Cannabidiol (CBD) is a popular choice for people managing pain, anxiety, and sleeplessness. CBD can offer an accessible path to managing specific symptoms. It can help with general stress relief, too.
Because of CBD’s increasing popularity, there are plenty of questions asked about it. One we frequently hear is “How long does CBD stay in your system?”
Let’s take a closer look at CBD and how long it can stay in our bodies.
What is CBD?
CBD is a chemical compound found in both cannabis and hemp plants. More specifically, it’s a cannabinoid. That means it acts on the cannabinoid receptors in our bodies and produces certain effects.
CBD is a rare exception to many of the other cannabinoids found in cannabis and hemp. Why? Because it doesn’t produce the same altered sense of perception and elevated mood, as do many other cannabinoids. In simpler terms, it doesn’t get you “high.”
CBD has some clear effects, however. It can lead to a sense of relaxation and create a calming influence.
There are also more specific potential benefits to CBD. Keep in mind that while research results and user reports are both promising, these benefits aren’t conclusively proven.
Healthline shared five potential benefits of CBD, based on a review of existing clinical research:
- Pain relief. CBD may help to reduce inflammation and produce other effects that mitigate pain. It may have a positive effect on specific medical conditions that involve inflammation as well.
- Improving heart health. CBD may help to reduce blood pressure and offer support for other heart-related concerns.
- Managing certain cancer symptoms. CBD may help cancer patients manage symptoms like nausea.
- Treating seizures. An FDA-approved medication, Epidiolex, treats seizures related to certain medical conditions.
- Managing certain mental health symptoms. CBD could help to address certain symptoms of mood disorders like depression.
Does CBD Have Any Side Effects?
CBD is generally considered to have mild side effects, but they’re still present. Nausea, dry mouth, and drowsiness are a few examples.
High doses may encourage these side effects, so it’s important to keep an eye on dosing. Check out these guides for dosing CBD oil and CBD edibles. The best advice in general is to follow dosing instructions and take a conservative approach — don’t overdo things.
Is CBD Legal?
When extracted from hemp plants containing no more than 0.3% Delta 9 THC, CBD is legal federally. A small number of states still place restrictions on CBD. That means it’s always important to check on your local and state-level regulations before buying CBD.
CBD: How Long Does It Stay in Your System?
Wondering how long CBD stays in your system? The truth is that it depends.
What factors can influence how long CBD stays in your system?
Metabolism
Everyone’s body processes chemicals at a slightly different rate. Most people are within a certain range of metabolic activity. However, metabolism can and does vary from one person to the next.
Body Composition and Activity
Leafwell explains that, because cannabinoids are stored in fat cells, people with more muscle and less fat may metabolize CBD at a faster rate. Regular exercise may also speed up the metabolic process with cannabinoids, too.
Frequency of Use
How often you take CBD will influence how long it remains in your system. If you only use it occasionally, it can quickly be eliminated. If you use CBD every day for months, it could take much longer to leave your body.
Size of Dose
Do you normally use a small or moderate dose of CBD? It will generally leave your system faster than someone taking larger doses, Healthline explains.
Method of Consumption
How you consume CBD will influence the amount of time it spends in your body. Let’s look at a few common methods of consumption and how they relate to CBD sticking around.
- How long does vaping CBD stay in your system? Vaping passes CBD into your bloodstream without your digestive system first acting on it. That means quicker effects and a short timeline for it leaving your body, compared to some other methods.
- How long does a CBD cigarette stay in your system? Smoking CBD is distinct from vaping, but it also means CBD is absorbed through your lungs. It will leave your body faster than eating CBD or using CBD tinctures and oils.
- How long do CBD gummies stay in your system? CBD edibles move through the digestive system before their effects kick in. They also last longer in the body compared to smoking or vaping.
- How long do CBD oils and tinctures stay in your system? CBD oils and tinctures will also last longer in the body than other methods when swallowed.
So, How Long Does CBD Actually Stay in Your System?
Someone who takes a single dose of CBD but doesn’t regularly use it may eliminate it from their system in a day, or even less time. Someone who regularly takes large doses of CBD, especially edibles, tinctures, or oils, may need a month or even more time to eliminate traces of CBD.
Depending on the factors listed above, a person using CBD will fall somewhere on this hours-to-month-or-more scale. It’s impossible to share a concrete answer on the individual level. However, this is a useful guide to estimating how long CBD will stay in your system.
Worried about taking CBD because of a drug test? The good news is that drug tests generally don’t show results for CBD by itself. However, as Drugs.com explains, those tests will pick up on other cannabinoids that might be present in CBD products.
Delta 8 Resellers helps you make an informed decision about the CBD products you buy. We share the results of independent lab testing for our products. Want to make sure you’re really getting what the package says it offers? Check out the lab report!
