drug tests. Finally, we take a look at the different detox methods that are beneficial for removing such toxins from the body.
How THC Is Processed in the Human Body - How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System?
If you frequently or infrequently consume marijuana or other THC-based substances, how long does weed stay in your body is a question that might arise in your head. It is important to know especially if you have a strict substance or addiction-free workplace policy.
The following steps are the ways THC-based cannabinoids are processed in your body when you wish to know how long does marijuana stay in your system:
- When you ingest or inhale any such substance the CBD or THC agents bind to cannabinoid receptors that are present in the brain and other organs.
- The route of processing and effects of such substances are determined by how you consume the same.
- If you inhale such substances the metabolites enter the bloodstream rapidly through the lungs. Hence the maximum effect is felt within 6 to 10 minutes. By the substance metabolizes and reaches the brain as well as other organs. In such cases, 10 to 35% of the substance impacts the system.
- After absorption THC metabolites reach the liver. Here most of it is eliminated or metabolized further. The remaining THC then enters the circulation.
- If one consumes such substances, then 4% to 12% is absorbed by body fat.
- Since such metabolites have an affinity for lipids they attach themselves to fat tissues more easily.
- After the metabolites are processed in the liver they are excreted via feces mainly and less in the urine. It also determines THC detection times in urine.
- The plasma half-life of such substances is 18 to a maximum of 32 hours. if one is an occasional user it is likely to last in one’s body a maximum of up to 3 days. However, in chronic users, the metabolites can remain detectable for up to 13 days.
How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System?
Several factors influence how marijuana gets detected in your body and how to get weed out of your system:
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How Frequently You Use Such Substances, Especially Before the Test
For instance, if you are an infrequent user then it is easy to pass a drug test by refraining at least 3 days before the test. On the other hand, a heavy user would need to detox for at least 5 to 10 days to successfully pass a drug test.
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The Type of Drug You Have Used
It also determines the timeline within which substances are likely to be detected in one’s system. Usually, a urine drug test has indicators to check for five common categories of drugs. These include substances such as cocaine, marijuana, opiates, amphetamines, and PCP among others.
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The Type of Drug Test You Undergo
For instance, a mouth swab test can detect substances that have been recently consumed. On the other hand, a urine drug test can see drugs in your system for a longer timeline. If you undergo a hair follicle test you need to know how long does marijuana stay in your hair? It can detect substances in your body for up to 90 days.
Different Tests and Their Detection Timelines
Substance
Urine Test
Hair Follicle Test
Blood or Oral Fluids Test
Cannabis-based substances
Infrequent usage – 7 to 10 days
Heavy usage – 30 to 100 days
Up to 90 days
Blood test - Usually 2 to 3 days or up to 2 weeks in heavy users
Saliva test – detectable up to 24 hrs. after use
3 Most Common Types of Drug Tests & When to Wait for Them
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Mouth Swab Test
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In What Situation Does This Type of Test Take Place?
This type of test is done when there is a pandemic or when quick results are required in workplaces. A mouth swab test is easy to execute, cost-effective, and can produce results within minutes.
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How Is the Specimen Taken?
A mouth swab test is done by using a cotton swab inserted inside the mouth. It is the least invasive and takes a few seconds.
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How Long Is the Detection Window?
Such a test is least effective when it is used to test for drugs when you want to know how long does THC stay in saliva. That is, its detection window is all substances that are consumed within 4 to 48 hours.
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Urine Test
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How Long Does Weed Stay in Urine and in What Situation Does This Type of Test Take Place?
This type of test is quite effective in testing for drugs in one’s system that could have been consumed even 5 days before. Hence, it is a common test used in workplaces where strict non-substance policies are in place.
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How Is the Specimen Taken?
Subjects are asked to provide a sample of their urine in a sterile bottle or capsule that is provided at the center. It can take a few minutes, primarily requiring the use of toilet facilities.
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How Long Is the Detection Window?
Urine tests are effective in detecting substances such as weed in one’s system for as long as four to five days maximum. For this, many want to know the fastest way to get weed out your system.
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Hair Follicle Test
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In What Situation Does This Type of Test Take Place?
Such a test is less common but is usually employed to test for specific drugs or DNA-related health problems.
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How Is the Specimen Taken?
Test samples are taken by nurses or lab technicians who take a few hair strands from the roots of the subjects using sterile equipment.
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How Long Is the Detection Window?
Such a test can detect substances in one’s system up to 90 days after last usage. It is important to know, especially if you wish to ascertain how long does delta 8 stay in your system.
How to Pass?
There are some popular myths about passing drug tests. Here are some popular misleading notions:
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Sweating it out before a Test
This is a popular notion but a misleading one. That is because sweating can help to get rid of toxins from one’s body. However, drug metabolites usually remain attached to fat tissues. Hence they are difficult to get rid of simply by sweating.
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Home Remedies Are Effective
This is yet another myth that one should stay away from. While detoxing using home remedies is beneficial, it will not work for frequent or heavy users of weed.
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Dilute Your Urine by Drinking Lots of Fluids
This is yet another myth that cannot mask drug metabolites in your system. However, if one combines the same with effective detox remedies then it can be a successful strategy.
Proven ways to pass the different types of tests are as follows:
Urine Tests
There are four types of methods that have varying levels of effectiveness for most people:
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Detox Pills
There are several such products, one of them being Toxin Rid. It is known to be an effective and natural cure for detoxing one’s system effectively.
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Detox Drinks
Many products come in drink form and often act as a single drink solution for detoxing the system. One such popular product is Detoxify Meg Clean.
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Synthetic Urine
It is a method of passing a urine test where a synthetic urine sample is used instead of the person’s one. One of the popular examples is Powdered Human Urine.
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Home Remedies
For infrequent or single-time usage home remedies can prove effective. One such method is the Certo Method with the use of Gatorade.
Saliva Test
Some proven ways to pass a saliva drug test are the following:
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Specialized Mouthwashes
Many brands offer products such as Toxin Rid Rescue which help subjects pass a mouth swab test successfully.
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Sour Candies or Sour Gums
These also work in producing fresh saliva, especially for those who are moderate or light users.
Hair Tests
Such tests are hard to pass, especially for heavy weed users. However, the use of specialized shampoos such as Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid is known to be effective. However extensive methods such as Macujo or Jerry J methods can be hair damaging though they are often recommended for overcoming heavy exposure to drugs.
Do I Have a Marijuana Addiction?
It is important to note that, the thought that marijuana is not addictive can be misleading. Those who are provided weed-based drugs for treatment usually take up such substances under medical supervision. However, even recreational usage can lead to the brain adapting to larger amounts of the drug metabolites in the system. It can hinder normal neural and hormonal functions in one’s body and increase dependency on such substances.
It is best to counter such habits in the early stages. To reduce dependency one should resort to an active lifestyle and healthy habits. Many detox products help bring back good health and remove such metabolites from one’s system naturally.
Q&A
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If You Smoke Weed How Long the Effect Does Remain in Your System?
The effect of smoking weed lasts for 1 to 4 hours.
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How Effective Are Detox Pills?
Popular products such as Toxin Rid are known to be natural proprietary blends that are effective.
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What Kind of Home Remedies Work as a Detox?
Home remedies such as exercising, eating healthy, and abstaining from using drugs are some long-term solutions for detoxing from weed.
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What Timeline Should I Follow for Passing a Urine Drug Test?
One should abstain for at least 5 days before undergoing a urine drug test.
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What Type of Consumption Leads to Minimum Damage from Weed?
If you ingest cannabis-based substances then the absorption rate is lowest.
Conclusion
One should realize that even recreational usage of legal marijuana can easily lead to addiction. Hence, it is best to abstain from resorting to such substances. If you are a frequent user you must take up detox methods immediately. Also, one should take up professional help to get proper guidance and support through the detox process.