How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

CBD has become extremely popular for its potential health benefits, including pain relief, anxiety reduction, anti-inflammatory, sleep improvement and more.

CBD is now available in supermarkets, health stores, high street shops - wherever you need it. More and more people are incorporating CBD into their daily routines.

If you've been using CBD or are interested in trying it out, you may have wondered: How long does CBD stay in my system? And can it be detected in drug test?

That's what we'll be exploring today. But the answer is not as simple as you might think. It depends on a number of factors.

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at CBD and explore factors that influence its presence in your system to help you make informed decisions when incorporating CBD into your wellness routine.

What is CBD? Uses, Benefits, Forms and More

Cannabidiol, popularly called CBD, is Cannabis' (marijuana) second most common active ingredient.

Unlike its counterpart, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD is non-psychoactive, meaning it does not produce the "high" commonly associated with marijuana use.

Instead, CBD interacts with the body's endocannabinoid system, helping to promote balance and homeostasis within the body.

Some of the noted benefits of using CBD include pain relief, especially in cancer. It also alleviates some symptoms of particular mental health disorders like panic and anxiety disorder.

Although it's often well-tolerated, it's not without its side effects. CBD side effects like fatigue, diarrhea, dry mouth, drowsiness, irritability, and reduced appetite.

CBD is available in a variety of forms, including CBD oils, tinctures, capsules, edibles, and topical creams.

How Long Does CBD stay in your System?

The duration CBD remains in your system varies, depending on a couple of factors like consume ways, dosage, frequency of use, etc. But it's generally estimated to be between 2 to 5 days for most people.

In addition, As everyone's body is different, this can still differ widely among individuals, based on several factors such as metabolism, Body weight, and more.

However, it's nothing to worry about as CBD is non-psychoactive and therefore, it won't impact your day-to-day life.

The 8 Factors that Affect How Long CBD Stays in Your System

Let's look at some of the key factors that cause this CBD's length of time in your system.

Understanding these variables can give you a clearer picture of what to expect when consuming CBD products and tailor your CBD consumption accordingly.

1. Method of Intake

CBD may be ingested in a number of different ways, including smoking or vaping, eating or drinking, and applying it under the tongue or on the skin.

The method by which you consume CBD can impact how long it stays in your system.

For example, inhaling CBD through vaping may result in quicker absorption and elimination compared to oral consumption.

2. Dosage

Like with most other substances, the higher the dosage of CBD you take, the longer it will stay in your system because your body will take more time to clear it.

3. Frequency of Use

If CBD is taken regularly, it will build up in the body over time, affecting how long it stays in your system.

4. Metabolism

A person's metabolism largely determines the rate at which CBD is absorbed and then expelled.

For example, Due to the higher metabolism of younger people, CBD may leave the body faster than in elderly persons.

5. Body Composition

CBD is fat-soluble, meaning that it is stored within fat tissue and slowly released back into your bloodstream.

Factors such as body weight, fat percentage, and overall health can influence how long CBD stays in your system.

Generally, those with higher body fat percentages may retain CBD for a longer duration.

6. What You Eat

The food you eat, how much you eat, and when you eat can all impact how long CBD stays in your system.

If you consume CBD on an empty stomach, it will get metabolised and eliminated quicker than if you had it in a full stomach, which would slow its digestion.

Additionally, Taking your CBD alongside a fatty meal can boost its total absorption and even reduce onset time.

7. CBD Quality

The quality of the CBD product you use can play a role in how long it stays in your system.

High-quality, pure products may be processed more efficiently by the body.

CBD oil that's too high in THC (some poor-quality oils are) can also stick around in your system for longer than you want — long enough to cause you to fail a drug test.

8. Hydration Levels

Staying hydrated is essential for overall health and can also impact how long CBD remains detectable in your system.

Adequate hydration can help facilitate the elimination of CBD.

How long do CBD effects to kick in and last?

How long do CBD effects last depends on aspects like the dosage, your body and the method of use.

Generally Speaking, you should feel the effects of CBD for between two to six hours.

The following list gives a rough idea of how each cannabidiol product compares. Note that these figures are approximate.

CBD oil: Vaping CBD oil has the quickest onset at 3–10 minutes to feel the effects. But also the shortest duration at 30 minutes to 2 hours.

Users inhale the vapor through the mouthpiece of vape, allowing the active compounds to enter their lungs and bloodstream, where they are rapidly absorbed and produce the desired effects.

Edibles: CBD Edibles typically take 40–60 minutes to feel the effects and and they can last for 2–6 hours, depending non many factors.

They're absorbed slowly by digestive system and time-released by your liver over more extended periods of time.

Tinctures: CBD tinctures held under the tongue for sublingual absorption typically take effect in 15–30 minutes and last for 1–4 hours.

When CBD oil or tinctures are administered sublingually, the CBD is absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the capillaries under the tongue, bypassing the digestive system.

Capsules: CBD capsules take 30 minutes to two hours to absorb into your body, and their effects can last around six to eight hours.

Just like Edibles, CBD must pass through the digestive tract and the liver in order to enter the bloodstream once it enters the body.

Suppositories: You'll typically feel the effects within 15 minutes. Similar to edibles, the effects from suppositories can last up to 8 hours as well.

When a CBD suppository is inserted into the body, the compounds it contains are absorbed by the body's internal cellular walls and mucous membranes.

Topicals: CBD Topicals are one exception: they kick in fast, yet don't get systemically absorbed (via the bloodstream) at all.

Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

Cannabidiol (CBD) shouldn't show up on a drug test, but many CBD products contain a small amount of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If enough is present, this might show up.

For example, the lack of regulation often results in CBD products possessing anything from trace amounts of THC to levels exceeding the 0.3% FDA threshold.

This means that in rare cases, using CBD might lead to a positive drug test. It all depends on the product's quality and composition.

CBD products are divided into three main categories: CBD isolate, broad-spectrum CBD, and full-spectrum CBD.

Isolate products contain only CBD, while broad-spectrum products contain other cannabinoids and terpenes. Full-spectrum products contain all the compounds found in the cannabis plant.

As long as it is hemp-derived CBD – rather than marijuana-derived CBD, which is illegal – full-spectrum CBD will always contain less than 0.3% THC.

However, If you want to be extra cautious, you could exclusively opt for THC-free broad-spectrum CBD products or CBD isolate.

Conclusion

The question of how long CBD stays in your system is a critical one for many individuals interested in incorporating this cannabinoid into their daily wellness routine.

While everyone's body may metabolize CBD differently, research suggests that it typically remains detectable in the body for a few days to a few weeks after consumption.

Factors that can influence how long CBD stays in your system include consume ways, dosage, frequency of use, metabolism, and individual body composition.

By understanding these factors and choosing high-quality, low-THC CBD products, you can minimize detection risks.

If you have an upcoming drug test that you're at all worried about, it's always best to stop using CBD product immediately until after the drug test has passed.