How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System? Duration & Effects

Many first-time users have some apprehension (understandably) about trying CBD. After all, it is a cannabis-based product.

CBD can stay in your system for 2-5 days or less, depending on how much you take. CBD is detectable in your system within the first 2 hours of use, typically with any product.  

Some may be concerned about whether CBD can make them fail a drug test or want to know more about how long the effects of CBD last.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?

For single doses of CBD and THC in humans, the half-life when taken orally is about 1–2 days [6].

Let's say you eat a CBD gummy with 20MG of CBD one day. The following day, you'll have 10mg of CBD, the next 5MG, and so on... You may not feel the effects of CBD at this point, but it doesn't mean it's not in your system.

In pharmacology, the elimination half-life of a compound refers to the length of time required for the initial dose concentration to decrease by half the initial dose.Understanding the elimination half-life gives us a better understanding of how long CBD oil lingers in your system.

The half-life differs depending on the ingestion method and how often you consume it. Smoking CBD or THC has a 31-hour terminal half-life, whereas edible CBD can have a half-life of up to 5 days with consistent use [7]. 

How Long Does CBD Effects Last?

You can expect the effects of CBD to last anywhere from 2-8 hours. However, CBD may interact differently from one individual to the next because of its unique interactions with the endocannabinoid system.

CBD helps keep levels of internally produced cannabinoids (endocannabinoids) high and interacts separately with other receptors to produce a unique set of benefits [1].

Unlike the other well-known cannabinoid, THC or tetrahydrocannabinol, CBD is non-intoxicating (it won't get you high).

Remember, the ECS helps to maintain balance. Everyone's level of balance will vary depending on genetics, lifestyle, and health condition. 

Factor #1: Method Of Consumption

CBD is a unique compound that can be delivered through so many different methods from the classic CBD oils to CBD pills and CBD lotions, CBD massage oil, and even CBD lip balm.

Whether you inhale CBD via a vape product or smoke hemp flower, eat it, or apply it to the skin will affect how long it takes for CBD to work as well as how long it lasts in your system. 

Vaping/Smoking CBD

If you're looking for the fastest way to feel the effects of CBD, smoking CBD is your best bet. It quickly enters your bloodstream via the lungs to travel throughout the body.

This CBD use method is also going to be one of the shortest lasting in terms of effects. You should feel the effects of smoking CBD within minutes. However, the effect starts to subside after 2-4 hours.

Edible CBD

CBD in edible format are the most popular and widely available method of getting your daily dose of CBD.

One of the downsides of edible CBD is that it's the least bioavailable, which means it's not absorbed as well into your system because of something called the first-pass metabolism. First-pass refers to the liver breaking down most active compounds before it gets a chance to exert its effects.

Both CBD and THC are affected by the first-pass metabolism, and oral methods only deliver 4–20% of the active compounds into the bloodstream [2]. One way to increase the bioavailability of CBD is to combine the compound with fat, such as an oil. The gut is used to processing fats, so CBD piggybacks off of the fat molecule and enters our system more efficiently.

Taking your CBD capsules or CBD gummies, or beverage with a high-fat meal may also increase the CBD absorption into the intestinal lymphatic system — which means CBD can be delivered through lymphatic transport, helping to better support the immune system [3].

It can take about 30 minutes to an hour to feel the effects of edibles. Still, you can feel the effects of them much last longer than any other ingestion method. You can expect CBD edibles to last anywhere from 4–8 hours.

Sublingual CBD

Sublingual (under the tongue) is another fast way to ingest CBD because of the micro-capillaries network beneath the tongue. Holding your CBD oil or CBD spray beneath your tongue before swallowing allows the active compounds to permeate through the thin mucus membrane and enter the bloodstream.

This method also saves the CBD from the first-pass metabolism, so you get more active ingredients into your system. You can expect the effects to last anywhere from 2–6 hours. 

Topical CBD

CB1 and CB2 receptors are present in virtually all types of skin cells, making topical CBD such as CBD creams, CBD lotions, salves, lip balms, and ointments, a practical delivery method for CBD.

When you apply CBD to the skin, it won't enter the bloodstream. Meaning it will only affect the applied area with localized benefits [4]. Topical CBD is perfect for physical discomfort and minor skin irritations. Studies on transdermal CBD application also found that you could deliver potent CBD without evident side-effects [5].

You can start to feel the effects of CBD working anywhere from 30-90 minutes and depending on the product formulation, you may find relief for up to 6 hours. 

Factor #2: CBD Dosage

The higher the CBD per dose, the longer you'll feel the effects in your system as it takes longer to break down more of the compound. Therefore, a full dropper of a 12,000MG CBD Oil will feel much different than a full dropper of 500MG CBD oil. 

Factor #3: CBD Frequency Use

CBD doesn't typically remain in your system longer than a week after your last use. If you don't ever take a break from CBD, it can linger in your system for a few weeks, depending on your metabolism and frequency of use.

Someone who uses CBD daily will have a build-up of CBD metabolites in their system over an infrequent user. Regular use of CBD will also help to improve its health benefits over time.

Factor #4: Genetics & Lifestyle

CBD experiences can vary wildly from one individual to the next, depending on their genes, metabolism, and lifestyle.

These factors can also influence how long CBD oil stays in your body, making it difficult to pinpoint precisely how long CBD oil lasts.

How Long Is CBD Detectable In Urine?

CBD may be present in your urine for up to five days with consistent use, as determined by the edible elimination half-life.

If you're wondering if CBD will show up on a drug test, you don't have to worry. CBD isn't a compound that most tests are searching for because it's non-intoxicating. However, if your CBD oil is full spectrum or you're using a marijuana-derived CBD oil that contains higher concentrations of THC, it may trigger a positive result. THC is a common compound detected on drug tests.

Full spectrum CBD contains a wide range of naturally occurring cannabinoids, including THC, and terpenes to deliver stronger and well-rounded effects. The trace amounts of THC in hemp-derived full spectrum oils won't produce any intoxicating effects.

That being said, with regular use, THC metabolites get stored in fat and filtered out through urine, which may appear on drug tests. 

THC-Free CBD Oils

If you're worried about drug tests or just want to have CBD without THC in your system altogether, you have two options for THC-free CBD products.

1. CBD Isolates Oil: CBD isolates are refined hemp extracts that only contain one compound, CBD. Because CBD isolates don't contain the other beneficial cannabinoids, you may find that you need stronger doses to hit the same level of effects.
2. Broad Spectrum Oil: Broad spectrum CBD oil is our recommendation for those looking for a THC-free product because it still contains a diverse range of cannabinoids and terpenes to support CBD's effects, but it undergoes an extra distillation process to remove all THC compounds.

Still, the consensus is that a high-quality full spectrum CBD oil will deliver the best benefits overall because it can produce the full entourage effect. The of the main reasons full spectrum is recommended is that THC and CBD have complementary benefits to the endocannabinoid system and work better together than in isolation from each other.

The Takeaway: CBD Duration In Your System?

It's hard to say exactly how long CBD stays in your system since many factors are involved, from CBD method, frequency of use, and how strong your product is. Plus, individuals have very different CBD responses, affecting its effects and how long CBD says in your system.

We hope this article clarifies which CBD method is right for you and answered some questions regarding CBD and drug testing and some insight into potentially how long CBD stays in your system.

CBD has become a staple wellness supplement in many people's routines to support a wide range of lifestyles. If you're looking for more articles like this to learn about CBD, please be sure to check out our blog.

FAQ

How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?

Since so many factors come into play, including CBD technique, frequency of use, and product potency, it's impossible to predict how long CBD lingers in your system. Furthermore, everyone reacts differently to CBD, which determines the effects and the length of time CBD stays in your system.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Urine?

According to the edible elimination half-life, CBD can be found in your urine for up to five days if consumed continuously. If you're anxious about whether CBD will appear on a drug test, don't be. CBD isn't a chemical that most tests look for because it isn't intoxicating. However, if you use broad-spectrum CBD oil or marijuana-derived CBD oil with higher THC concentrations, you may receive a positive result. THC is a frequent component discovered on drug tests.

How Does CBD Work?

CBD is a cannabinoid, which is a naturally occurring cannabis molecule. To provide health benefits, cannabinoids interact with our bodies' endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS supports many systems, including our sleep-wake cycle, hormones, stress, the digestive system, and many more. CBD, unlike the more well-known cannabinoid THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), is not psychoactive (it will not make you high).

How Long Does CBD Effects Last?

It can be difficult to predict how long the effects of CBD will remain. As a general rule, the effects of CBD oil will last between 2 and 8 hours. CBD, on the other hand, may interact differently from person to person because to its unique interactions with the endocannabinoid system. The ECS aids in the maintenance of balance, and everyone's level of balance varies according to genetics, lifestyle, and physical state.

Resources:

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