Here’s How Long Weed and Edibles Stay in Your System

Many adults in Canada, the United States, and a few other parts of the world can now enjoy marijuana for both recreational and medical purposes. However, there are still some situations where you might want to eliminate weed from your system. Maybe you have an important drug test coming up, or maybe you simply want to go on a marijuana detox. Either way, it helps to know how long weed and edibles stay in your system.

How long marijuana remains in your system can vary depending on factors such as your weight, how often you partake, and the kind of product you use. However, there are some studies and reports which tell us a lot about how long weed stays in your system and how to get it out. Here’s everything you need to know.

How Long Does Weed Stay in Your System?

When you smoke weed, the THC hits your system fast. Users generally feel the effects almost instantly, and they usually last for around 3-4 hours. Vaping weed has similar effects. One study found that vaping weed can produce stronger effects than smoking it, but it generally peaks after 30 minutes and lasts for around 3-4 hours.

Although the high will wear off within a few hours, weed can stay in your system for much longer. The THC in marijuana binds to metabolites in your body, which can stick around for a while. Flushing these out may take anywhere from a couple of days to a few weeks depending on how frequently you smoke and how much marijuana you’ve used recently.

Research suggests that if you’ve only used marijuana once, weed can stay in your system and be detected by a drug test for up to a week. There are also ways to flush weed out faster and users may be clean within around 5 days. However, frequent users will have a harder time- weed may stay in your system for up to 46 days if you use it regularly.

How Do Edibles Differ from Weed?

Although smoking and vaping weed are still highly popular ways to use marijuana, some users opt for alternative approaches. Edibles have become a popular alternative marijuana product. These are THC-infused foods which give you an incredibly powerful high that can last for hours on end.

When you consume weed edibles, you might not feel high for a couple of hours. The THC must first be digested and converted into 11-hydroxy-THC before you feel the effects. However, these effects are much stronger than when you smoke or vape weed. They also last much longer.

According to studies, an edible high usually comes on within around 30-90 minutes. Peak effects usually take place around 2-3 hours after consumption, although users may still feel high for anywhere from 4 to 12 hours. Edibles are known for their long-lasting high, and those who use them frequently can also expect THC to remain in their system for longer.

How Long Do Edibles Stay in Your System?

Much like with smoking or vaping weed, how long edibles stay in your system can depend on a few factors. One-time users may be able to clear their system of marijuana metabolites within a few days, but users who regularly use marijuana in any form may still have traces in their system for a while.

Edibles can stay in your system for a while due to the THC metabolites leftover from consumption. A study found that users usually flush out around 80-90% of THC from their system within five days of consumption. However, traces may remain for a month or two depending on how much the user in question consumes.

Other factors also matter. For instance, users with faster metabolisms will flush the THC from edibles out of their system faster. There are also various ways to speed up the process of clearing your system of weed, especially if you need to pass a drug test.

How Long Till You Can Pass a Drug Test for Weed?

If you’ve consumed weed or edibles, the length of time before you can pass a drug test will vary. For instance, you may be able to pass a saliva test within 24 hours of consumption, and a blood test within a few days. However, the most common type of test used for marijuana is urine testing, which can be trickier to pass.

Your body will flush out most marijuana metabolites within around 5 days. As such, users who don’t consume marijuana often may be able to pass a urine test within a few days. Frequent users may still have traces of marijuana in their system for a couple of months unless they take measures to detox.

A hair test is even harder to pass. Traces of marijuana can remain in your hair for a couple of months, and even if you shave your head, it can still be found in your body hair. Fortunately, these tests aren’t used often and most users will simply need to aim to pass a urine test.

How to Get Weed Out Of Your System

If you have a drug test coming up, there are numerous effective ways to get weed out of your system. It’s best to drink as much water as possible in the days leading up to your test. Not only does this dilute your urine, but it also makes you urinate more often, therefore flushing out more THC from your system.

Other fluids can also help. Green tea, lemon juice, and cranberry juice are known as effective metabolism-boosters and natural diuretics. These will help you excrete more THC from your system faster. Some users also take Creatine and Vitamin B12. These vitamins help mask more leftover THC in your system and ensure that your test won’t be flagged.

If you have a drug test coming up fast, then it’s best to buy a detox kit. These usually come with detox drinks and supplements which help give you a much higher chance of passing. Even as a frequent user, you may be able to pass within a few days of consumption if you detox effectively.

Conclusion

The high from weed only lasts for a few hours, but traces of THC may remain in your system for around 5 days to a week. Frequent users may even end up with traces of marijuana in their system for over a month. Edibles will also stay in your system for a while, although taking measures to detox will help you clear your body of THC faster. Fortunately, marijuana is legal in Canada and most users can buy cannabis and edibles and enjoy them without any trouble.