How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?

WRITTEN by Caleb

 | Last revised

Nov, 2022

Have you ever consumed a medical cannabis product and wondered how long it stays in your system?

While the effects of CBD can last between 2 to 6 hours, depending on the dosage and consumption method, it may remain detectable in your system anywhere from 2 to 30 days.

How long CBD or THC remains detectable depends on how often you consume it, how much you consume and also how you consume it.

Let’s break it down.

CBD Oil: How Long Does It Stay In System?

A 2018 review reported the half-life of CBD ranged anywhere from 1 hour to 5 days and varies depending on the dosage and consumption method [1].

There is very little data available that explores the elimination rate of CBD in humans, likely because every human has unique physiological factors that contribute to clearance rates.

Things that affect how long it takes the human body to metabolise and clear CBD or THC include weight, height, gender, how often you consume CBD and how you consume it.

Let’s explore how long cannabinoid metabolites can be detected by different drug tests.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Saliva?

Saliva tests do not detect CBD, they only detect delta-9 THC.

However, if your CBD product contains small amounts of THC, this may potentially show up on a saliva swab drug test,

So the more accurate question is; how long does THC stay in saliva?

While it’s difficult to determine due to the above-mentioned variables, this study found that THC can be detected in saliva anywhere from 24 to 72 hours for occasional users.

However, THC was detected for up to 30 days in the saliva of frequent users [2].

How Long Does CBD Stay In Urine?

Urine tests are the most common form of drug screening used by employers.

A urine test can detect THC metabolites for at least 3 days and up to 15 days after cannabis use.

Because CBD oil contains a lot less THC than cannabis, the amount of THC metabolites in your system is likely to become undetectable closer to the 3-day mark than lasting for an entire two weeks. Again though, this is different for everyone.[2]

How Long Does CBD Stay In Hair?

Hair tests can pick up a wide range of drugs for as long as 3 months after you took them.

Several cannabinoids can be detected via a hair test, including CBD. However, most hair tests are not looking for CBD; the only cannabinoid they are looking for is THC.

THC metabolites can show up on hair tests for up to 3 months. However, it is very uncommon for hair tests to be used by employers to detect cannabis use. [3]

Furthermore, like other testing methods, a CBD isolate will not contain enough THC to be detected.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Blood?

Blood tests are rarely used by employers in any context, but they can detect THC metabolites for about a week after you take CBD oil. [3]

How Long Does It Take For Marijuana To Leave Your System?

The effects of cannabis can last between 1 and 4 hours, but like CBD, the THC stays in your system for longer. Both cannabinoids stay in your system for similar amounts of time.

However, CBD isolates do not contain enough THC to be detectable.

Full-spectrum CBD also typically contains much less THC than cannabis. As a result, the amount of THC in your system may reach undetectable levels faster after taking full-spectrum CBD than after taking cannabis.

Why Does It Matter How Long Is CBD In Your System?

Most drug tests, including driving impairment tests and some of the drug tests used by employers, cannot tell the difference between CBD and THC use.

This is because they only test for THC metabolites, not CBD.

If you use a CBD isolate extract, drug tests should not detect THC.

If you use full-spectrum CBD products, these can contain trace amounts of THC, which may show up on a drug test, even though it is not enough to get you high.

As a result, it is important to know how long CBD oil stays in your system. Even though CBD is legal, if you fail a drug screening for THC, you may not be able to prove that you only consumed a CBD product.

This can cause unnecessary complications if you need to take a drug test for a job or for other reasons, especially if you are dealing with people who do not understand the difference between CBD and THC.

CBD capsules and oil next to hemp leaves

What Affects How Long CBD Oil Stays In Your System?

The duration of CBD’s effects can differ from person to person, and so can how long it remains detectable in your body. This is affected by many different aspects of your body and health.

The length of time CBD stays in your system is greatly affected by your Body Mass Index (BMI). CBD is a fat-soluble compound. This means that your body will store it in fat cells, rather than water cells.

As a result, if you have a higher BMI, your body will store more CBD, and it will take longer for all of it to be broken down and removed from your system. [1]

The amount of time that CBD stays in the system depends on many different factors, such as:

  • Your metabolism
  • Your weight
  • Your age
  • The dosage of CBD you took
  • How often you take CBD
  • The administration method used

How Long Does CBD Oil Last In Your System?

For most people, pure CBD oil can stay in your system for anywhere from 2 to 5 days.

However, the THC metabolites detected in drug tests can stick around for longer. If you are concerned about failing a drug test because of taking CBD, consider discussing this with your prescribing doctor for further advice.

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References

1. Sophie A. Millar, Nicole L. Stone, Andrew S. Yates, and Saoirse E. O'Sullivan, "A Systematic Review on the Pharmacokinetics of Cannabidiol in Humans".
PMC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6275223/.
2. Dayong Lee and Marilyn A. Huestis, "Current Knowledge on Cannabinoids in Oral Fluid".
PMC.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4532432/.
3. Adrienne Santos-Longhurst, "How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System? ".
Healthline.
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-cbd-stay-in-your-system.

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Disclaimer. While we strive to relay the most factual education available, this shouldn’t replace official medical or legal consultation and recommendation. This is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Happy days.

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