Many people want to try cannabidiol (CBD) but are left with one question – how long does CBD stay in your system? CBD has become mainstream within the healthcare industry, with products being sold in pharmacies, supermarkets, and much more. This growth has mainly come from anecdotal stories of CBD helping with aches, stress, and a considerable number of other health problems.
Given this growth, it is no surprise that CBD has sparked curiosity among many people. However, before diving into this supplement, they are asking questions. People are curious about how long this supplement remains in the body once consumed.
This article will answer that by explaining how the body processes CBD, what the substance’s half-life means, and more.
How does CBD work in the body?
CBD interacts with what is called the endocannabinoid system. This system is a regulatory network and is responsible for keeping the body functioning optimally. CBD interacts with this system differently from other cannabinoids.
CBD does not directly bind with the receptors of the ECS. Instead, it delivers its unique effects by working behind the scenes. This process gets a bit more complicated due to the many methods of taking CBD.
The method of administration plays a crucial role in how the compound is broken down and distributed throughout the body. For example, if you administer CBD orally, it must travel through the digestive system before taking any effect. On the other hand, if you take your CBD dose through a vaporiser, it can get to work quicker.
This is because it bypasses the digestive system.
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How does the body process CBD?
After the body has absorbed CBD, it passes through to the liver. CBD is broken down (metabolised) into a range of compounds that the cells use in the liver. After this point, the CBD metabolites travel throughout the body and begin interacting with different receptors.
This gives you an idea of the primary journey of CBD when it enters the body. However, what you want to find out is how long CBD remains in your system. In other words, how long the interaction among the receptors and CBD metabolites lasts.
To comprehend that, it is crucial to understand the concept known as ‘half-life.’
What does half-life mean and can this answer how long does CBD stay in your system?
The word used to calculate how long it takes for compounds to be reduced in the body is the half-life. It usually refers to how long it takes for the compounds to be reduced by half their regular size. It is estimated by calculating the blood plasma for the compound’s metabolites.
From the plasma, the drug metabolites are either translocated to another type of bodily fluid or removed. The half-life is generally calculated by giving a single dose of a compound and then performing blood plasma tests. This is to see if there remain traces of the drugs.
The volume of the drug within the plastic generally increases, reaches a peaking point, and then decreases. Utilising the information gathered while calculating the half-life, scientists can determine how long CBD will stay in your system. This cannot be estimated at home by yourself; however, scientists can use their data to give you a typical timeframe.
How long does CBD remain in the system?
The fat cells in our body store CBD. As a result, CBD can stay there for days or even, in some cases, weeks. Research regarding the length of time CBD oil remains in the body is varied.
This is because there is a lack of demand for testing. CBD’s precise half-life is not transparent; however, research has suggested it could be approximately 2-5 days. This study was based on 14 individuals dealing with Huntington’s disease.
A dose of approximately 700 mg of CBD was given each day for six weeks. These doses are far higher than that of the usual recommended CBD dose. In saying that, the timescale is sure to be dependent on the individual.
The amount of time CBD remains in the human body can be impacted by numerous biological factors. The method of consumption also influences how long CBD stays in the system. The quicker CBD is processed by the body, the faster it exits the body.
Therefore, taking CBD orally indicates it will stay in the body longer than that of vaping. Overall, you need to try out different methods to see what works best for you.
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What factors impact how long CBD stays in your system?
Several factors can impact the length of time CBD remains in your body.
The amount you take
Similarly, with various other substances, the more you take, the longer CBD remains in your body.
How frequently you take it
How frequently you take CBD will also affect how long it remains in your system. If taken regularly, CBD builds up in the body over time. For this reason, it’s best to try it out for a couple of weeks to evaluate how it works for you.
CBD will exit the body quickly if you are only taking it occasionally.
Your own body
Everyone has a different body, and similarly to other substances, CBD will affect everyone differently. Several things can affect the length of time CBD remains in the body. These include:
- The body’s water content
- The body’s metabolism
- Your body mass index
Individual food choices and how your body metabolises food
Your food choices, the amount you eat, and your eating times can affect how long CBD remains in your system. Consuming CBD on an empty stomach means it will exit the body quicker. By contrast, consuming CBD on a full stomach will slow down the digestion process.
The administration method
As a result of the many CBD products that hit the market, there are tons of ways to consume CBD. The administration method can affect everything. It can impact when the effects kick into the length of time it stays in the body.
When you consume CBD through a vaporiser, it affects and leaves the body quickly since it enters the lungs. Tinctures and oils take longer to leave your system but take effect quickly. This is because they are placed under the tongue and have to be absorbed into the bloodstream.
When it comes to edible CBD products, these can take longer to leave the body too. This is because the digestive system has to metabolise these compounds. CBD lotions and creams also take a long time to enter and exit the body.
How long does it take to feel the effects of CBD?
It is essential to note that you have to absorb enough CBD for it to affect. Depending on the administration method, lots of the benefits can be lost. If you swallow CBD, it will force it to travel through your liver.
Here, nearly 95 percent of it does not enter the bloodstream. The highest chances of bioavailability (the amount absorbed and enters the bloodstream) come from smoking and vaping methods. Coming in second place is CBD oil tinctures.
This is because inhaled CBD gets to the brain quicker and produces a more immediate effect. In saying that, the benefits of CBD can be unlocked with any CBD product; you just have to consume enough. CBD generally wears off within a few hours.
However, this does depend on your size and metabolism. Additional factors include how long you have been using it, how you took it, and the amount you consumed.
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Will CBD be detected on a drug test?
It is unlikely that CBD will show up on a drug test because it leaves the body pretty quickly. A study that looked at 14 individuals discovered the dose of CBD was undetectable after a week. The authors of the research paper suggested that 2-5 days is the half-life for CBD.
To fully exit the system, drugs generally take 5.5 half-lives. Therefore, if you take CBD orally, it will be eliminated from the body within 11-28 days. In saying that, it could be detected on a blood test before this happens.
When you smoke or vape CBD, the half-life is much shorter than if you ingest CBD. This is only by a few hours. It may take longer to get CBD out of your system if you regularly use it.
Research regarding the amount of time CBD can be detected in urine is limited. However, one study found it could be seen but only for 24 hours after use. In the instance of standard drug tests conducted by employers, CBD is rarely ever included.
If this is something that concerns you, you could opt for THC-free CBD products.
Key takeaways on how long does CBD stay in your system
How long does CBD stay in your system is a tricky question to answer. We all have different bodies that are sure to respond differently to CBD. Also, not enough research has been conducted to determine the precise half-life of CBD.
Many different factors can affect the length of time it takes for our bodies to process, metabolise and eliminate CBD. Current research suggests it could be up to 5 days; however, this is uncertain until more research is carried out. If you are new to CBD, take smaller doses initially.
This will help you to determine how it interacts with your body and slowly increase the dose. If you are a regular user, always stick to the recommended dose and do not exceed this.
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