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Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the mind-altering ingredient in marijuana. In other words, THC is what causes you to experience a high. When you use marijuana or cannabis, you might experience dizziness, drowsiness, euphoria, increased hunger, laughter, and altered sensory perception.
Even though weed is legal in many states for medicinal or recreational use, it is possible to become addicted to it. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “Approximately 3 in 10 people who use cannabis have cannabis use disorder.”[1]
The half-life of THC is 20 to 30 hours, so it can stay in your system for up to 6 days. That said, weed can stay in your system much longer depending on factors like how long you have been abusing it, how frequently you smoke it, and more.
Additionally, drug tests can often find THC in your system longer than 6 days. For example, blood tests can find weed in your system for up to 30 days if you are a chronic or heavy user.
In this article, you will learn:
- How long do the effects of cannabis last?
- How does your body metabolize marijuana?
- How long does THC stay in your system?
How Long Do the Effects of Marijuana Last?
Marijuana can cause a variety of effects, including euphoria, uncontrollable laughter, increased hunger, and more. While some people enjoy the effects of weed, others have bad experiences. It is possible to experience paranoia, dizziness, nausea, and other adverse side effects when consuming THC.
How long the effects of THC last depends on how you are using it. For example, smoking marijuana causes the effects to begin within a couple of minutes and last for about 1 to 2 hours. On the other hand, eating cannabis edibles causes the effects to begin within 30 to 45 minutes and last for up to 4 to 6 hours.
The dose of THC you take can also affect how long it lasts. Smaller doses cause the side effects to end faster, while larger doses can lead to long-lasting effects. It is important to note that taking high doses of THC can lead to substance-induced psychosis, a dangerous condition that causes hallucinations, delusions, and a detachment from reality.[2]
How Does Your Body Metabolize THC?
When you consume THC, it quickly enters your bloodstream. While a portion of THC is stored in your fatty tissues, most of it is processed in your liver.
The half-life of THC is between 20 to 30 hours.[3] Because it takes 4 to 5 half-lives for a substance to leave your system, marijuana can remain in your body for up to 6 days.
If you have been abusing marijuana long-term or over a few weeks to months, it can stay in your system much longer. Chronic and heavy users of marijuana might have THC in their system for a couple of weeks to 3 months. This occurs because the metabolites of THC build up in your fatty tissues and liver, making it difficult for your body to eliminate it quickly.
Even after THC leaves your system, metabolites are left behind. This is how drug tests can find out whether you’ve recently smoked weed. The two main metabolites that drug tests look for are called 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and THCCOOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol).[3]
How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
How long THC stays in your system can vary depending on personal factors like your body mass index (BMI), overall health, the functioning of your liver and kidneys, and more. Additionally, the type of drug test being used can affect how long marijuana is detectable in your system.
Urine
Urine tests are the most commonly used drug test for marijuana detection. The detection times for weed among urine tests vary depending on how often you smoke weed.
First-time users of marijuana will only test positive for 3 days. If you smoke regularly or 4 times per week, you will test positive for 7 days. Chronic or daily users of marijuana can test positive for up to 15-30 days.
Blood
Blood tests offer a short window of detection for first-time marijuana users. You will only test positive for up to 12 hours if it’s your first time smoking weed. That said, chronic THC users can test positive for as long as 30 days.
Saliva
Saliva tests are not used as often as urine tests because they have a short detection period. Whether you use marijuana once or every day, you will only test positive for 24 hours to 72 hours. Because of the short detection window, these tests are often used for field sobriety tests by law enforcement officers.
Hair
Lastly, hair tests examine your hair follicles to determine if the metabolites of THC are present. While they offer the longest detection window, they can be unreliable due to discrimination based on factors like hair color. Despite this, some high-security clearance jobs still use them before offering employment.
Hair tests can find THC in your system for up to 90 days after your last dose.
Get Connected to a Weed Addiction Treatment Center
If you or a loved one suffers from cannabis addiction, it’s time to seek help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we can offer you the tools and support you need to achieve long-term recovery.
Contact us today for more information on our THC addiction treatment center.
References:
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Understanding Your Risk for Cannabis Use Disorder
- Cambridge University Press: High-potency cannabis and the risk of psychosis
- The Permanente Journal: Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabis
