Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a cannabinoid found in hemp and cannabis plant. Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), CBD oil is non-psychotropic and does not cause a high. Consumers use three primary formulas: isolate, broad spectrum, and full spectrum. Some people may wonder how close the two compounds are, and since THC can stay in the body for several weeks or longer, it's not uncommon to wonder how long CBD stays in your system.
How Does CBD Leave the Body?
After CBD enters the human body, it's processed by the liver and broken down by enzymes. It then leaves the body in urine or feces. The half-life of CBD products is around 1.4 and 10.9 hours for oromucosal spray, a product used under the tongue, such as a tincture, a popular method for using CBD.
Studies also show CBD's halftime is between two and five days for daily oral consumption and approximately 31 hours after smoking hemp flower. Like oromucosal and oral use, long-term use can extend the half-life of CBD oil. Not all drugs have the same half-life.
The half-life is the time it takes for the concentration of a drug in your body to be reduced by half. For example, if you consume CBD in 50mg doses, 25mg will remain in your system after one day. On days two and three, 12.5mg will stay in their system. And on day four, 6.25mg will be present. This process continues until there is no CBD left in the body.
It can take several weeks for CBD to clear the body completely, but most people will stop feeling its effects long before that. If you're taking CBD for a specific reason, such as pain relief, you may notice the results wearing off after a few days or weeks. However, if you're taking it for general wellness, you may not see any difference.
The CBD detectable window depends on the testing method and how much of the CBD product was consumed. CBD is detectable in urine, hair, and blood drug tests. We can also detect CBD in saliva, but this is less common.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Urine?
CBD can stay in your urine for up to five days. However, this depends on several factors, such as how much CBD you take, your body weight, and your metabolism. Taking large doses of CBD or using it frequently could stay in your system for longer. Urine tests to determine how long does CBD stay in your system should be available in the next few years.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Blood?
CBD can stay in your blood for up to seven days. However, this depends on several factors, such as how much CBD oil you take, your body weight, and your metabolism. Similar to CBD in urine, taking large doses or using CBD frequently could stay in your system for longer.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Hair?
There are no known studies for hair testing with CBD products. However, the average person's hair grows about half an inch per month. So, if you don't shave your head, CBD could be detectable in your hair for up to six months. Like blood and urine tests, hair tests aren't available to the public.
CBD has only been legal on the federal level since late 2018. Therefore, long-term studies on how CBD oil affects the body are still lacking. However, limited research suggests that CBD is safe and well-tolerated by most people. If you consume CBD and are concerned about it staying in your system, speak to your doctor.
Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?
Most drug tests don't check for CBD. However, some employers may drug test for THC metabolites, the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis. If you're taking CBD from hemp, it's unlikely to appear on drug tests, as it contains less than 0.3% THC. However, if you're taking CBD from cannabis, it's more likely to show up on a drug test.
Even if you're taking CBD oil from cannabis and it shows up on a drug test, it's unlikely to cause a positive drug test result. This is because most drug tests only screen for THC metabolites, not CBD. However, scientists can screen for CBD using a particular type of drug test. In the future, these screenings may become more common.
However, because CBD is federally legal, non-psychoactive, and non-habit-forming, it's unlikely that employers will start testing for it.
What Factors Determine How Long CBD Stays in Your System?
How long CBD stays in your system depends on several factors. These include:
The method of CBD Oil consumption:
CBD has several applications. The popular hemp extract is available as a tincture, capsule, edible, flower, vape cartridge, concentrates, suppository, and topical. These all have different absorption rates. Each method will affect how long the CBD stays in your system.
Tincture
A tincture works by absorbing through the mucous membranes in your mouth. The CBD enters your bloodstream through the vessels in your cheeks and tongue. The sublingual method is one of the fastest ways to feel the effects of CBD since it bypasses the liver and works its way into your bloodstream.
It's ideal for anxiousness, after a challenging workout or to squash the occasional sleeplessness, because of the fast absorption rate. This method is more extended than oils and topicals, providing relief for four to six hours. The longer the compound stays in your system for each dose, the longer it takes to leave the body.
Edibles and Capsules
Eating or drinking CBD products must go through your digestive system before it enters your bloodstream. Edibles, such as CBD gummies and capsules, can take between 30 minutes to two hours to work their way into your system, reaching peak CBD levels after about four hours. This means that the effects will take longer to kick in but will last for a more extended period.
The effects of CBD edibles can last for six to eight hours, while capsules tend to have a shorter duration of action, lasting four to six hours. However, this will depend on how much CBD you take and your metabolism.
Suppositories
CBD suppositories are one of the least popular consumption methods, since they are not as widely available. However, they are one of the most effective methods since they are absorbed directly into the bloodstream. This CBD product bypasses the digestive system and is absorbed through your lower GI tract tissue.
Suppositories can take 30 minutes to an hour to work their way into your system. The effects can last for eight to twelve hours.
Flower
CBD-rich hemp flower looks and smells like regular cannabis. The difference is that it contains less than 0.3% THC, so it won't get you high. The flower is usually smoked or vaped but can also make edibles and tea. Flowers have a fast absorption rate, and the effects can be felt within minutes. However, the results are short-lived and only last about 30 minutes to an hour.
Vape Cartridges
Vaping CBD is one of the fastest-acting methods. These hemp-derived CBD products enter your lungs and diffuse directly into your bloodstream. The effects are felt within minutes and can last 30 minutes to an hour. However, also like the flower, the results are short-lived.
Concentrates
Concentrates are a significantly different story. They can contain up to 99 percent CBD. This makes them one of the most powerful techniques available for consuming CBD.
The impacts are felt almost instantly and last for four to six hours. No studies are available on how long CBD concentrates stay in your system. But because they are so potent, it's unlikely that they'll leave your system sooner than other methods.
Topicals
Topical applications are ideal for local relief. CBD topicals are applied to the skin and are absorbed through the pores. They work their way into the bloodstream and target specific areas of the body. The effects of CBD topicals can last for two to four hours.
Of all the methods for consuming CBD, topicals don't stay in your system. This is because it does not absorb into your bloodstream.
Another type of topical application is a transdermal patch. These are similar to nicotine patches and deliver a consistent dose of CBD over an extended period. The effects can last for up to 96 hours.
Although research shows they're highly effective and offer excellent bioavailability, no research is available for this method about how long it can stay in your system once you remove the patch. But we can assume it will take a few days for the CBD to work its way out of your system.
How Much CBD You Take:
The amount of CBD you take will also affect how long it takes to leave your system. A higher dose of CBD products can stay in your system for a longer period than a lower dose. This includes items with a higher CBD concentration, such as CBD isolates.
How Fast Your Metabolism Is:
Your metabolism plays a role in how long CBD stays in your system. Metabolism is the process your body uses to break down and use food. A faster metabolism means that your body processes CBD quickly and leaves your system faster than a slow metabolism.
Frequency of Use:
How often you use CBD will also affect how long it takes to leave your system. If you take CBD regularly, it will build up in your system and take longer to leave than if you only take it occasionally.
How Does CBD Bioavailability Impact How Long it Stays In Your System?
CBD bioavailability is the amount of a compound that enters your bloodstream. The higher the availability, the longer the cannabinoids stay in your system. The method of consumption and the quality of the product will affect bioavailability.
For example, oral ingestion has low bioavailability because the liver metabolizes CBD before it enters the bloodstream. This means that only a small percentage of CBD actually gets into circulation.
On the other hand, sublingual administration has high bioavailability because CBD doesn't have to go through the digestive system or the liver. This means that more of the compound enters circulation and stays in your system for longer.
However, companies are improving the bioavailability of oral CBD products by using nanoemulsion technology. This process creates smaller oil droplets that are more easily absorbed by the body. As a result, oral CBD products with nanoemulsion have higher bioavailability and stay in your system for longer.
Does the CBD Formula Make a Difference in How Long CBD Stays in Your System?
There are three primary formulas for CBD products: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
Full-Spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD oils contain all the compounds found in the hemp plant, including THC. There are over 500 naturally occurring chemicals in hemp, including over 120 phytocannabinoids, which are similar in composition to CBD.
Broad-Spectrum CBD Oil
The all-natural, broad spectrum CBD extract from hemp contains no psychoactive properties.
CBD Isolate
CBD isolate is a pure form of CBD that doesn't contain any other cannabinoids, terpenes, or flavonoids.
The broad-spectrum and CBD isolate may stay in your system longer because they have a higher concentration of CBD.
The full spectrum contains all the compounds found in hemp, including THC, which can stay in your system longer than other cannabinoids because the body stores it in the body's fat cells. As a result, full-spectrum CBD may have a higher chance of causing a false positive on a drug test for THC metabolites. However, because consuming CBD is legal, few tests are available to determine how long CBD stay in your system are obtainable by the public.
CBD is a popular natural remedy used for many common ailments. The THC, CBG, and other CBD compounds work with the body's endocannabinoid system to provide a wide range of wellness benefits. Many people consume CBD products to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, and encourage an effective post-workout recovery.
It's generally well-tolerated, considered safe, and 100% non-psychoactive and legal. While safe doses of CBD are harmless and have no known serious side effects, it's important to know that it can stay in your system for up to 10 days or longer, even after a single use.