With the birth of CBD came many concerns that it could cause a positive reading on a drug screen. This is an issue for many people, as their employers randomly select people for a drug test. So, how long does CBD flower stay in your system? less than 0.3% of THC
According to Healthline, CBD stays in the system anywhere from 2 to 5 days. However, this range will vary as everyone’s system is different. For some individuals, CBD may stay in their system for weeks.
While CBD products only have a small amount of THC, trace amounts could still show up when you are subject to a drug test. The 2018 farm bill legalized hemp products as long as they stay under 0.3% THC. Anything over this level is considered illegal.
In this article, we will discuss how long CBD stays in the body and what factors affect it.
What Is CBD?
The cannabis family, which includes marijuana and hemp, contains chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. These chemicals are unique to the cannabis plant. There are 113 cannabinoids within the cannabis plant.
CBD happens to be one of those cannabinoids. Tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC, is a psychoactive cannabinoid in marijuana. There are other cannabinoids you may be familiar with, including Cannabigerol (CBG), Cannabichromene (CBC), and Cannabinol (CBN). All of these compounds are found in the cannabis plant.
Every strain of cannabis will contain its own ratio of cannabinoids. CBD comes from the hemp plant, which is low in THC. For it to be classified as hemp, the THC level must be below 0.3%. While hemp is low in THC, it is still rich in CBD. This is the CBD that consumers have come to love, as it will provide you with overall wellbeing without causing the entourage effect. Since CBD products are produced from hemp and not marijuana, these products are legal to use and sell.
Why Does CBD Affect Our Bodies?
The effects of CBD and THC were somewhat of a mystery until the 1990s when research identified the endocannabinoid system. This system was first described as two receptors that were named CB-1 and CB-2.
Over the years, our knowledge of the endocannabinoid system has increased. Research has uncovered that more than 70 receptors and enzymes that cannabinoids can interact with and cause a biological response.
Each of these receptors has a different function within the body and can be bound differently to cannabinoids.
As an example, CB-1 receptors can bind with THC but do not bind well with CBD. This lack of binding is the reason why THC produces the entourage effect and CBD does not. CBD affects the CB-2 receptors that run throughout the body. They can be found in the skin, immune cells, heart, blood vessels, and a number of other organs. CB-2 receptors have a multitude of purposes, which include signaling pain and immune responses.
How Long Does CBD Flower Stay in Your System?
The answer to this question will all depend on how you take it. Oral ingestion of CBD may last anywhere between 1 to 2 days. Please take note that everyone’s system is different, so this calculation can vary based on a number of factors.
Half-Life Of CBD
By definition, the elimination of half-life is the length of time that it will take for a particular substance to decrease to half of its starting dose. So, it helps us determine exactly how long a drug should last in our bodies.
While studies are ongoing for CBD, there has been a lot of research on this topic in recent years. One study suggested that the half-life of CBD was around 18 to 32 hours. Let’s break this down so you can understand. If you ingest 100 ml of CBD, within 18 to 32 hours at least 50 ml of the CBD has left your system.
Other reports have CBD lasting in the system for as long as 3 to 4 days. However, on average, experts believe that CBD will stay in the body for a couple of days and not much longer than that.
Now, let’s take a look at some of the things that could affect how long CBD stays in your system.
Dosage
With any supplement, the higher dose you take the longer it will stay in your system. CBD is no different, so the amount of CBD that you are taking will play a role in how long CBD stays in your system. Your liver is only able to filter so much at a time. So, if you take a higher dose it will take longer for your system to break it down.
How Often You Take It
The frequency of your dosage will also play a part in determining how long CBD stays in your system. CBD can build up in the body over time, especially if it is used regularly. This is why you should always use CBD for at least a week before determining if the product is working for you or not.
Your Body
Because everyone’s system is different, CBD and how long it lasts will vary among individuals. Your body mass index, water intake, and metabolism are all things that can influence how long a CBD product stays in your system.
CBD is fat-soluble, therefore, our bodies will store it within our fat cells. For those who burn fat by doing exercise, you are likely to get rid of CBD faster than those who do not exercise. If you have more body fat CBD will stay in the body longer.
Food
How much you eat and when you eat will affect your CBD. If CBD is taken on an empty stomach it will metabolize and be eliminated faster than when taken on a full stomach. Digestion will slow down when your stomach is full. This is why it is recommended that you take a lot of medications and supplements on an empty stomach.
Method Of Use
The way you take CBD will also play a role in how long it stays in your system.
Dosing methods include:
- Oils and tinctures
- Pills and capsules
- Edibles
- Vaping
- Creams and lotions
How Does Our Body Process CBD?
How the body processes CBD will all depend on how it is used. There are 3 primary ways to take CBD, which includes ingestion, inhale, or topically applied. However, the most popular way to take CBD is through oral supplements, such as CBD oil drops.
When ingesting CBD orally, your digestive system will first process the compound. It will go through the stomach and end up in the liver. Here, the liver will break it down and pass it to the rest of your body through the bloodstream.
Most people place a few drops of CBD under their tongue. The membranes within our mouth will transfer the compound directly to the bloodstream. So, it will bypass the liver altogether. If you want to get the most from your CBD oil, it is recommended that you place it under your tongue.
When you choose to inhale CBD, it will be absorbed through the lungs. The molecules in the alveoli will then pass through the bloodstream. This can be done by smoking CBD flowers or vaping a special oil.
The topical application of CBD is another way to get the compound into your system. You may apply the CBD product to a sore knee or swollen joint. It will then enter the skin and into the bloodstream. It will affect the receptors that are specifically expressed in the skin, which may include localized CB-CB-2 receptors. These receptors are known to improve skin health.
How Long Does It Take For CBD To Fully Enter The System?
Again, the answer to this question is going to vary based on a number of reasons that we discussed above. However, on average, research has shown that CBD will fully enter the system within 15 to 20 minutes when ingesting this herbal supplement. This means if you take it orally or vape it. Edibles and topicals, on average, will take about one to two hours to fully enter the system.
From there, according to user experience and research, CBD will last for anywhere between 2 to 6 hours. This, of course, will vary among individuals.
Will CBD Show Up On A Drug Screen?
There is always a chance that CBD will show up on a drug screen. If you are worried about it, then you should avoid taking it. CBD does have low amounts of THC in it, and trace amounts could show up on your drug test.
Everything will depend on the quality and composition of your product. If you are concerned about the THC levels in your CBD product then you should be mindful of the type of products you are choosing.
- Full Spectrum CBD – This type of CBD product contains all of the naturally occurring compounds from the plant, including THC.
- Broad-spectrum CBD – These products are similar to Full-spectrum, but it goes through an extra process to eliminate THC.
- CBD Isolate – Isolates only contain CBD.
When choosing a full-spectrum CBD you will want to find products that are hemp-derived CBD rather than marijuana-derived. Hemp-derived CBD will contain less than 0.3% of THC which is legal. You will want to go with a company that offers high-quality products and can ensure you are truly getting the product that is described.
Be mindful that any hemp-derived products can still contain trace amounts of THC. So, the best policy is to avoid these products completely if you are worried about having a positive drug test.
Find The Right CBD Product For You
When it comes to CBD, you want to go with a product that will suit your lifestyle. Rather that is smoking CBD flowers or taking CBD oil under your tongue. If the product does not fit your lifestyle then you are less likely to use it.
CBD can provide overall balance and wellbeing. Thousands of people are seeking CBD products because of the wellness support that they provide. When it comes to how long do CBD flowers stay in your system, the answer to this question can vary. However, on average, you can expect CBD to last between 2 to 5 days in your system.
If you are looking for a high-quality CBD flower, check out our shop. We have a large variety of strains. We offer exceptional customer service and are happy to answer any questions that you may have.
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