HOW LONG DOES CANNABIS STAY IN THE BODY?
In some cases, the metabolites of cannabis remain in the body long after the effects have worn off, which is a significant deterrent to smoking or ingesting any form of cannabis. In fact, cannabis has the longest traceability of any “illegal” substance, or more specifically of “Schedule I” substances – up to two months after use.
The most common way to test a person for drug use is through a urine test – but there are also tests that can be done on hair, blood and saliva.
Urine drug testing is less expensive and has a longer follow-up time than saliva drug testing. Are there any benchmarks I can trust?Unfortunately, the answer to this question is that there are no specific rules as to how long after smoking the last joint or eating the last piece of cannabis chocolate cake a drug test can detect the use of cannabis.
A urine test can detect cannabis use within 2-5 hours of use.Saliva testing will show THC use within an hour of use but will also show a positive result within the next 12 hours. Hair tests show THC consumption within approximately one week of consumption and can show positive results for up to 90 days.
In addition to the frequency of use, there are several factors that determine whether metabolites of cannabis will be detected in the body. These include body weight, the percentage of body fat and the final amount consumed.
However, here are some general rules of thumb. – A single user of cannabis can detect a positive test within 1-6 days of use. – A regular user can detect a positive within 7-13 days of use. – A regular user may test positive for more than 15 days. – A heavy user may test positive within 30 days or more. – Some heavy users of cannabis have been reported to test positive within 90 days of their last use. The most reliable way to find out if you have tested positive (before the official test) is to test yourself. THE SCIENCE BEHIND URINE TESTINGThe urine tests that most people take do not directly measure the amount of THC. In fact, they are designed to detect the presence of a chemical called THC-COOH or 9-carboxy-THC. The body’s secretion of 9-carboxy-THC is also influenced by metabolism, body fat ratios, and regulated by diet and stress.
When you consume cannabis, tetrahydrocannabinol enters the bloodstream and is metabolised and broken down into new chemicals. The urine test is designed to detect 9-carboxy-THC as it only appears after cannabis has been consumed.
Drug screening also has a limit when it comes to measuring THC levels in the body. Generally, any amount above 50 nanograms per millilitre will result in a positive result.
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