How Long Does THC Stay in Your System?

Tips on Passing a Drug Test

Those of you who have used marijuana would be very much interested in how long does THC stay in your system, especially if you are due for a drug test.

This is difficult to determine because it depends on various factors, including your body weight, health, fluid intake, metabolic rate, how frequently your have smoked, and the number of fat cells in your body. Another factor that makes it very difficult to determine the answer is the variation in the amount of THC in various plants.

First of All, What is Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC?

The drug test looks for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol, or simply THC, to determine whether a person is a marijuana user. This compound is one of almost 400 chemicals found in marijuana and it is primarily responsible for the mind-altering or psychoactive effects of the cannabis plant.

THC in the body is kept in fat cells in the various organs, including the brain, the kidneys, and the liver. This is why it remains in the body much longer than the chemicals from other drugs. This makes it the most likely chemical to cause a person to fail the drug test.

THC almost immediately gets into the bloodstream within minutes after a person smokes marijuana. If it is taken orally, it would require from 20 minutes to 1.5 hours. Its metabolites, which are also known as THC, are the ones kept in the fat cells and discharged through the urine or feces.

What Is the Estimated Duration of Stay of THC in the Body?

There are various estimates but there appears to be a consensus that THC in the body could last from three to 90 days.

If a person had participated in just one smoking session and was originally clean, the THC in the body would be gone in three to four days and he would be able to pass the THC test as long as he did not use marijuana during that time interval.

However, if the person smokes or ingests marijuana again during that time interval, the time required for the THC detox will approximately double. The duration is also dependent on the half time of THC, which is very variable, ranging from one to 10 days.

For a regular user, the maximum length of time for complete THC detox if he has stopped is 45 days. For the persistent user, the length of time before THC becomes undetectable in the urine is 90 days.

The best way to determine that THC is no longer detectable in your body is to purchase a test kit designed for home use.

Are There Ways to Speed Up the Elimination of THC in the Body?

It is believed that drinking unadulterated cranberry juice coupled with at least eight glasses of water a day could accelerate detoxification. The cranberry juice should not contain any additives, including sugar or other kinds of sweeteners.

Exercising regularly will also help in speeding up the process because this will increase the person's metabolism and burn some of the fat cells. It is also believed that stimulating perspiration by staying in a steam room or sauna will help. However, care should be taken in not exceeding 30 minutes in the steam room.

A person may also try drinking apple cider vinegar because it is supposed to cleanse the blood from toxins. He should add two tablespoons of this liquid to a glass of water and he should drink it in only one sitting. This should be done thrice during the day. To improve the taste of apple cider vinegar, try adding sugar to it.

There are also various THC detox kits available in the market to speed up the process. A certain kind of shampoo is also available to wash out the THC that could be found in the hair.

Thus, while it is difficult to really know how long does THC stay in your system, there are ways to increase your chances of passing a THC test.