How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
Now that CBD has become one of the most popular remedies around, many users have one question: How long does CBD stay in my system? Smoking or ingesting CBD consistently provides relief for many people but some individuals are still skeptical because CBD comes from cannabis. Even though CBD doesn’t get you high there are concerns about it showing up on a drug test. Although many jobs test for psychoactive drugs such as THC, CBD testing is almost non-existent.
CBD is fat-soluble, which means it may build up and remain in your body for some time. After being processed by the liver, CBD is either stored in fat cells or eliminated through the digestive tract. A user will excrete more CBD through bowel movements than urine. Much like THC, the body needs time to fully process and eliminate CBD. Unlike its psychoactive cousin though, CBD tends to leave the system a little quicker.
Will CBD Show up on a Drug Test?
Most jobs do not test for CBD, and are only looking for recreational and psychoactive drugs such as THC. CBD will not show up on a drug test unless the test is administered specifically to detect it, which is very rare. While you may not fail a drug test for CBD, both CBD and THC cannabinoids are found in full-spectrum products. It is important to read the label of any CBD product you are ingesting or smoking (CBD flower).
Full-spectrum CBD oils contain traces of THC. Although you will not get the “high” typically associated with THC, the trace amounts may build up in your system and show up on a drug test as positive. If you are concerned about failing a drug test, avoid full-spectrum products. A safer alternative would be CBD isolates, which contain over 99% pure CBD and no other cannabinoids.
Read your labels! Products that contain no THC typically advertise this fact, while products that contain the psychoactive drug will have it labeled as well.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
The time it takes for CBD to leave the body varies based on factors such as weight, metabolism, and method of ingestion. Several studies have been conducted to discern exactly when CBD leaves the body. Researchers believe that CBD oil stimulates the endocannabinoid system (ECS), or the body’s natural method of producing its own cannabinoids.
How You Consume CBD Matters
Depending on how the CBD is consumed, it may affect the body differently. For example, CBD edibles may take up to two hours before the effects are felt. On the other hand, inhaling CBD typically results in users feeling the effects as soon as five minutes.
Methods such as inhaling or sublingual CBD introduce higher amounts of the compound to the system than edibles. CBD may stay in the system longer for smokers or those using the sublingual method. Dosage also plays a role in the length it takes the body to break down CBD. The higher the dose, the longer the CBD will stay in your system.
Do you know your personal dosage amount? Find out how much CBD you should take by using our easy CBD dosage chart.
Research & Studies
One study took 14 Huntington’s Disease patients and gave them 700mg of CBD per day orally. That immense dosage was continued daily for 6 weeks. During the study, the patients’ CBD levels were monitored. After the study concluded, researchers found that all traces of CBD were undetectable one week after the dosage was terminated.
Several other studies have found that the half-life of CBD, or how long your body takes to break down half of the compound, equated to 1-2 days for single use. For heavy usage, the half-life would nearly double. Although all these studies have yet to pinpoint an exact time frame, the collective understanding is that CBD should be out of your system 7-10 days after the user stops ingesting or smoking the product. While CBD may stay in the system for a week, the effects of CBD do not typically last more than a few hours.
Which CBD Method Lasts the Longest?
“How long does it take to feel it” and “how long will it last” are common questions for those new to CBD. How long users feel the effects heavily depends on which method they used to take the product. One solid rule governs the longevity of CBD relief: the faster you feel the effects, the shorter they last. For example, smoking CBD will provide users the quickest relief, but the effects may only last for an hour. Conversely, edibles may take up to 2 hours to provide users with relief, but the effects will last much longer.
Users should note that the method in which CBD is taken will also affect how long it stays in your system. Researchers have found the methods that provide the fastest relief (inhaling and sublingual use) leave the system faster. Meanwhile, methods that take longer to provide relief typically stay in the system longer. Edibles will stay in your system much longer than vaping would.
What Affects How Long CBD Stays in Your System?
The above guidelines are helpful, but we must remember that everyone’s body works differently. There are still other factors that can affect the duration of CBD in your system. Since CBD is a fat-soluble compound, metabolism and weight play a big role in how long it stays in your system.
There needs to be more research done when it comes to CBD ingestion and weight. However, since CBD absorbs into fat cells, a high body mass index will cause the compound to stay in the system longer. The less body fat you have, the quicker it will take your body to break down the CBD.
Users who are more active and eat a fiber-rich diet may break down CBD quicker than those who are more stationary and eat low-fiber diets. Fiber helps pull fatty compounds out of the body when we excrete stool, which can expedite the body’s process of breaking down CBD.
The most important factor that will affect the length of time CBD stays in your system is the frequency of use. Users who take CBD more often will take longer to break it down than those who use it sparingly.
How Much CBD Oil Should You Take?
You should always consult a doctor before assuming how much CBD your body can handle. While overdosing on CBD is nearly impossible (studies have been done where humans were given 1,500 mg of CBD with no issues), taking too much CBD can result in minor side effects. This may include the rapid beating of the heart (tachycardia), dizziness, diarrhea, drowsiness, dry mouth, and nausea.
For newcomers, it is best to start small and gradually work your way up. Start with 20 to 40 mg a day, and after a week, users may increase the amount by 5 mg. A gradual increase can continue from there.
Final Thoughts
How long will CBD stay in your system? Studies have shown that CBD is untraceable at 7-10 days in patients who are taking high doses of the compound. Still, users should take into account their weight, metabolism, lifestyle, and method of ingestion when taking CBD. Smoking, vaping, or CBD sublingual use will leave the system quicker than edibles will. Also, a high body mass index will result in CBD staying in the system longer.
It is always important to make sure you are putting the best products into your body. Cheef Botanicals provides organic, plant-based, lab-tested products. Our company was founded by a group of health-conscious cannabis enthusiasts with over 25 years of combined experience in the organic food industry. Cheef Botanicals CBD products are cruelty-free, non-GMO, gluten-free, and dairy-free. We use only pure wholesome ingredients, no artificial flavors or colors.
