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Marijuana, commonly referred to as pot or weed, is a narcotic substance obtained from the cannabis sativa species. The major chemical compound in the plant is THC, and this is what leads to the onset of the so-called high feeling. When you inhale, smoke or vape weed, the compound creates a feeling of intoxication. This can be rather overpowering in some instances.
On average, a significant part of the human population intakes marijuana at least once in life. THC can lead to various and mixed feelings in the users. Some people feel funny, while others become more energetic. However, in some cases, users complain of getting anxiety attacks after consuming marijuana in excess. People consume cannabis mainly for health benefits or recreational purposes. But, consuming weed in a regular way can lead to addiction which can be hard to get rid of afterwards.
Why do people worry about the cannabis retention period in their systems?
One thing weed users and those who are willing to consume the substance are often curious about- is how long it can stay in the body. Some of them think about long-term health effects, while others are more worried about getting caught in drug tests. Those taking regular medications may think about potential interaction with THC. In some cases, weed users are also mindful of potential side effects on their kids or family members. The truth is, it depends on a few factors. In some cases, traces of marijuana can be found in a person’s body for nearly three months after consumption. The factors are:
- The cannabis testing method used
- The way of cannabis consumption used
- The quantity of weed consumed
- Certain physiological factors of the users
What are the major weed testing methods?
To find out traces of cannabis in the human body, standard drug testing methods are deployed.
Usually, cannabis can be traced in your blood for more than 24 hours after consumption. However, those who take weed regularly or frequently have traces of cannabis in their body even 24 days after the last usage, as it has been found.
A urine drug test is also used to find traces of cannabis in the human body in some instances. Again, based on the frequency of usage, traces can be found in a user’s urine for up to several weeks after final usage. If you take it once, traces can be found in urine for three days after usage. Moderate use ensures it stays within urine for a week after the last usage. Frequent users may retain cannabis in their urine for 15 days after the last usage.
Saliva testing is also used in some places for cannabis detection in people. This is used on car drivers most often. This test can detect cannabis in a person’s body for up to 3 days of usage.
Hair tests can be used, but these are deemed less effective than other cannabis tracing methods. If you are exposed to second-hand cannabis smoke, the traces can be found in hair follicles.
The major factors that affect the retention of weed in your body
As stated earlier, how long weed will be found in your body depends on a number of factors.
BMI – This is a vital metric. Those with elevated Body mass index are more likely to retain weed in their system for long. People with lower BMI scores are expected to retain weed in their systems for a shorter duration.
Gender – Typically, women have elevated amounts of body fat compared to men. The cannabis metabolism in the female body takes place slower. So, in testing, women are more likely to be found positive than men.
Genetic roots – For genetic factors, a section of people have enhanced metabolism, and their systems metabolize weed faster than others. So, they are less likely to be caught in weed testing.
Usage frequency – Naturally, infrequent users are able to flush out traces of marijuana from their bodies more than those who use the substance frequently.
Type of consumption – The way you consume cannabis impacts its effect on the nerves and retention in the body. If you take weed edibles, then it is likely to stay in your system longer than using smoking or vaping methods.
The potency of weed – Not all marijuana variants have the same level of potency. A variant with a high concentration of THC is likely to make you more intoxicated, and it will remain in your system longer than variants with lower potency levels.
It has also been seen that chronic weed users are able to flush out THC from their systems faster than frequent users.
How to ensure cannabis gets out of the body faster
Sportspersons and athletes are often wary of getting caught in drug tests. Some of them may not take cannabis but use supplements or medications that contain varying amounts of THC. The reality is you cannot drastically change how fast cannabis is metabolized in your body and gets flushed out. However, by using some strategies, you can expedite the process to an extent.
On summer days, drink plenty of water and fluid to ensure cannabis gets flushed out of the body faster. Dehydration will lead to longer retention of the substance. Some experts think working out can speed up the metabolism and eradicate THC from the body. However, exercising just before undergoing a drug test may lead to a positive result.
What about the detox kits?
Nowadays, you can find different types of weed detox kits in the market. The efficacy of these kits has often been challenged. It would be prudent to seek medical advice before trying these kits. There is no better way than trying abstention when you want to eradicate traces of cannabis from your body. When you stop its usage for a while, it becomes easier for the body to flush out the traces from various organs and the bloodstream.
It is also advisable that you stop spending time in proximity to cannabis users for a long time. Even if you do not consume weed, spending a long time with weed smokers in a poorly ventilated space can lead to testing positive on a test.
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