It might be that you have a drug screening coming up for a new job, or maybe you’re just curious. Regardless of the reason, if you’ve wondered how long CBD stays in your system, you’re not alone.
The general consensus is that CBD stays in your system in trace amounts for a week or two but will typically start breaking down and leaving your system after a few hours.
There’s not been a great deal of research on the subject, but according to a 2018 review of previous studies on CBD, participants who took an oral dose daily experienced a half-life of two to five days.
However, several factors come into play when consuming CBD that will impact how long it will stay in your system. We will discuss these considerations and more below.
Understanding How CBD Interacts with the Human Body
Before we get into how long CBD stays in your system, it’s essential to understand how it works in the body. CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is responsible for maintaining homeostasis, or balance, in the body. The ECS has receptors throughout the body, including in the brain, skin, immune, and digestive systems. When CBD enters the body, it binds to these receptors and affects various biological processes, such as inflammation and pain perception.
Now that we have a basic understanding of how CBD works in the body, let’s look at some factors that will affect how long it stays in your system.
Factors that Determine How Long CBD Stays in Your System
How your body processes CBD will impact how long it takes for your system to break it down and eliminate it. Here are some things that will affect how quickly your body metabolizes CBD.
Your Body Type
Body type can play a role in how long CBD stays in your system. In general, the body’s fat cells tend to absorb and store CBD more effectively than other types of cells.
Generally, the higher your Body Mass Index (BMI), the longer CBD will stay around. This is because CBD is fat-soluble, meaning it dissolves in fat and is stored in fatty tissues. So, if you have a higher percentage of body fat, it will take longer for CBD to be metabolized and eliminated from your system.
In addition, your metabolism plays a role in how long CBD stays in your system. People with a fast metabolism tend to clear CBD from their system more quickly than those with a slow metabolism.
The Quality of the CBD Products Taken
Investing in high-quality CBD products is essential not only for the product’s efficacy but also for how quickly your body metabolizes it.
CBD products that are poorly made or contain impurities will be more difficult for your body to break down and can stay in your system longer. On the other hand, CBD products that are high quality and pure will be easier for your body to process and will typically leave your system more quickly.
Look for CBD products free of pesticides, herbicides, and other impurities. In addition, make sure the CBD products you’re taking are third-party lab tested to ensure quality and potency.
Method of Delivery
The consumption method will also significantly impact how long it takes for CBD to leave your system.
If you consume CBD in the form of edibles or capsules, it will take longer to metabolize because it has to go through your digestive system first. So if you prefer CBD edibles such as CBD gummies or capsules, you can expect it will take longer to eliminate the CBD from your system.
On the other hand, if you use CBD oil or CBD vapes, the CBD will be absorbed into your bloodstream more quickly and will start metabolizing immediately. These methods are typically associated with faster onset times and may not stay in your system as long.
How Frequently You Take It
If you take CBD frequently or take it in large doses, it will stay in your system for a more extended period. This is because CBD builds up in your body over time and, as already discussed, is stored in the fat cells. So, if you’re taking CBD regularly, it will take longer for your body to clear it from your system.
What You Take it With
What you take CBD with can also affect how long it takes for your body to metabolize it. CBD is fat-soluble, which means it dissolves in fat and is stored in fatty tissues. So, if you take CBD with a high-fat meal, it will be absorbed more slowly and remain in your system longer. On the other hand, if you take CBD on an empty stomach, it will be absorbed more quickly and leave your system more quickly.
In addition, certain medications can interact with CBD and affect how long it stays in your system. If this is the case, you should consult your doctor first before taking CBD.
How Long is CBD Detectable in Urine?
As you know, there are plenty of variables to the question ‘how long does cbd stay in your system.’ The same goes for how long it will show up in your urine, for it could be anything from a few days to weeks. We will look at drug tests next and hopefully put your mind at rest.
Drug Tests and CBD
If you have an upcoming drug test and take CBD, you shouldn’t be too concerned.
Most drug tests screen for THC metabolites and are not designed to detect CBD. CBD products contain less than 0.3% THC to be considered legal under federal law. So there is a slight chance that trace amounts of THC could be present in a CBD product.
If a product is not properly sourced, processed or third-party lab tested, it could result in a higher amount of THC, so always ensure you buy your CBD products from a reputable seller. As a result, it is possible but highly unlikely that taking CBD could lead to a positive drug test result.
However, if you are still concerned that THC from CBD could show up on a drug test, there are a few things you can do to reduce your risk. For example, you can choose products with CBD isolate or broad spectrum CBD instead of full-spectrum CBD.
CBD isolate is a pure CBD product with no other cannabinoids, so there is no chance of THC contamination.
Types of Drug Test
Blood Drug Test – Blood tests are a very uncommon method of drug testing for THC as they are generally only used to determine if a person is impaired at the time of the test. THC only stays in the bloodstream for a few hours after consumption, so this method would not be effective in detecting THC from CBD use.
Hair Drug Test – Hair tests are an expensive method for drug testing, so they are not often used. However, a hair follicle test can detect THC for up to 90 days after last use and is the most accurate method for drug testing. If THC from CBD is going to show up, this is the test that is most likely to detect it, but we want to emphasize that it is still improbable.
Saliva Drug Test – Saliva drug tests are generally used by law enforcement to determine if a person is impaired during the test. THC can stay in saliva for up to 72 hours after last use, but the chances of it showing up in a saliva test are incredibly slim.
Urine Drug Test – Urine tests are the ones that are most likely to be encountered if you are required to take a drug test for employment. Though common, they are one of the least accurate methods for THC detection but can detect it up to 30 days after use. But to further drive the point home, it is still very, very unlikely that taking CBD will cause THC to show up on a routine urine test.
How Long Does it Take for CBD to Have an Effect?
This once again comes down to how you consume CBD. You’ll feel the effects if you smoke or vape it within minutes. If you take CBD orally, it can take up to a couple of hours. The effects will last 3-6 hours for most people.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are just starting your CBD journey or are a seasoned user, we hope this article has been of some use to you.
The bottom line is that there are no cut and dried timeframes regarding how long CBD stays in your system, it could be anywhere from a few days to weeks.
The likelihood of hemp-derived CBD products appearing positive on a drug test is improbable because they must contain less than 0.3% Delta 8 THC by law. But if you’re still worried that using CBD might cause you to fail a drug test, we suggest you go for products created with CBD isolate or broad spectrum CBD rather than full-spectrum CBD.
