HealthlineHow Long Does Cannabis Stay in Your System?

Understanding THC’s Journey and Impact: From Consumption to Detection

As healthcare professionals, it is crucial to stay informed about the pharmacokinetics of substances like THC, the psychoactive component in cannabis, and their detection in the human body. This knowledge aids in discussing cannabis use and its implications with patients, particularly in contexts of medical use, substance abuse, and drug testing protocols. This article provides a comprehensive overview of how THC is absorbed, metabolized, and excreted, along with the detection windows of various drug tests, offering essential insights for physicians in their clinical practice.

Key Points:

• THC Detection and Testing Methods: THC and its metabolites can be detected in blood or saliva within 2-24 hours after use, while urine and hair tests offer longer detection windows, ranging from 1 to 90 days post-consumption.
• Metabolism of THC: THC is primarily metabolized in the liver into more than 100 metabolites, with 11-OH-THC and THCCOOH being the most significant. These metabolites are fat-soluble, binding to fat molecules and consequently prolonging THC’s presence in the system.
• Factors Influencing THC Detection: The detection window for THC depends on several factors, including the frequency and quantity of cannabis use, body mass index (BMI), metabolic rate, and the potency of the cannabis consumed.
• Drug Testing Windows:
  • Urine tests can detect cannabis from 3 days (single use) to more than 30 days (chronic heavy use).
  • Blood tests generally detect recent use within the last 2-12 hours, but detection can extend to 30 days in cases of chronic heavy use.
  • Saliva tests have a shorter detection window, typically suitable for detecting same-day use.
  • Hair tests provide a timeline of cannabis use over the past 90 days due to the slow growth rate of hair.
• Detoxification from THC: Currently, there is no proven method to significantly accelerate the detoxification of THC from the body. Detox kits and remedies, often advertised online, lack reliability and scientific support.
• Effects of Cannabis Use: Immediate effects are noted almost instantly after smoking, while ingested cannabis may take 1–3 hours for effects to peak. Long-term use can lead to cognitive impairments, cardiovascular diseases, respiratory illnesses, and mood disorders.

A 2013 study found that exercise can temporarily increase THC levels in the blood due to the release from fat stores, potentially affecting drug test results for cannabis.

More on Cannabis/Marijuana