How Long Does Medicinal Cannabis Stay in Your Body? The answer can put your mind at ease, particularly if you’re often subjected to drug tests and are conscious of cannabis’ impacts on your body over time. For regular users, the effects of Cannabis typically last between 2 to 3 hours. However, the high can last up to 15 hours for first-time users. This duration is influenced by the amount of THC present in the Cannabis and the quality of the marijuana being consumed. The timing for cannabis clearance from the body may depend on several individual factors.
Some people think marijuana stays in their bodies for a long time because of drug tests at work. It’s also important to know the laws about using Cannabis and driving.
Most people feel the effects of Cannabis for about 15 hours. Some may feel sleepy for longer. How someone feels can depend on how much they have used it before.
Processing Medicinal Cannabis: Extraction From The Body
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) processes medicinal Cannabis. It consists of receptors, enzymes, and cannabinoids in the body. The ECS does not have a comprehensive explanation, but it certainly contributes to the balance in the body, which is termed homeostasis. It also controls sleep, mood, appetite, and pain.
Essential Aspects That Will Define The Duration For Medical Cannabis
Cannabis’s undetectable duration depends on several factors. The patient being medicated, the dosage, and the exam method contribute to the duration’s reason.
In the case of specific tests conducted to check for the presence of Cannabis, one can be sure that whatever methods are used, it is going to be THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol) that will be measured.
Blood Sample Test Still considered one of the most sensitive methods to detect Cannabis, a blood test does have the drawback of having a short detection window for cannabis traces. Most of the time, the traces of Cannabis that can be detected from a blood sample are minimal.
Here, it might depend on how long the individual has been undergoing treatment with Cannabis. However, in all likelihood, Cannabis will remain in the circulatory system for two to twelve hours after ingestion.
Urine In contrast, a urine sample may show the presence of cannabis metabolites for some time after a patient has taken medicinal Cannabis.
How long Cannabis remains in a urine sample will depend on how frequently the Cannabis is being consumed. New patients with a prescription for medicinal Cannabis might only detect it four days after consumption—while those under prolonged treatment may find it lingering in their system for longer, showing up in a urine sample a month after it has been consumed.
Considering that most employer drug tests are simple and only identify the use of Cannabis without distinguishing between casual and medicinal use, patients are bound to inform employers about a medicinal cannabis prescription not in the context of a drug test but independent of it.
Saliva With new patients and a first-time prescription of medicinal Cannabis, a saliva test may show detectable levels of THC up to 20 hours following consumption. Patients on long-term treatment tend to have high cannabis levels in their system that can be detected in their saliva; however, the duration of detectability depends on the dose and length of the treatment.
However, THC-related tests may yield a positive result for up to 30 hours or more.
Hair Using hair as a determining sample for the presence of medical Cannabis in a patient is the most advanced center analytical method of drug testing. Hair follicle tests can identify drug use for a period of up to 90 days.
The time frame for a negative result to be called is 24 hours; however, all nontrue negatives undergo a second test. In this case, all test results take a minimum of 72 hours.
What factors may influence the retention time in patients’ bodies?
In addition to the method of testing, the patient’s answers can be affected by several factors regarding the time the traces of Medical Cannabis will remain in their system.
Commonness The frequency with which a patient uses medicinal Cannabis will impact any screening test conducted, be it saliva, blood, urine, or hair examinations. There is a direct correlation between the frequency of use, duration of use, and the duration of traces of the medicinal substance left in the body.
Dosage The same relationship exists for dosage; the more significant the dosage is taken, the longer it remains in the system.
Medicinal Cannabis works better when taken in higher doses, so it affects patients’ readings accordingly. This is primarily because of the cannabis-derived chemical THC, whose effects are cumulative.
Ingestion Method How you use Cannabis affects how long it stays in your body, no matter the form. If your body absorbs it quickly, it will also process it faster. This means oils, tinctures, and dissolvable tablets leave your system more rapidly than edibles. Unlike sublingual products, edibles need to be digested first before they enter the bloodstream, which makes cannabis traces detectable in your system for a longer time.
The Impact of Metabolism and Body Fat on THC Retention THC is held in a patient’s fat cells as a fat-soluble compound. Hence, although weight affects how a patient processes Cannabis, it is not about the numbers on the scale; instead, it’s about the amount of body fat a patient has. People with higher body fat are likely to have a slower rate of processing medicinal Cannabis, which elongates the duration cannabis is detectable in their system.
Factors That Influence Cannabis Metabolism Typically, female patients carry more body fat than male patients. Because of this, women are more likely to take longer to metabolize the herb’s medicinal form as it stays in their bodies for an extended period.
Additional factors that may affect how long Cannabis is retained in the body include a patient’s metabolism, the amount of physical activity they engage in, and whether or not they are hydrated.
What to Do When Preparing for a Drug Screening with an Active Medical Marijuana Authorization
Medical marijuana patients should understand that THC, the active component in marijuana, could potentially be found on a drug test. The duration that THC remains in the body is dependent on the quantity and frequency of marijuana consumption. Discuss your prescription with your employer; a positive result may be beneficial. Understanding the timeframes for various tests and their detection of THC can significantly reduce anxiety.
Understand Your Legal Rights
Having a medical marijuana card opens various opportunities. However, know that your public and work rights must be well understood. A lot of jurisdictions protect individuals using medical marijuana; however, busts maintaining remedy-free workplaces is the norm. Besides that, you are free to consume it outside the work premises. The employer has the right to terminate your employment or, in some cases, refuse to permit you to take medical marijuana due to internal policies. However, rules differ in other locations, so consult local legislation and employer’s rules.
Best Tips for Cannabis Users to Follow
As a user of medical Cannabis, below are a few pointers that could assist you when preparing for tests for other drugs. First, having your prescription on hand at all times is a must. That demonstrates you’re authorized to use Cannabis. Second, each person reacts to marijuana differently, and some more than others, so try understanding how long it takes to leave your system and plan accordingly. Extrinsic factors like diet, exercise, and hydration affect a patient’s elimination rate.
Conclusion
In conclusion, how long Cannabis stays in your body depends on a few things. These include how often you use it, how much you take, and your body type. Different tests can find Cannabis at other times. For example, hair tests can find it for up to 90 days. If you know how your body works, you can guess how long it might show up. If you have a prescription, telling your boss can help you with drug tests at work.
