Drug tests have always been a problem for marijuana or weed users. After all, if one is tested positive during such tests, they are usually turned down for some of the major opportunities in their life, such as a great and appealing job offer.
However, despite all the tips and information out there that aim to help marijuana users avoid being tested positive, the task is still quite a challenging one. The reason is that marijuana can be detected in the user’s body for quite a long time, ranging from a few days to a few weeks, and sometimes, even a few months. Though the period may vary considerably based on subjective conditions, it’s never really easy to get around such tests, resulting in forcing marijuana users to take the back seat in their career. Hence, there is no easy and exact answer to the question, “How long does marijuana stay in your system?” but we will go through some really useful information.
The type of tests
The most common tests for detecting marijuana/weed in one’s body are urine tests and blood tests. Urine test is what people usually come across, though blood tests to are considerably standard though. However, the latter is usually considered more challenging to pass, as it can detect marijuana use for a long time.
Urine tests are more common than blood tests. No surprises there, though, as there are cheap and still considered effective. They also work differently and are capable of detecting the THC metabolites. These metabolites are produced due to THC’s breaking down in your body or the substance contained by marijuana. They are known to remain in one’s system for a very long time, and this makes even urine tests quite challenging, especially if the other factors which decide whether you’ll test positive or not aren’t in your favor.
Ways of using marijuana
Like the ways of detecting marijuana/weed in one’s system, using it differs. Different ways lead to different results, and hence something you might be interested in knowing as well.
Smoking
Smoking marijuana/weed still stands as the most common way of using it. It also turns out to be the fastest way of using it.
As far as the THC levels are concerned, they start soaring as soon as one takes the first puff of marijuana. THC reaches its peak level at around 9 minutes after the first puff or just under a minute before taking the last puff (9.8 minutes).
A recent study conducted on the use of marijuana through smoking reveals quite a few facts about the different THC levels at various stages of its use and after its use.
According to the study, on average, the THC levels drop to around 60% after 15 minutes of smoking marijuana. It further reduces to around 20% after 30 minutes have passed, and reduces to below ng/ml after around a couple of hours. However, these changes in the level of marijuana may vary according to how deeply the users inhale it.
As for getting under the detection limits is concerned, it took around 3 to 12 hours for the low-dose marijuana users and approximately 6 to 27 hours for the high-dose ones to see the THC levels drop to below 0.5mg/ml, which is seemingly the least amount of THC required to be tested positive.
However, the study also suggested that the THC level fell so quickly because the participants were not “regular” marijuana users. For regular users, the fall is undoubtedly going to be at a much slower rate.
Oral ingestion
Oral ingestion is a considerably less common way of consuming marijuana. However, certain studies have been conducted on it anyway to check the THC levels and how quickly they fall after consuming marijuana orally.
One particular study involved a few participants who were given about 20mg THC cookies. They were then tested for the THC level and their blood, and the results showed that the THC level was at its peak after around 1 to 5 hours following consumption—Similarly, another study in 1996 involved participants who were given 10mg THC capsules. After being checked for their THC levels, the study revealed that they started climbing almost immediately and reached their peak between 1 to 2 hours of consuming the capsules.
As far as the detection is concerned, the studies suggested that the THC levels could be detected till as long as around 25 hours following the use of marijuana in the state they were given, while the THC-COOH (THC metabolites) was found to stay above the detectable limit for a surprising 50 hours after the use.
How long does marijuana stay in your saliva?
Marijuana users seem to be having a lot to worry about. There seem to be quite a few tests out there for detecting whether they use marijuana or not, with almost all of them coming with something uniquely challenging.
The problem marijuana users come across with saliva tests is that they can come in as a real surprise. After all, the employers can decide to take one anytime, and they can even be administered by them easily. It gives the suspects very little time to safeguard themselves, risking their job and future career opportunities!
However, many marijuana users still don’t mind them much and instead find them comparatively relieving. It’s because saliva tests, despite usually coming as a surprise, are pretty easy to pass. They can detect marijuana’s use, starting from as soon as one smokes it to around 12 to 24 hours.
How long does marijuana stay in your hair?
As probably already know by now, there are quite a few tests for detecting the use of weed. However, some are more commonly used than others, such as urine, saliva, and hair tests. Urine tests seem to be the most common of them, as they have a longer detection time than cheap.
There are several different factors involved too, which decide whether you’ll be detected or not. Anyway, coming to hair tests, it’s probably worth mentioning that it may surely turn out to be a nightmare for marijuana users. After all, the hair drug tests can detect marijuana’s use starting from the 7th day after using it to as long as around 90 days. However, a relieving thing for the users is that it isn’t considered very accurate, as THC doesn’t always bind itself to the hair follicles.
How long does marijuana stay in your blood?
We have already talked a bit about how blood tests work. However, there is a lot more to them. After all, they are one of the most common, not to mention the most challenging tests out there.
As far as the detection period of blood tests is concerned, it seems that a lot of people decide to stick to the general estimate of 30 days. This is probably why we see so many people being tested positive and kicked out of their workplace. Blood tests are a lot more challenging than they think, and seemingly detect up to around 90 days. Furthermore, if you’re a regular user, the detection period may turn out to be even longer. Also, there is no cure or proven way to find out the exact detection period, as it also depends on quite a few other essential factors. Some of these factors include:
- A person’s weight (whether fat or skinny)
- Body fat
- Rate of metabolism
- Whether a regular user or the occasional one
- The amount used
- How deeply one smokes
Hence, it would be hazardous to stick to a particular estimate, as it may vary widely based on your specific and subjective condition.
How long does marijuana stay in your urine?
Well, so we are finally on the last, but most commonly used drug tests to detect the use of weed. As mentioned above, urine tests are by far the most common way of detecting marijuana, especially in the United States. They are used on such a vast scale because they are cheap, despite being fairly effective at detecting THC.
Coming to the detection period, urine tests boast of; unfortunately, it depends on some of you! Like blood tests, urine tests depend on several factors, most of them being the same for blood tests.
Urine tests detect THC-COOH and not THC. THC-COOH is a metabolite of THC. It’s produced when your liver breaks down THC. It takes a considerably long time to fall below the detection limit, and hence it seems almost unavoidable to fall prey to urine tests. There’s not much one can do about a chemical that has been produced in their body due to the breaking down of THC.
However, despite no exact estimates about the detection period of urine tests, one can look forward to a few general and not-so-accurate estimates. According to these estimates (based on some studies), occasional users may take about four days to let their THC levels fall below the detection limit. On the other hand, regular users may take around ten days, if not more. However, again, this would also always depend on some of the subjective factors, which play an essential part in the whole detection process.
Coming to the frequent users, or those who smoke weed constantly may get detected till as long as around 70 days after the last use it.
How to get marijuana out of your system
You would have probably realized by now that it is almost impossible to avoid being tested positive during the tests while still using weed. In other words, if you continue to use it, you’re sure to lose most of the big opportunities in life, just like thousands of people out there who didn’t manage to get their dream job just because they were using marijuana and were tested positive before getting employed. There is no definite answer to the question ‘how long does marijuana stay in your system?’
However, if you’re looking for a change and a better life, if you want to take matters in your hand and achieve according to your potential, what you truly deserve, then there will always be help available.
We share some highly useful info about a product called “Natural Marijuana Detox At Home “, which helps you get rid of your desire to use marijuana and quit it forever without resorting to any type of harmful or complicated stuff without even spending loads of money. It’s natural, effective, and based on some unique information not many know about. It’s also perfect for vegetarians and vegans, covering almost everyone out there who wants to change their lives for good.
