The length of time that THC remains in your system is something that you ought to understand if you want to consume anything with THC in it. There are numerous reasons why you will want to know about this, including:
- Drug Testing for Employment - Most employers require new hires to submit to a drug test before they offer them a job. Therefore, those who have recently consumed any substance with THC in it might be concerned that it will show up on their pre-employment screening. Therefore, if you want to be certain that you are going to pass your pre-employment screening, you need to know how long THC remains in your body.
- Driving Safety - It is never safe to be behind the wheel while under the influence of THC. In addition, you might face legal penalties for attempting to drive while under the influence of THC. Knowing how long THC remains in your body will give you a better idea about when it is once again safe to drive.
- Medical Concerns - Those who use THC for medical reasons should learn about how long THC remains in their system so that they can determine how much THC can help them get the benefits that they want without overdoing it.
These are just a few of the reasons to be concerned about how long THC remains within your body. We will examine this as well as various techniques that you might use to clear out the excess THC from your system.
What is THC?
Let's start with the very basics: What is THC? You hear people talk about it frequently, but not everyone fully comprehends what THC is and how it impacts their body and mind. THC stands for tetrahydrocannabinol and is the main active ingredient in cannabis. It is chemical that is known to create the mind-altering impacts that are so often enjoyed by those who consume cannabis.
THC moves through the bloodstream and eventually reaches the brain via the nervous system. When it does, it can create the effects that so many users are delighted to enjoy. This can include increased relaxation, pain reduction, stress reduction, and more. This is a big reason why cannabis products are so popular with large segments of the population.
Key Factors Impacting Detection Times
Many factors play into how long THC will remain within one's system. If you are curious about how long 5mg of THC will remain within your body, then you need to think about the full set of factors that contribute to detection times.
Some of the factors worthy of consideration include the following:
- Body Type and Metabolism - Your individual metabolism as well as how the size and shape of your body contribute to the length of time that you can expect 5mg of THC to be detectable. Those with a faster-acting metabolism will not necessarily show THC on a test for as long as those who have a slower-acting metabolism.
- Frequency of Use of Cannabis Products - The frequency with which one uses cannabis products will also contribute to the length of time that 5mg of THC is detectable. The more frequent that one uses cannabis, the more of a build-up of THC that exists within one's body. Those who are frequent users of THC might have to take a lengthier break from their cannabis usage before they submit to a test if they hope to pass that test.
- Method of Consumption - How you choose to intake your THC will also play a role in how long it can be detected. Those who consume their cannabis via edibles can expect the impacts of the THC to hit their system more rapidly. However, it can also pass through one's system more quickly than other forms of consumption (such as smoking).
- Potency of the Dose - The higher the levels of THC in the products that one consumes, the longer that it is likely to show up on a drug screen. A 5mg THC dose is considered to be on the lower end of the scale and likely won't show up on one's drug screening for very long.
These are things that should always be taken into account when you are thinking about how far away you are from taking a drug screening and the likelihood that THC will show up on your test.
THC Detection Times Across Different Types of Tests
The length of time that one can expect THC to show up on a test depends in part on the type of test conducting. Depending on why the test is being conducted, one might have to submit to different types of tests. Let's take a look at the detection windows for these different tests:
- Urine Test - This is the most common type of test and the detection window for THC for this type of test is generally just 1 to 3 days for most users. Heavy users might experience times that go beyond that window.
- Blood Test - This type of test is only used for active THC usage and will generally only detect THC for a period of between 6 to 24 hours. Heavy users might still have THC detected in their system beyond the 24 hour limit.
- Saliva Test - Also a test that is used to detect active THC within one's system. This test is only likely to detect THC that has recently been consumed and is best at detecting THC that has smoked. Detection times are roughly between 12 to 24 hours.
- Hair Test - This is the test that can detect THC usage the farthest back. Detection times can be as long as 90 days. However, this type of test is not often used, and it is unlikely to detect a single usage at small dosage levels.
Knowing what kind of test you are likely to undergo before you actually go through it can help you determine if there is a good chance that your usage will be detected.
Tips for Clearing THC from Your System
There is only so much that you can do to clear THC from your system, but you should take these tips under consideration anyway. After all, you might need to try to clear any existing THC from your system in a hurry if you are about to undergo a pre-employment screening. As such, we wanted to make we provided you with some types about how to get THC cleared out of your system faster than you might have otherwise.
Stop Using THC Products Immediately
If your goal is to clear the THC out of your system as fast as possible, then you obviously need to stop using any THC products that you have been consuming. The sooner that you stop, the sooner that you can start working on bringing your THC levels back down. It might seem like an obvious thing to recommend, but make sure you do this first before taking any other actions.
Natural Ways to Detox Your System of THC
There are certain natural actions that you can take to help clear out some excess THC from your body. Among the things that you should do include focusing on getting in some exercise and changing your diet to something a bit healthier. On top of that, make sure you are focused on how to take care of your hydration levels as well. Drink plenty of water to help flush your system and try to speed up the detox process as well.
Myths About THC Detoxing
Given that there is a lot of interest in the topic of clearing THC as rapidly as possible, it might not be that surprising to learn that there are also a lot of myths about how to detox from THC. A few of the myths that you should dispel yourself from include:
- THC Detox Drinks Clear Your System Entirely of THC - Unfortunately, there is not a single THC detox drink that can completely clear your system of all of the THC that you have consumed (if only it were that easy). Instead, these drinks are good for deluding your urine and perhaps helping to mask some of the concentration of THC that is in your system. However, these drinks don't eliminate THC entirely from your system.
- Home Remedies Work for Clearing THC Levels - Some people will try to tell you things like vinegar or cranberry juice can help you to clear THC levels faster than you would have otherwise. These rumors are nothing more than just that. They don't actually clear your THC levels or provide you with the peace of mind that you will certainly pass a THC screening. Don't take home remedies at face value and understand that there isn't real science behind them.
- THC Will Leave Your System in a Few Days - This is far from a guarantee and will not necessarily prove to be true in some circumstances. The reality is that the length of time that THC will remain within your system is dependent on several factors as we mentioned before.
Keep yourself educated about how THC detoxing really works and what measures you can take to help speed it along for yourself. There is no use in getting caught up on the myths that are floating around out there.
Why it is Important to Know How Long 5MG of THC Remains in Your System
You can certainly expect to take a pre-employment drug test before you begin work at virtually any job. Although you might not be willing to give up your consumption of THC entirely, you should understand how long 5MG of THC will remain within your system.
Not only do you have to think about it from an employment perspective but also in terms of any kind of legal trouble you might face as a result of consuming THC products. These products are not considered legal everywhere, and it is best to understand that you might end up in legal trouble for consuming these products.
Always consume THC products responsibly but understand that there are certain things that you can do to speed up the detox process.
References
1) DiLonardo, M. J., & Walker-Journey, J. (2023, October 31). Differences between CBD vs. THC. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/pain-management/cbd-thc-difference
