How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?

To find out how long marijuana stays in your body, you must know the details of the chemical in cannabis, called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is absorbed into the bloodstream and passes to organs and fatty tissues. THC is further metabolized in the liver and has over 80 metabolites. Drug tests look for these metabolites in urine, saliva, and hair. The amount of THC in your body varies according to your body weight.

THC

How long does marijuana stay in your system? The amount of marijuana in your system depends on the amount of THC you have in your body, how much you smoke, and how much you vape. If you smoke marijuana daily, the drug will be in your system for up to 15 days. If you use marijuana less often, you will probably have less marijuana in your system, but heavy users will still be detected for up to 30 days.

By-products of THC

The length of time marijuana stays in your body depends on the amount you consume and the metabolism of your body. When you consume marijuana, THC is broken down into a few different by-products, and they remain in your body long after the effects wear off. Whether or not you’ll be detected depends on how much you consume and the type of drug test you have. The THC in marijuana is stored in your body fat, which makes the drug relatively long-lasting.

Blood levels of THC

How long does THC stay in your body? How long does THC stay in your blood after you’ve smoked marijuana? The amount of THC you’ve ingested is a big question, but the answer may be more straightforward than you think. The blood THC concentration after marijuana use decreases quickly, while the remaining THC is disposed of in your fatty tissues. These deposits remain for a long time, so it’s possible to detox if you quit smoking.

Tests that detect THC

THC is the active ingredient of marijuana. Urine is a good sample for a marijuana test because it contains nine-carboxy-THC, its metabolite. THC is excreted in the urine, with 80%-90% of the total dose being eliminated within five days. If you consume marijuana, however, you will still have traces of it in your urine and feces.

Effects of THC on memory

While cannabis has a wide variety of benefits, it can have negative effects on your memory, too. It’s important to recognize that marijuana has long-lasting effects on your mind, and that higher potency cannabis has more damaging effects. Higher potency marijuana also carries a higher risk for abuse and psychiatric illness. That raises questions about the validity of older studies. For example, the Dunedin Study, published in 1996, focused on marijuana with low THC levels. Interestingly, there is a chemical found in marijuana called cannabidiol. This chemical may have protective effects against the harmful effects of THC.

Learning

When people ask “how long does marijuana stay in your system,” they are more likely wondering how long it will remain in your urine. This question is actually more about how long it takes your body to clean your system and flush out the THC metabolites. The reason that you may want to know how long marijuana stays in your system is because drug testing has become a standard protocol for many industries, and most employers require drug tests of employees.