How Long Does Marijuana Stay in Your System?
This is a question that many people have, especially when first using marijuana or taking a drug test. The period in which THC stays in your body depends on many factors, including how much body fat you have, how often you consume marijuana, and how much you consume.
On average, casual marijuana consumers can expect marijuana to be out of their system within a couple of weeks. However, if you’re a heavy consumer and use marijuana multiple times a day, it can take over a month for it to get out of your system. And, in some cases, even longer.
This blog post will cover all details regarding how long marijuana stays in your system.
How Marijuana Is Metabolized
One of the most important things to know about marijuana is that it contains tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid responsible for making people “high.” When you smoke and ingest cannabis, THC is absorbed into your bloodstream and taken to different parts of the body. Enzymes can also metabolize THC in your liver and other organs.
Your body processes THC differently than other chemicals. For example, alcohol is metabolized in the liver and leaves your system quickly. However, THC is stored in fatty tissues and takes longer to be eliminated, making marijuana stay in your system for lengthier times.
Several factors can influence how long this process takes.
How Much You Consume
The length of time marijuana stays in your system depends on how much you consume. For example, if you smoke one joint, the THC will leave your system within a few days. But if you smoke multiple joints, the THC will stay in your system for longer.
This also applies to other methods of marijuana consumption, such as edibles. The THC is absorbed into your bloodstream and metabolized more slowly with edibles. So, if you eat a brownie that contains 50 milligrams of THC, it will take much longer for the THC to leave your system than if you smoked a joint with the same amount of THC.
How Often You Use Marijuana
Another factor that affects how long marijuana stays in your system is how often you consume it. If you smoke or ingest cannabis regularly, the THC will remain in your system for a more extended period than if you only use it occasionally.
This is because regular users have more THC stored in their fatty tissues. And as we mentioned earlier, it takes longer for this THC to be eliminated from the body.
Your Body Composition
Everyone’s body is different, affecting how long marijuana stays in your system. Your body composition includes things like your weight and how much fat you have on your body.
People who are thin or have a low percentage of body fat tend to eliminate THC from their bodies faster than people who weigh more or have higher body fat levels.
Some other factors include:
- Age: The way your body processes THC changes as you get older. Younger people tend to metabolize THC more quickly than older adults.
- Gender: Women usually have more body fat than men, meaning marijuana typically stays in their system for longer.
- Exercise levels: Exercise can speed up the metabolism of THC, so frequent exercise may help you eliminate marijuana from your body faster.
- Metabolism: Faster metabolisms break down THC more quickly.
Drug Tests
If you’re figuring out how long marijuana stays in your system because you need to take a drug test, it’s always best to err on the side of caution. Most drug tests look for THC metabolites, which can stay in your system for weeks or even months, depending on the various factors above.
So, if you know you’ll be taking a drug test soon, it’s best to stop ingesting cannabis as quickly as possible. Give your body time to eliminate all traces of THC from your system.
Sources:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324315#factors-that-influence-detection
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system#detection-time-by-drug-test
