CBD products have become increasingly popular in recent years. Since CBD is legal in some form in all 50 states, you can easily find pharmaceutical stores that sell CBD products today, as well as many online retailers that distribute CBD products throughout the U.S. However, there are still some common questions and concerns about CBD and its impact on the body. One common concern is whether CBD will show up on a drug test or not. In this article, we discuss how long CBD oil lasts, how long it stays in your system, and whether you need to worry about a drug test whenever you consume CBD.
How Long Does CBD Oil Last in Your System?
When determining how long CBD oil will remain in your system, there are a few key variables you must consider. These include user frequency and potency, method of consumption, and other factors depending on your body.
User Frequency and PotencyThe frequency of your CBD consumption generally determines how long it remains in your system. As is the case with most controlled substances, CBD builds up in your body over time. Therefore, more frequent consumption leads to larger traces of CBD in the system, which takes longer for the body to process and remove. Likewise, CBD products with higher potency accumulate in the body more quickly and take longer to dissipate. For infrequent consumers, CBD will only stay in the system for a few days. However, for more habitual users, CBD could remain in the system for a couple of weeks.
Method of ConsumptionThere are different ways you can consume CBD. What is nice about having different consumption options is it gives CBD users the flexibility to help them find their preferred method of consumption. However, it’s important to note that the method of consumption is perhaps the largest factor in determining how long CBD oil lasts in your system. The primary ways you can consume CBD include:
- Smoking/Vaping: With this method of consumption, CBD enters your lungs then immediately travels into your bloodstream through your respiratory system. Your body can remove CBD from smoking within three to four days.
- Topicals/Creams: Topicals are popular for pain relief. Unless using a transdermal patch, however, there is no evidence that topical products absorb into the blood stream.
- Tinctures/Oils: For this method of consumption, you place the CBD oil underneath your tongue, where it is absorbed. This method acts fast and the CBD lingers longer in the body. It generally remains in your system longer than if you took it through smoking.
- Edibles/Capsules: Digestion takes the longest for the product’s effects to kick in. However, CBD taken through this consumption method remains in your system the longest. All these factors depend on your digestive system and how quickly or slowly your body metabolizes the product and removes it from your system. In this case, the CBD could remain in your system for a couple of weeks.
CBD is a fat-soluble product. It accumulates in fat cells, not water-soluble cells. Therefore, your body mass index plays a significant role in how long CBD remains in your body. For instance, if you have a lower BMI and higher metabolic rate, your body will process CBD much quicker than someone with a higher BMI. That is because people with lower BMIs have less fat-soluble cells to store CBD, and your body metabolizes fat much quicker. Everyone's body is different, which is why CBD and other substances affect individuals differently and remain in the body for different amounts of time.
How Long Do the Effects of CBD Last?
The effect duration of CBD depends on the method of consumption as well as the dosage and potency. The effects vary between users. However, for smoking, you feel the effects within a few minutes, and they could linger for an hour or two. The same goes for oil tinctures and edibles — but you feel the effects within a 10-60 minutes, and they last for a few hours.
Will CBD Show Up On a Drug Test?
Typically, CBD will not show up on a drug test. However, if your CBD product also contains THC, it might. Studies indicate that many CBD products contain trace amounts of THC. However, the THC levels depends on the type and potency of the CBD product. If you are concerned about the THC levels in your CBD, here is a quick breakdown of the CBD products you can choose:
- Full-Spectrum CBD: Full-spectrum includes all of the naturally occurring compounds within the plant the product was extracted from, including THC (but less than 0.3%).
- Broad-Spectrum CBD: Broad-spectrum CBD goes through a process to eliminate all trace amounts of THC.
- CBD Isolate: These products only contain CBD.
The Takeaway
The main takeaway from this article is that CBD is not a one-size-fits-all type of product. It affects individuals differently, and the amount of time it remains in your body depends on multiple factors. In general, you do not have to be concerned about testing positive on a drug test for THC if you consume broad spectrum CBD or CBD isolate products. It is always a good idea to check with your employer or athletic organization before using CBD. At Evn, we supply top-of-the-line CBD products, including oils, gummies, topicals, and more. If you are interested in trying CBD, check out our premium CBD products today.