Making waves worldwide, CBD is jumping up the charts of the most popular supplements in the UK. CBD is an active cannabinoid compound found in the hemp plant and can be consumed, applied topically, smoked, or vaporized.
For those concerned about how much CBD to take or its legality in your state, it’s understandable to be curious about CBD’s longevity in your body. If you wonder how long CBD stays in your system, keep reading.
Below we’ll dive into the factors influencing how long CBD stays in your system and explore its potential impact on drug tests.
How Does CBD Work in the Human Body?
The endocannabinoid system (ECS) is a fascinating network within our bodies that plays a crucial role in maintaining balance and overall well-being. It’s made of endocannabinoids, receptors, and enzymes. Endocannabinoids are naturally produced compounds that bind to cannabinoid receptors throughout the body.
CB1 and CB2 receptors regulate various physiological processes such as mood, pain perception, and immune function. CBD, or cannabidiol, interacts with the ECS by influencing these receptors indirectly.
CBD doesn’t directly bind to these receptors but modifies their activity, potentially improving wellness. In addition, enzymes within the ECS help break down endocannabinoids, ensuring their timely clearance.
CBD is metabolized in the body through a process called biotransformation, primarily taking place in the liver. The liver enzyme CYP450 breaks down CBD into various metabolites, including 7-carboxy-cannabidiol (7-COOH-CBD) and 7-hydroxy-cannabidiol (7-OH-CBD).
These metabolites are then transported to the kidneys for eventual excretion. However, due to CBD’s fat solubility, some of it can be stored in the body’s fat cells. This metabolism process contributes to the gradual elimination of CBD from the body over time.
How Long Does CBD Take to Kick In?
Depending on the consumption method, CBD’s effects take a different amount of time to be felt. We suggest vaping CBD or using sublingual products, such as CBD oils, for the fastest results.
CBD edibles, such as gummies or chocolates, and topicals, such as CBD skin cream, Your body weight, chemistry, and other personal factors will determine how quickly you feel the effects of CBD.
Learn more about how long CBD takes to work here!
Factors Affecting CBD Duration in the Body
Body Weight and Chemistry
- Metabolism: Metabolism plays a significant role in CBD’s metabolic rate. Individuals with faster metabolisms tend to process and eliminate CBD more quickly from their bodies. Those with slower metabolisms may experience a longer duration of CBD effects.
- Body weight: Body weight can also influence the metabolic rate of CBD. Generally, individuals with higher body mass index may metabolize CBD at a slower pace due to a larger distribution volume and increased fat stores. This potentially leads to a longer duration of CBD effects.
Lifestyle
- Diet: The food you consume can affect the absorption of CBD. A high-fat meal, for example, may increase the bioavailability of CBD and lead to a prolonged presence in your system.
- Exercise: Exercise can increase metabolism and fat burning, potentially speeding the elimination of CBD cells. More research is needed in this area to determine how this can change the duration of CBD in your body, however, as exercise also may release stored fat-CBD into the bloodstream.
Type and Strength of Product Used
- CBD Oil: When consumed orally, CBD oil is typically absorbed through the digestive system. Factors such as dosage and individual metabolism will influence the length of time it lasts, but CBD taken orally will generally remain in your system for longer. CBD, especially in larger concentrations, is stored in fat cells and will release over time.
- CBD Gummies: Similarly to CBD oil, CBD consumed orally through gummies and other edibles, such as chocolates and beverages, will remain in your system longer.
- CBD Topicals: Because CBD-infused topicals are applied to a particular part of your body and are not ingested, a much smaller concentration of CBD enters your bloodstream. The presence of CBD in your system is much lower with topicals than with CBD ingested or inhaled and is therefore shorted-lived.
Method of Consumption
- Ingestion: When taken orally, CBD oil and edibles like CBD gummies go through the digestive system. Then, it is metabolized by the liver, resulting in slower absorption and a longer metabolic process.
- Sublingual: When consumed by placing CBD under your tongue, it diffuses into the surrounding tissue and enters your bloodstream. This method of consumption bypasses the digestive system, meaning it has a more rapid onset.
- Inhalation: CBD vapes and smoked dry flower bypass digestion and are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, leading to quicker metabolism.
- Topical: CBD topicals and CBD creams have minimal systemic absorption, primarily targeting localized areas without significant metabolism in the body.
Tolerance / Frequency of Use
Finally, the frequency of CBD use influences its metabolic rate. Regular use of CBD may lead to faster metabolism and clearance from the body. Conversely, infrequent use and new users may experience a slower metabolism and longer presence in their system. Learn more about CBD tolerance here.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
The duration of CBD’s presence in your body varies significantly. While there’s no exact answer on how long CBD will remain in your body, CBD’s fat-solubility can give us a general rule on how it behaves.
When CBD is consumed, it is metabolized by the liver and broken down. These compounds are stored in fat cells throughout the body and are released into the bloodstream over time, prolonging their effects.
For regular users of CBD, the accumulation of CBD in fat cells can lead to it lasting longer in their bodies. This means that for regular users, their CBD dose may last longer and remain in the body for longer.
Remember that factors like metabolism, body weight, and dosage size influence how long CBD remains in your system!
CBD and Drug Tests
Regarding CBD use, it’s essential to be aware of the drug tests designed to detect its presence. We’ll discuss a few below, but remember, the estimated durations of detectability mentioned in these tests may vary for each individual due to various factors.
Learn more about drug testing and CBD.
- Urine Test: Urine tests for CBD can detect cannabinoids in frequent or daily users for up to 15 days after their last use. However, moderate to light users may have a shorter detection window, potentially allowing them to pass the test more quickly.
- Blood Test: Blood tests for CBD use reveal interesting insights. Unlike THC, which is detectable for around 5 hours, CBD can remain in the bloodstream for up to a week after ingestion. This longer detection window underscores the need for caution and consideration when undergoing CBD-related blood screenings.
- Hair Follicle Test: Hair follicle tests for CBD offer the longest detection window among the four common drug screening methods. Cannabinoids can be detected in the hair follicles for up to 3 months after previous use, making it a thorough approach to assessing past CBD consumption.
- Saliva Test : Saliva tests, though less common, can register CBD use within approximately 2-3 days (around 36 hours) after consumption. While not widely utilized, knowing this timeframe is crucial if you’re undergoing CBD screening using saliva samples.
For users worried about failing a drug test, for those who know they will be taking a test in the future, consider using CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD products that are THC-free.
Final Thoughts
Determining the duration of CBD in your system is a complex task due to the numerous variables involved. With full-spectrum CBD products containing trace amounts of THC, individuals concerned about potential THC detection in drug screenings may opt for broad-spectrum CBD alternatives.
It’s important to understand that everyone’s metabolism is unique, making it challenging to provide a definitive answer. However, being well-informed about the different types of CBD products, their composition, and the intricacies of drug screenings can help individuals make informed decisions about CBD usage and potential testing concerns.
For the best results, always use high-quality CBD products. For CBD made to the highest standards in various formulations to suit your lifestyle, shop here at Blessed CBD, one of the highest-rated CBD retailers in the UK!
