THC, or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, can be found in the psychoactive genus of flowering plants belonging to the Cannabaceae family. It is one of the two main active ingredients alongside CBD.
The psychoactive element that produces a “high” feeling is found in THC while CBD is completely non-psychoactive. Plant-based treatment options can contain CBD, THC, or both.
As THC is intoxicating, it will show up in workplace and roadside drug tests. With the existing tests, THC can stay detectable in your system for approximately 3-90 days.
How long THC stays in your system is determined by the frequency of use, the dosage levels, the body fat on the user, and the sensitivity of the test. The way the body metabolises THC means that the results will vary for each of the tests.
Plant-based products can be tested for in urine, saliva, hair, and blood. The urine test is the most common form of drug testing for THC.
How long do stay in urine, saliva, blood, and hair?
THC can be tested for in multiple ways, the most common being:
- Urine: It is detectable in the urine for around 3-30 days after use. The key determining factor is the frequency of use.
- Single use is only detectable in the urine for 3-4 days.
- Moderate use of around 4 times a week is detectable for approximately 7 days.
- Daily users will have to wait 14-30 days for the THC to exit the system, depending on the frequency at which they use plant-based products.
- Hair: THC can also be tested for via hair, but it does not have the same reliability and accuracy as the urine test. THC can be found in the hair molecules for up to 90 days.
- Saliva: A saliva test can detect THC for 24-72 hours after use.
- Blood: a blood test can detect THC in the system for up to 12 hours after use.
For a drug test to show a negative result, the THC in the body must have been eliminated alongside all metabolic chemicals with links to THC. The faster someone’s metabolism, the faster the THC is eliminated.
Does CBD oil show in a drug test in Australia?
CBD oil will not show up on a drug test in Australia. These tests are not looking for CBD as it is non-intoxicating and does not affect your cognitive or conative ability.
However, if using a CBD-based product containing any percentage of THC, it is likely to be detected in drug tests. Australian roadside drug testing uses saliva tests to check for the presence of THC, methylamphetamine, and MDMA.
They are unconcerned with CBD as a substance as it has no meaningful effect on your decision-making or actions.
It is important to note that plant-based products do not have to be smoked to show up on a drug test. All products containing THC such as edibles and tinctures are detectable in a drug test.
How do plant-based treatment products interact with your body?
The Endocannabinoid System is a vast network of chemical signals and cellular receptors that are densely placed across our brains and bodies.
Due to its chemical makeup, THC can bind to molecules known as chemical compound receptors. This directly alters multiple mental and physical functions.
THC also activates what is known as the brain’s “reward system”, stimulating the neurons to release dopamine at levels higher than when typically observed in naturally rewarding circumstances.
The main cannabinoid receptors in the body are known as CB1 and CB2.
- CB1 is mostly found throughout the central nervous system (the brain and spinal cord) that affects the day-to-day functioning of the body relating to appetite, energy, memory, concentration, sensory and time perception, and pleasure.
- CB2 exists primarily outside of the central nervous system; regulating the immune system, bone health, peripheral nerve function, and more.
The chemical compounds enter the bloodstream and move toward the brain and throughout the body. They bind to the CB1 and CB2 receptors, and the host is affected in a multitude of ways depending on which receptor is activated.
Is there a way to speed up THC leaving the body?
Most of the “quick fix” methods you will find on the internet are rooted in myth and will not do anything to accelerate the process of THC exiting your system. No chemical or cocktail of products is going to suddenly remove the THC from your system overnight.
There are some products available that claim to assist with detoxing, such as Bentonite clay and various detox drinks. However, these have no guarantee of efficacy and will not eliminate THC from your system in isolation.
If you would like to cleanse your system of THC, it is recommended that you do it naturally by taking a break from plant-based products containing THC.
Summary
Each person is unique, and it is difficult to say with complete precision how long THC will stay in the system.
The amount of time a plant-based product remains detectable in your system is determined by the body fat of the user, the sensitivity of the test, the frequency of use, and the dosage. The metabolism of an individual will play a role in the time it takes for THC to leave the system.
CBD in isolation is non-psychoactive and non-detectable in roadside and workplace drug tests in Australia.
There are no efficient ways to speed up the elimination of THC from the body without taking a legitimate break from using plant-based treatment. If you are looking to avoid a positive drug test, there are no reliable shortcuts available.
If you would like more information on plant-based treatment options and how it interacts with your system, feel free to book a consultation with one of medical practitioners.