How Long Does THC Stay Within You

If you’re looking to figure out how long THC stays within you, you’re not alone. Sudden drug screenings, or even taking breaks to improve your tolerance do play a part in it. The thing is, THC varies in how long it stays.  Some of the factors that go into this do include: 

• How potent the cannabis is that you’re having 

• Metabolism and weight 

• Age and the gender you are 

• How often you consume things with THC 

• Hydration and diet 

• The way you consume it 

The Short Term Vs. The Long Term Effects 

The short-term effects usually are up to 3 hours when you smoke it, with edibles taking about 90 minutes to work, but they can last up to 12 hours, depending on the ways that you use it, and how much you take. When you have an edible, the liver takes the THC, converting it to 80 different metabolites.  Two of the most pronounced ones are carboxyl-THC and the 11-hydroxy THC, which are basically two major compounds that screenings look for.

The good thing though, is that those metabolites are excreted via urine.

If you have a small amount, do have a metabolism that’s pretty good, and you drink a lot of water, it’ll be gone within 3 days. But if you have larger amounts, or take it more often, it’ll show up for around 30 days after the last time you took cannabis. When you have cannabis, the body stores this too, as they are fat-soluble, so they’re going to be within your fat cells for a bit. 

How long can it be then? 

The different tests detect it in different ways. Saliva and blood usually catch these within the last day or two. Hair tests usually show THC for around 90 or so days, after you’ve had cannabis. If you’re going to need to take and pass a drug test, as a good rule of thumb, you shouldn’t take this. If you do get sudden and random testing, there are a few things that you can do to help reduce the possibility of positive tests.

First, is water. Water is really good for diluting the urine, so there is less of a chance of the metabolites being there. B vitamins, electrolytes, and also creatine can help as well with covering up that you dilute your urine.

There are also different detox kits that you can buy from dispensaries, and people online. However, those are hit or miss. It’s not the best way to really avoid a positive test from cannabis, so you’re more than likely just wasting your money. The best way to avoid a positive test, is to just stop taking THC items right when you discover there’s going to be a random drug test.

The best way to get the full benefits from a break to help with the tolerance, just stop having cannabis for up to 90 days.  Staying hydrated, exercising, and also a diet with a bunch of fruits and vegetables can help with making the break a little bit easier for you. 

Cannabis is a great thing, and you’ll want to consume it responsibly. If you’re looking to reduce the chances of a positive test, or if you need a break, consider trying out these means. And keep in mind that while cannabis does leave pretty quickly, it can take some time, so the faster you get rid of this, the better it will be, and it’s worth mentioning that it can sometimes go a long way to quit.