Cannabidiol is one of the hundreds of compounds found in the cannabis plant. It is the second most popular phytocannabinoid found in many cannabis products on the market. Commercial CBD is sourced from federally legal hemp, containing only around 0.3% of THC or less, as stipulated in the 2018 Farm Bill.
THC is the most popular cannabinoid because of its psychoactive effects. In many countries and states, it is still considered a Schedule I drug and is tightly regulated by the government. A positive drug test result on this substance can get you in trouble in the wrong places.
Full-spectrum hemp-derived CBD products may still contain a tiny amount of THC. This fact may be worrisome to users, especially when they travel across borders into areas where THC is illegal for recreational use.
CBD and THC originate from the same cannabis plant. Although CBD is a non-psychoactive compound that does not usually show up in a drug test, many CBD products contain other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. Therefore, failing a drug test is a valid concern.
How long does CBD stay in your body? There are multiple factors that influence the presence of the compound in the body. In this article, we will examine how long CBD stays in your body and learn the different factors that influence its presence in your system.
CBD is a non-psychoactive compound produced by the hemp plant. It can linger in your system for a couple of days or weeks. However, the actual duration of its presence and whether or not it shows up on a drug test is dependent on a variety of factors.
The Effects of CBD on the Body
CBD is popular because of its medicinal and therapeutic properties. Many users report a general feeling of well-being, relaxation, and calmness when they take CBD.
The compound increases anandamide, an endocannabinoid naturally produced by the body, and triggers the serotonin receptors in the brain. Anandamide and serotonin both promote a feeling of bliss and reduce anxiety.
Serotonin is also known as the “happiness” chemical because its presence in the body makes you feel joyful. Anandamide is also called the “bliss” chemical because it increases feelings of pleasure and motivation, especially when you are around other people.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System
Cannabidiol (CBD) usually remains in the body for 2-5 days. However, it may remain in the body for more than a week. Several factors affect how long CBD stays in your system.
A study in 2005 shows that CBD is only detectable in the blood for six hours after consumption. Another study shows that CBD half-life is 2-5 days. Hence, CBD may remain in your system after this period.
Factors that Impact the Presence of CBD in the Body
Metabolism
Metabolism plays a crucial role when it comes to how long CBD stays in your system. Metabolism is the action of turning food into usable energy to allow the many parts of the body to function. It also includes getting rid of the waste materials produced through the process.
If you have a fast metabolism, you are more likely to burn calories and get rid of waste materials faster. If your metabolism is slow, your body will burn calories and process waste materials slower, as well.
Whenever you consume CBD products, your body will utilize the cannabinoid and treat the other non-useful chemicals as waste. If you have a fast and efficient metabolism, your body will get rid of CBD waste materials in a day or two.
CBD is a fat-soluble compound. When you eat CBD products along with fat-rich foods, it will increase the bioavailability of the compound. It will lead to a higher concentration of CBD in the body, which will increase the duration of CBD presence in your system.
Eating cheese, nuts, seeds, eggs, avocadoes, and other fat-rich foods along with CBD products will help increase CBD absorption. It will also affect the influence of CBD on your body. Hence, it will take more time for the body to get rid of all of it.
Dosage
The concentration of CBD you take in your body will have an impact on how long CBD remains in the system. Always use the proper dosage for your body mass. Taking higher doses than necessary makes CBD detectable.
Always check the CBD concentration whenever you purchase. The dosage is expressed in milligrams (mg). For example, a 30ml CBD oil with a concentration of 1,000mg means that each ml of oil contains at least 33mg of CBD.
Frequency of Use
Taking CBD every day will cause it to remain in your body for much longer. When you consume CBD frequently, your body will have to take more time to process them and get it out of your system.
Although the body can handle large amounts of CBD, it is wise to consume CBD products according to the instructions provided. Taking more of a CBD product than what is beneficial can slow the body’s ability to metabolize it.
Form of CBD Consumption
You can consume CBD in various ways. You can ingest it, vape it, smoke it, and even apply it on the skin as a lotion or topical cream. The way you consume CBD affects how long it takes your body to process it and get it out of your system.
The most popular and highly efficient way to consume CBD is through sublingual consumption. You take a few drops of CBD oil or CBD tincture under the tongue, hold it for a minute or two, and swallow the remainder.
Sublingual administration is efficient because the mucous membranes under the tongue can easily absorb the compound and deliver it directly to the bloodstream. Whatever remains passes through the digestive system and produces a delayed effect.
Vaping is another popular method of consuming CBD. It will get the cannabinoid into the bloodstream in just a few minutes. The results are quick, but the effects are short-lived. Nevertheless, the CBD will easily get processed out of the system.
You can also eat CBD-infused edibles. Of all the edibles, CBD gummies are the most popular. They are chewy and delicious. Eating edibles is the least efficient way to take CBD because it has to pass through the digestive system. It will take at least an hour or more before it gets assimilated.
Topicals refer to creams and lotions that you apply to your skin. The CBD has to pass through the skin before it gets absorbed into the bloodstream. In this form, CBD is less likely to show on a drug test.
CBD Flower and Vapes
When you smoke CBD or use a CBD vape pen, the lungs quickly absorb the cannabinoid and pass it directly to the bloodstream. This results in a quick onset of effects. As soon as the effects subside, the body gets rid of the waste products quickly as well.
Vaping and smoking allow you to experience the effects of CBD in less than five minutes. This method of consumption is ideal for treating anxiety, panic attacks, and stress-related concerns. It can calm your nerves rapidly and provide almost instant relief.
The CBD stays in your system for at least 2-5 days before it gets flushed out. The duration depends on your frequency of use, metabolism level, and dosage. The more you vape or smoke, the longer it will stay in your system.
CBD Oils and Tinctures
CBD oils are made by infusing certain kinds of oil with CBD isolate. The oil acts as a carrier for the CBD isolate and makes it more bioavailable. CBD tinctures are made by infusing CBD isolate into grain alcohol. However, tinctures and oils are usually used interchangeably in product labelling.
Oils and tinctures are designed for sublingual administration. You put a few drops of the oil or tincture under the tongue and hold it there for a minute or two until the product dissolves. Holding it under the tongue for a few minutes allows the membranes to absorb as much CBD as possible.
How long does CBD oil take effect? Usually after 15 to 30 minutes. It will have an effect on the body for 4-6 hours. The quick onset allows the body to metabolize the compound faster.
How long does CBD oil stay in the system? It can take two days to a full week, depending on the physical factors mentioned earlier. These factors determine how soon CBD becomes no longer detectable.
Edibles
Edibles refer to CBD-infused gummies, cookies, brownies, candies, and beverages for oral consumption. When you ingest edibles, it can take at least 30 minutes to a few hours for the effects to manifest.
Beverages usually take a shorter time to deliver the effect, especially when you take it on an empty stomach. However, if you have eaten a heavy meal before ingesting CBD edibles, it may take a few hours for the results to show.
You can make edibles by infusing food and beverages with CBD oil, as well. When you take CBD as edibles, expect it to be out of your system in around a full week or more. In some instances, it may take about 30 days to flush, depending on how much CBD you take in, how often you take it, and how fast your body metabolizes it.
CBD Topicals
There are many kinds of CBD topicals on the market. You can buy them as creams, lotions, patches, salves, and balms. You apply topicals in affected areas of your body.
Topicals are used mainly to treat localized pain. The CBD gets absorbed through the skin and may take 15 minutes to two hours before the effects begin to manifest. CBD topicals can provide pain relief for about 6-8 hours. However, transdermal patches may provide longer-lasting effects of up to 96 hours.
The CBD and other cannabinoids on the topicals usually remain on the skin and muscles. They do not enter the system and will not show up on a drug test. However, transdermal patches may deliver CBD and other cannabinoids into the bloodstream. It will remain in the system for 2-5 days before it gets flushed out.
Types of CBD Extract
CBD can be extracted from the hemp plant in several ways. The contents of CBD products will vary depending on the extraction method used.
CBD Isolate
A CBD isolate is the purest form of the compound. It does not contain any other cannabinoid, terpene, nor flavonoid. Since it lacks terpenes and flavonoids, it does not have any taste. People who wish to take CBD for medicinal purposes usually use products with CBD isolates because it does not contain any THC.
Full-spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the hemp plant. Hence, it will naturally contain THC, terpenes, flavonoids, and other substances. Even though federally legal hemp contains trace amounts of THC, it will potentially get detected during a drug test, especially when you take full-spectrum CBD oil frequently.
Full-spectrum CBD is efficient because it contains other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids. These compounds work together synergistically to produce an entourage effect. They bring together all the restorative benefits of hemp to the body.
Broad-spectrum CBD
Broad-spectrum CBD contains all the other compounds in hemp, except for THC. The THC is removed during extraction, which means that it is a more refined product. It also encourages an entourage effect without producing any psychoactive effects.
Will CBD appear on a drug test?
Most drug tests screen for marijuana compounds in the body. Most tests will screen for THC but may also screen for other cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBN.
The nature of the CBD extraction process may affect the results of blood tests, saliva tests, urine drug tests, hair tests, and other kinds of tests. Full-spectrum CBD, even if extracted from federally legal hemp, will still contain THC.
If you are taking high doses of CBD, you may end up positive on a drug test. Fortunately, this rarely happens. Nevertheless, it may be wise to abstain from any cannabinoid products for at least a week before a scheduled drug test. One week or more will give your body ample time to clear up cannabinoid traces in your system.
Final Thoughts
CBD and other cannabinoids stay in your system for a few days or weeks before they get flushed out of the human body. Your metabolism, dosage, frequency of use, and method of consumption will have an effect on how long CBD lingers in your body. CBD will stay in your system, usually around 2-5 days.
Check out our CBD offer today! Also, check out our blog on CBD tinctures.
Leave a reply