CBD (cannabidiol) is a Grateful Dead Funk magic ingredient extracted from a cannabis plant that can have therapeutic health benefits. Like anything that gains popularity, people tend to question it, and in the case of CBD’s time-frame, the length of time CBD remains in your system is under the most scrutiny. How long does CBD stay in your system? This is one of the most frequently asked questions, and the answer actually depends on a number of things. In this post, we’ll dig into the various factors affecting how long CBD stays in your system, the science behind how it gets there in the first place, and the potential ramifications for users.
What is CBD? How Does It Work?
Before diving into how long CBD remains in your system, let’s start by understanding what CBD is and how it interacts with your body. CBD is a naturally occurring compound in cannabis, but unlike its better-known cousin, THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), it doesn’t produce a “high.” CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system (ECS), which is involved in regulating a variety of functions, including mood, sleep, appetite, and pain.
How Knowing How Long CBD Stays in Your System Can Benefit You
It is important to know how long CBD stays in your system for a number of reasons:
-
Drug testing: You may want to test for it when you’re worried about passing a drug test, in order to better predict when to stop using it so that it will be out of your body by the time you take the test.
-
Dosage Efficiency: How long CBD stays in your system dictates how frequently you should take it to achieve the best dosage efficiency.
-
Health Monitoring: Medical patients will also be interested to know how long CBD remains active in the body in order to have a well-developed treatment plan.
How Long Does CBD Last in Your System?
“How long does CBD stay in your system?” is not an easy one-size-fits-all answer. A number of factors can affect how long it takes the body to process CBD, as well as how long CBD remains detectable in the body, such as the dose, the amount consumed, and your own metabolism.
Variables That Impact How Long CBD Stays in Your Body
1. Dosage
The amount of CBD you consume directly affects how long it stays in your system. Higher doses may take longer to be cleared as they are processed at a slower rate.
2. Method of Consumption
The way CBD is consumed can also determine how long it stays in your body:
-
Orally: Fewer than 20% of the amount of CBD that is ingested by mouth or sublingually gets to the bloodstream (in the case of CBD taken orally) or into cells (When ingested as part of a food item). This takes more time to digest, meaning it could remain in your system for a longer period.
-
Inhaling: If you vape or smoke CBD, the compound goes into your bloodstream more quickly since it avoids the digestive system. “So when you take ibuprofen, fewer drugs are in your body,” she added.
-
Topical: CBD topicals (creams, lotions) penetrate the skin and remain in the region where applied. On average, those tend to last shorter in your system.
3. Metabolism
And if this is practiced consistently, the process of excretion of CBD from your body progresses more rapidly. People with faster metabolisms process CBD more quickly, breaking down the compound in less time, which means its effects may be felt for a shorter duration compared to those with slower metabolisms.
4. Frequency of Use
It can build up in your system. If you’re a regular CBD user, you could have or will experience the accumulation of CBD in your body. This phenomenon is called the build-up effect. For heavy use, CBD might last in the body longer since it’s accumulating. Conversely, casual users can expect CBD to leave their system sooner.
5. Body Fat Percentage
As a fat-soluble, hydrophobic substance, cannabidiol is best absorbed into the bloodstream when digested with dietary fat. If you have a higher body fat percentage, perhaps you can store it longer. It’s really important, especially when it comes to the duration that CBD stays in your system after regular ingestion.
6. CBD Product Type
The type of CBD you consume can influence how long it remains in your system. Full-spectrum CBD products, which you might see referred to as whole or pure CBD, will contain all cannabinoids and terpenes from the plant, while the isolated form contains just CBD — this is how it can be legal because it doesn’t include any psychoactive compounds. It’s possible that you will experience the “entourage effect,” which happens when chemicals work more effectively in combination than in isolation.
7- Duration CBD Stays in Your System
After all is said and done, the average CBD dweller’s system clears CBD out of their system in approximately 2–5 days. For some, it may take a week or even longer for CBD to leave the system. Again, more frequent users of CBD may have the cannabinoid in their system for longer periods of time, while other less frequent users may experience faster clearance.
Here’s a breakdown of how long various methods generally keep:
| Method of Consumption | Time CBD Stays in System |
|---|---|
| Oral (Capsules, Edibles) | 2-5 days |
| Vaping/Smoking | 1-3 days |
| Topicals | 1-2 days |
8- Other Factors to Consider
- Hydration: Keeping yourself hydrated can help you process and flush out CBD from your body faster.
- Liver Health: The liver metabolizes CBD, and if you have liver problems, CBD may process more slowly for you.
- Diet and Exercise: Be on a healthy diet and exercise regularly in order to help your body metabolize faster, thus removing CBD from your system.
Will CBD Show Up in a Drug Test?
The vast majority of standard drug tests are not designed to screen for CBD, but instead for delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). However, if you are using a full-spectrum CBD oil, there is a slight possibility that the THC content would show up on a drug test—especially if you’re taking higher doses of it. If you have concerns about drug testing, you should consider using CBD products that are labeled as THC-free.
Other Reasons That Could Affect Drug Test Results
- Use Frequency: For individuals using CBD regularly, there could potentially be THC in their system that is detectable on a drug test.
- Quality of Product: Different CBD products vary, and certain ones may have THC concentrations that exceed what is listed on the packaging. Only use well-known brands that offer third-party lab test results.
Can You Accelerate the Elimination of CBD from Your Body?
If you need to get CBD out of your system faster—because you have a drug test coming up, for example, or you just want to decrease the amount of time if you’re noticing the same effects from the products, a few approaches can help improve the experience:
- Exercise: CBD is fat-soluble, so working out more can also result in the burning of fats and the release of stored CBD.
- Hydrate: Staying well-hydrated could facilitate the flushing of CBD out of your system.
- Healthy Diet: It depends on the type of food you normally eat, including a fiber-rich and balanced diet, which leads to quicker digestion and elimination.
Is CBD Safe to Use Regularly?
For the majority of individuals, it is generally regarded as safe to use, with a few common possible side effects. That being said, starting with the lowest dose may be the best place to begin and gradually work your way up to your personal sweet spot. If you are on any medication or have any health issues, you should consult with your healthcare professional first.
Conclusion: Know Your Body, Know Your CBD
So, how long does CBD stay in your system? The answer varies, but with an understanding of the factors at play, you can better manage your CBD use and its duration in your body. Whether you’re using it for health benefits or just curious about its effects, it’s important to understand how CBD interacts with your body. If you’re ever in doubt, consult a healthcare professional for personalized advice.
If you’re looking to buy high-quality CBD products, ensure they’re lab-tested and THC-free for peace of mind. Always listen to your body and adjust your CBD routine as needed!
