Myths and Facts of Vaping: Does CBD Stay in Your System for a Prolonged Period of Time?
On Tuesday, June 25, Illinois became the latest state to go green and legalize the purchase and possession of Marijuana. The move opened the door to the slew of CBD and THC products that have typified the green revolution and stirred up fervor amongst the scientific community.
As the benefits of cannabidiol (CBD) supplementation begins to receive the attention it has long deserved, many people are asking how long CBD stays in your system. Before they reach for the vape and the e liquid, consumers want to know what the science says about CBD consumption. Here is the breakdown of everything you need to know about how long CBD stays in your system, and its possible implications.
Factors to Consider
Before we get down to the nitty-gritty of CBD supplementation, there are several factors that impact the length of time CBD will remain in your system. While there are general indicators, the following lifestyle factors will have on the rate at which your body processes and breaks down CBD:
· Frequency of use
· Amount of use
· Age
· Gender
· Bodyweight
· Metabolism
As a result, there are no hard and fast rules regarding the length of time CBD will remain in your system, and two people may take radically different lengths of time to process CBD supplements. However, that being said, recent studies have provided some insight into the approximate time CBD remains in a user’s system.
What the Science Says
A recent study published in Pharmacology Biochemistry and Behavior found that CBD levels in the blood had decreased to undetectable levels a week after the supplement was consumed.
In the study, participants took 700mg of CBD a day orally over a six-week period. The half-life of most CBD products in 2-4 days.
What Does This Mean for Drug Tests?
The implications of CBD products on drug testing depends on what the tests are looking for. The vast majority of drug tests only test for THC, the psychoactive substance in Marijuana. As a result, most quantities of CBD do not show up on drug tests.
Barry Sample, the director of science and technology for employer solutions at Quest diagnostics, confirmed that in the US, Quest doesn’t even offer CBD testing as part of their employer drug testing program. Even people working for the DEA and other law enforcement agencies are not tested for the CBD compound.
However, some CBD products contain traces of THC (usually around 0.3%). In precise tests, this trace quantity of THC can be detected. If you wish to supplement CDB but do not want THC to show up in a drug test, look for CBD products that are THC-free to ensure there are no trace levels of the compound in the supplement.
Although CBD only remains in the bloodstream for around a week, it interacts with the body’s metabolism, which impacts how long your body takes to process THC. This means that CBD users who also smoke marijuana will have THC in their system for longer than users who use marijuana alone.
