In recent years, the popularity of cannabidiol (CBD) has surged, thanks to its potential wellness benefits and therapeutic properties.
As more people explore the use of hemp-derived CBD, a common concern arises: how long does CBD stay in your system?
CBD can stay in the system anywhere between a couple of hours to a month, depending on how much or how frequently a person takes it.
Because various factors influence the longevity of CBD in your body.
Factors that affects CBD's stay in your system
1. Dosage of CBD
The amount of CBD you consume has a direct impact on how long it remains in your body. Higher doses of CBD can have a more prolonged presence in your body.
2. Frequency of use
CBD is “lipophilic”, meaning it builds up in your body over time if used regularly.
Therefore, frequent CBD users can experience a buildup of CBD over time, potentially extending its presence as compared to occasional users.
3. Method of consumption
The way you take CBD also affects its longevity, such as;
Inhalation methods, such as smoking or vaping, allow for rapid CBD absorption through the lungs, resulting in quicker onset and shorter duration.
In contrast, sublingual administration (CBD oil under the tongue) offers a balance between speed and duration, while oral CBD ingestion (gummies, edibles) leads to a slower onset time but its effects last for a long time.
4. Your body and metabolism
CBD works differently for everyone because the body and metabolism are different for everyone.
Individuals with faster metabolisms tend to break down CBD more quickly, leading to a shorter duration of presence in the body. While a person with slower metabolism will take more time to process it.
Additionally, your, age, body fat percentage, and overall health can also impact how long CBD stays in the body.
Duration of CBD in various methods of consumption
There are various ways to take CBD. The method you use directly affects the onset, duration of effects, and how long it stays in your body.
Inhalation (smoking or vaping): When CBD is inhaled, it enters the bloodstream rapidly through the lungs. Its effects are typically felt within minutes, and the initial duration of presence can last from 1 to 4 hours.
Sublingual (oils or tinctures): Placing CBD oil under the tongue allows for faster absorption into the bloodstream, and its effects can be noticeable within 15 to 45 minutes, and the duration can last between 2 to 6 hours.
Oral ingestion (edibles or capsules): CBD-infused edibles take longer to produce effects as they must pass through the digestive system. Such as the initial onset can take 1 to 2 hours, while the presence of CBD can last up to 4 to 8 hours.
Topical application: CBD topicals like, creams and lotions can applied to the skin externally, primarily targeting localized areas. As a result, the presence of CBD in the body is generally limited, to around 1 to 3 hours.
Keep in mind that we are only discussing the duration of CBD effects from the perspective of infrequent or first-time CBD users.
If you are a frequent user then no matter how you take CBD, it can stay in your system for up to a month from the last intake.
Will CBD show on a drug test?
Many people have concerns about using CBD and being tested positive in drug tests, and they should be. Because cannabis drug tests look for the presence of THC in your system, and many CBD products also contain THC.
Full-spectrum CBD products, which contain a range of cannabinoids including trace amounts of THC, pose a slightly higher risk of a positive result.
On the other hand, broad-spectrum CBD undergoes additional processing to remove the THC completely. While the safest option for those subject to drug tests is CBD isolate products which contain pure CBD only.
However keep in mind that due to limited regulation of the CBD space, the market is filled with all kinds of mislabeled CBD products that are often at the risk of unintended THC exposure.
To mitigate this risk, you should opt for high-quality CBD products from reputable brands that undergo third-party testing for purity and THC content.
Additionally, if you are subject to frequent drug testing but still want to take CBD, you should pick THC-free CBD products to avoid any potential complications.
Final thoughts
As interest in CBD continues to grow, understanding how long it stays in your system is vital for informed use. Factors like dosage, consumption method, and individual characteristics also play a role in CBD’s presence in the body.
Everyone processes CBD differently, and it’s hard to accurately say how long will CBD stay in a person’s system.
However, you only need to be worried about CBD’s presence in your body, if you are taking a full-spectrum CBD product that contains THC. Otherwise, THC-free CBD products won’t show up in a drug test.
Additionally, exercise caution when purchasing CBD because a lot of companies misrepresent their products. Use CBD from trusted CBD brands that have a good reputation.
Disclosure:
The information in this article is intended for general use only and may not always be appropriate for everyone’s needs. Your health and wellness are unique to you, so before acting on anything we say, seek personalized advice from a medical professional.
We value the accuracy and editorial integrity of all our articles, and we strive to ensure that the content we publish is accurate and up-to-date to the best of our knowledge.