Use this guide to help eliminate THC from your system!
Contents:
Good news! You just got your dream job. But, your new career comes with a catch—a zero tolerance drug policy. Do you give up weed? We know that might be intolerable or even impossible. There are many reasons why people choose to use cannabis, and we don't judge; we just puff, puff, pass.
So, you make your best choice and continue to partake. But, you suddenly find yourself facing a drug test. Eep! What to do!? Read on to find out how to get THC out of your system.
HOW LONG DOES CANNABIS STAY IN YOUR SYSTEM?
The length of time cannabis stays in your system is affected by your unique biology and habits. While everyone is different, cannabis is usually detectable in fluids like urine and saliva from 1–30 days after last use. It may be detectable in hair for months.
THC is metabolised in the liver, where it gets broken down into over 80 metabolites. Eventually, THC and its metabolites are excreted, leaving your system. However, many of these compounds linger in your system longer than THC itself. Most drug tests are designed to detect certain metabolites, like tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (THC-COOH).
FACTORS THAT AFFECT HOW QUICKLY YOU METABOLISE THC
So, how long does it take for any trace of weed to leave your system? Your own THC timeline relies on numerous factors, including:
• How much/how frequently you consume cannabis
• How much body fat you have/metabolic rate
• How sensitive the drug test is/type of drug test
DOSAGE AND FREQUENCY OF USE
The amount (and frequency) of cannabis you regularly consume is perhaps the biggest factor. This one really is a no-brainer: The more cannabis you consume, the more metabolites there are knocking around in your body. Cannabis taken orally, like edibles, may also linger in your system longer than smoking.
Consumption rules apply to both individual doses and long-term habits. Two grams of weed will take longer to leave your system than one. Weed that's more potent will take more time to clear out too. If you're an occasional user, your system will eliminate THC faster. So, take note! If you're a chronic user of cannabis, you may need extra time to abstain before you can pass a drug test.
BODY FAT AND OVERALL METABOLIC RATE
THC is detectable for longer in chronic users because THC metabolites get stored in fat cells (they are lipid soluble). A person with less body fat will store fewer of these molecules, and a person with more body fat will store more. That's why sex can sometimes be a factor as well. Females tend to have more body fat than males, so women may metabolise cannabinoids more slowly.
A person's overall metabolic rate also plays a large role. Some people can burn calories just by sitting around, while others struggle to lose weight even with an active lifestyle. Those with a faster metabolism will process and eliminate cannabinoid metabolites more quickly. Just be aware, if you exercise heavily before a drug test, the fat you burn could release more THC metabolites into your system, causing a temporary spike.
SENSITIVITY OF THE DRUG TEST
Different drug tests—urine, hair, saliva, blood—have different detection windows. Many, like hair and urine screenings, measure the THC metabolite THC-COOH, while blood tests measure levels of THC itself. Of all the standard testing methods, urine testing is by far the most common[1]. If you're being drug tested at work, it's almost always going to be a urine test.
Test sensitivity refers to the cutoff concentration of THC or its metabolites, above which a test is considered positive. The cutoff for most cannabis urine tests is 50ng/ml of THC-COOH. However, it is possible for the cutoff to be set as low as 15ng/ml. The more sensitive the test, the longer the detection window is.
DRUG TESTS AND DETECTION TIMES
According to available research, these are the most common detection windows for different drug tests. Keep in mind, the timeline varies according to your unique physiology and personal habits.
URINE TESTING
Cannabis and its metabolites are detectable in urine[2] for varying amounts of time after last use, depending on how frequent of a user you are:
• Occasional user (one to three times per week): 3 days
• Moderate user (four times per week): 5–7 days
• Chronic user (daily): 10–15 days
• Heavy chronic user (multiple times per day): 30+ days
This is, of course, assuming the test sensitivity cutoff is a standard 50ng/ml.
SALIVA TESTING
Roadside saliva tests may be used to detect impaired driving in some jurisdictions where cannabis is legal. According to a scientific review[3], cannabis can typically be detected in saliva for:
• Occasional users: 1–3 days
• Chronic users: up to 29 days
BLOOD TESTING
Blood testing is relatively costly and invasive, making it less common than other testing methods. However, blood tests may be used in some clinical or emergency settings. Unlike urine tests, which detect metabolites, blood tests typically look for the presence of THC itself. THC is almost instantly detectable in the blood upon inhaling cannabis, making blood tests ideal for determining recent drug use.
Research shows[4] that cannabis remains detectable in blood for 1–2 days. However, in certain cases it has been detected up to 25 days later. Heavy, chronic use of cannabis can increase the length of the detection window.
HAIR TESTING
Following consumption of cannabis, THC reaches the hair follicles through small blood vessels. Trace amounts can be detected in hair for up to 90 days, as confirmed by a 2015 study[5]. Typically, a 4cm section of hair taken from near the scalp indicates cannabis use over a three month period (hair grows at an approximate rate of 1.2–1.5cm per month).
If you're required to take a hair follicle drug test, around 100 hairs will be taken from near the crown of your head. Washing, dyeing, or styling your hair with products will have no effect on the accuracy of the test.
HOW TO GET THC OUT OF YOUR SYSTEM
So, you've got a drug test coming up and you're feeling uneasy. Don't get defeated! Here's how you can try and beat it.
STOP CONSUMING CANNABIS
This may seem obvious, but the first thing you should do if you have a drug test coming up is stop using weed. The aim here is to purge any trace of THC or its metabolites as thoroughly as possible. The longer you cease smoking beforehand, the more likely you are to pass the test. Depending on the type of test and your smoking habits, you may need to take a longer break to fully flush your system.
DRINK LOTS OF WATER
Speaking of flushing your system, there's nothing better than good ol' H₂O. Of course, drinking water is most effective for passing urine tests. Luckily, that's the most common type of test.
To help cleanse your system, pee as much as you can 24–48 hours before your test. Keep hydrating on the day of your drug test. The goal is to dilute your urine, making it harder to detect any residual metabolites.
Just don't overdo it. Drinking too much water will result in an obviously diluted sample, potentially leading to a retest or increased suspicion. You need to drink plenty of water, but not so much that it becomes obvious. This is indeed a balancing act.
TAKE ZINC
A 2011 study[6] found that zinc is an effective urinary adulterant, with the potential to produce a false negative test result. Research suggests that oral consumption of zinc supplements after light cannabis use could interfere with detection of THC metabolites in urine for between 12 and 18 hours.
Zinc supplements are widely available over the counter in pharmacies and health food stores. So, if a drug test gets sprung on you or you need some extra assurance, you might want to swing by the vitamin aisle. Just make sure to check with your doctor or pharmacist first if you take any regular medications.
DETOX DRINKS
If you want to kick it up a notch from water, try a detox drink. Detox drinks work on the premise of expelling or masking the presence of THC and its metabolites. Many of them use diuretic substances to make sure you are passing urine frequently.
Consumer detox products can be quite expensive. If you don't have the cash, focus on simple detox drinks you can make at home, like coffee or cranberry juice.
ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
Another method to prepare your body for a drug test is activated charcoal. Charcoal is often used to medically manage overdoses; it binds to different substances and helps the body eliminate them. That's because charcoal molecules have a negative electrical charge; they bind with positively charged molecules in different drugs, trapping them.
The binding process works with THC metabolites. THC metabolites circulate many times through your system via a process known as "enterohepatic recirculation". They move from blood to liver to bile and into the intestines, before being reabsorbed back into the bloodstream. The cycle then repeats, with a portion of the metabolites excreted as waste each time. Eventually, after many cycles, all metabolites are flushed from your system.
Research[7] shows that activated charcoal binds to metabolites like THC-COOH and THC-COO-glucuronide, preventing their reabsorption into the bloodstream and speeding up their elimination. That means charcoal could help you pass a drug test faster.
HOW TO INGEST ACTIVATED CHARCOAL
So, what's the best way to take activated charcoal? Thanks to its purifying properties, charcoal has gained popularity as an addition to cosmetics, health products, and even food. The simplest way to take it is via capsules. But, let's be honest, it's more fun to do a little baking! The recipe below for charcoal bread results in a unique, black loaf that looks badass and still tastes great.
Please note that you should be careful when ingesting activated charcoal—it could interfere with absorption of medications and vitamins. If you have concerns or take regular meds, check with your doctor or pharmacist before trying it.
CHARCOAL BREAD RECIPE
This gothic dough will turn any sandwich into a conversation piece.
INGREDIENTS
• 240g plain flour
• 7g dried yeast
• 50g caster sugar
• ½ tsp. salt
• 2 tsp. activated charcoal powder
• 140ml warm water
• 30g butter
HARDWARE
• Large bowl
• Cutting board/breadboard
• Bread tin
• Kitchen towel
• Roasting tray
• Wooden spoon
INSTRUCTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 200°C. Add flour, yeast, sugar, salt, and charcoal powder into a large bowl and mix thoroughly.
2. Add water to the bowl and continue to mix until the mixture becomes dough.
3. Sprinkle flour over a breadboard and knead the dough whilst adding the butter one small piece at a time. Knead until all of the butter has merged with the dough and it becomes soft and stretchy.
4. Add the dough to a greased bread tin and cover with a damp kitchen towel. Place a roasting tray underneath the bread tin and pour boiling water into it. Place tin and tray into the oven. Return 30 minutes later to add more boiling water.
5. Once another 30 minutes have elapsed (1 hour total), carefully separate the roasting tray from the bread tin and bake alone in the oven for a final 15 minutes.
6. Remove the bread from the oven and allow it to cool.
WRAPPING UP: HOW TO ELIMINATE THC FROM YOUR SYSTEM
Here's a quick recap of the main points:
• THC gets broken down into metabolites like THC-COOH by the liver, and this is what many drug tests look for.
• Different drug tests have different detection times, which are also influenced by body fat, metabolism, and how much/how often you use cannabis.
• Urine tests are by far the most popular method, especially among employers.
• If you have a drug test coming up, you should stop using weed immediately.
• To speed up excretion of THC or to help mask its presence, drink lots of water (but not too much!).
• You can also try: zinc, detox drinks, and activated charcoal.
Ultimately, there's no fool-proof formula to flush THC out of your system quickly. There are just too many variables. But, that doesn't mean you're powerless. Research shows that the methods we discussed could help speed up the process. With knowledge on your side, and a little bit of luck, you'll be flying high in your free time and nobody will be the wiser. Because, let's be honest, it's nobody's business.
Disclaimer:
This content is for educational purposes only. The information provided is derived from research gathered from external sources.
