Smoking weed isn’t all just fun and games! Whether you’re a chronic user or a newbie, it’s important to smoke responsibly by educating yourself on how long THC stays in your system.
If you’re employed or trying to get hired, you wouldn’t want to test positive during an unexpected urine drug test. But don’t worry, we’re here to keep you informed and worry-free so you can cover all your bases discreetly and safely.
In this guide, we’ll talk about the length of time it takes for the body to process THC. We’ll also dive into how a urine drug test can detect marijuana, along with where to find the best synthetic urine brands on the market.
Read on to get a rough estimate of THC detection timelines along with useful tips to help you get clean in no time!
What Is THC?
Weed comes with a bunch of different cannabinoids, including Tetrahydrocannabinol, more popularly known as THC. This is the psychoactive compound found in marijuana, and it’s been linked with substance abuse problems for people with addictive tendencies. However, medical research has proven that THC is an effective treatment for mental health issues. Nowadays, cannabis has many uses for helping people cope with anxiety, depression, and other chronic illnesses.
How Does THC Get Processed In The Body?
The body processes marijuana in two ways: the first is through inhalation, which brings the THC into your bloodstream through the lungs. The second way your body processes marijuana is through ingesting edibles. While it can take a few hours for you to feel the effects, a smaller dose can be more potent than smoking actual buds. After smoking or ingesting marijuana, the enzymes in your liver start the metabolization process, then THC binds to your fat cells, hair follicles, blood, urine, and saliva.
When a person smokes or vapes marijuana, the heart pumps THC throughout your entire body until it reaches your brain. Once they bind with the endocannabinoid system, you get the euphoric mind and body high that weed is famous for. Eventually, the metabolites exit your body through your bodily fluids, and this cycle resets every time you use marijuana.
How Long Does THC Stay In Your Urine?
So, how long does marijuana stay in your system? The answer is more complicated than you think. Unlike other substances, cannabis sticks to your body fat because THC is a fat-soluble compound. This means that urine tests can detect traces of marijuana for as long as 90 days for chronic users.
Normally, marijuana is detected in the body through oral fluid for up to 30 days, but the length of time varies for many people. If you’ve been using marijuana regularly, you could test positive for up to 90 days, at most.
What Are The Detection Times For THC?
Most companies use blood, urine, hair, and saliva tests to screen for concentrations of THC in the suspected users. The urine test is the standard for most pre-employment drug tests. While blood, saliva, and hair tests aren’t as common as a urinalysis, you should never rule out the possibility of other testing methods. Here’s a list of each drug test and the detection window for each:
- Urine Test – A urine test can detect marijuana between 3 days to 90 days depending on your cannabis use.
- Hair Test – A hair follicle test can detect marijuana between 2 to 90 days since your last use.
- Blood Test – Blood tests can detect marijuana between 1 day to 2 days since your last use.
- Saliva Test – Oral mouth swab tests can detect marijuana for up to 34 hours since your last use.
What Factors Affect The Breakdown Of THC Metabolites?
The amount of time it takes for THC to get broken down varies from person to person. Several factors will affect how long marijuana will stay in your system, and these could determine how fast you can pass a drug test. Now, let’s talk about three things you need to consider to get a more accurate estimate of your detox timeframe.
Frequency Of Use
Your habits play an important role in determining how long it’ll take for weed to be undetectable in your urine. Casual to occasional cannabis use can be detectable for only a few days, but someone who smokes more often might need a few months to get clean. If you cut back on your smoking, you’ll have a much easier time passing drug tests.
Health & Metabolism
Your metabolic rate and body fat percentage can speed up or slow down the process of THC metabolization. Depending on your age, weight, diet, and lifestyle, you could detox from marijuana at a faster or slower rate. If you need medical advice on how to improve your health, go ahead and ask your doctor or dietitian.
THC Concentration
Depending on the strain, brand, and product you’re using, high concentrations of THC can drastically affect your test results. Some of the best cannabis brands manufacture products that are more potent than others, so the THC levels may also slow down the metabolic process in your body. The higher the amount of THC you consume, the harder you’ll have to work to get clean.
How Do You Pass A THC Drug Test?
We all need to smoke weed responsibly, and a huge part of that is knowing how to show up clean on drug tests. With marijuana use at an all-time high, companies use drug tests to keep drug use away from the workplace. Federal marijuana drug laws remain strict against drug abuse, and failing a test may cost you a chance at a job. That’s why you need to take all the necessary precautions leading up to your drug test so you can guarantee a hassle-free experience every single time.
Are There Proven Ways To Flush Out THC?
Knowledge is power, and having the right information will help you pass drug testing procedures without breaking a sweat. To pass a drug test, you’ll need less than 50 ng/ml of THC metabolites present in your body – any more than that would still trigger a positive result. Here are some detox techniques that are popular among experienced cannabis users:
- Abstinence – If you stop smoking for a while, the THC will eventually leave your body naturally. But if you only have one day to stop smoking, you should consider other methods instead.
- Dilution – Flushing THC out of your system by drinking lots of water and cranberry juice is a popular method for seasoned stoners, but it isn’t as effective unless you’re a casual smoker.
- Diet & Exercise – Sweating it out through exercise while eating a diet rich in fiber helps the drugs leave your system faster, but it will take a long time to burn everything off before a test.
- Detox Products – If you don’t have enough time to get clean in time for a drug test, consider trying out detox pills or drinks to help speed up the process.
Conclusion
Now that you know about the detection time for marijuana, you don’t have to be paranoid about surprise urine drug tests. If you come prepared, you’ll have no reason to panic over peeing in a cup! Just follow our tips by taking all the necessary precautions leading up to your drug test, and we guarantee everything will turn out just fine.
