Whatever your reasoning is for taking CBD, you have questions that need to be answered. One of the main questions we hear is – how long does CBD stay in your system? It appears that CBD could remain in the system for up to five days, but many factors change this timeframe. We will evaluate some research and discuss the elements that affect the CBD duration.
How Long Does CBD Oil Stay in Your System – According to Research
There haven’t been a lot of studies regarding the duration of CBD in the body, but we do have one to reference. An older study performed in 1991 reveals some of the information we might need. This research shows CBD levels were almost undetectable following a week after CBD use discontinued.
In this particular study, the 700 mg of CBD was administered for six weeks. This clinical trial determined that the half-time was about two to five days. The half-life refers to how long something is reduced to half of the initial amount.
Still, more research is required to answer the question – how long does CBD oil stay in your system.
Factors Affecting How Long CBD Stays in Your System
It appears that many factors alter the time CBD remains in your system. Based on available data, it’s likely that the CBD will be completely cleared from your system within a week, but this could be changed based on these criteria.
Dosage
As with any substance, the more you consume, the longer it can remain in your system. If you take a higher dosage of CBD, you can assume that it might stay in your system longer.
Frequency
The frequency of any substance taken also changes how long it remains in your body. As you use CBD over time, it will build up in your body. That’s why many people recommend taking it for a minimum of a week before determining if it works for you. If you only take it occasionally, it should clear out of your system quicker.
Metabolism
Your metabolism changes how fast the chemical reactions occur within your body. This, combined with the water content in your system, will affect how quickly the CBD is removed.
Method
As with dosage, the method by which you take the CBD affects the half-life. People choose to take CBD in different forms, such as:
- Tinctures and oils
- Edibles
- Pills and capsules
- Vaping
- Lotions and creams
Vaping CBD causes the substance to enter the lungs and take immediate effect. On the other hand, it also leaves the body quite rapidly. Oils and tinctures get placed under the tongue and are also absorbed quickly, but tend to stick around longer. In comparison, lotions and creams don’t enter the body as quickly and take longer to be removed as well.
Newer studies reveal that the half-life is determined heavily by the mode of ingestion. Here is an example:
- 20 mg nebulizer administration: 1.1 hours
- 20 mg oral administration: 1.97 hours
- 10 mg capsules: 2.95 to 3.21 hours
- 20 mg oral mucosal spray: 10.86 hours
- Smoking: 31 hours
- IV infusion: 24 hours
- Chronic oral administration: 2-5 days
Of course, all of these factors are also influenced by the dosage, as discussed above.
Food
When you eat, how much you consume and what foods you eat make a difference with the CBD half-life. If you take CBD with nothing in your stomach, it is metabolized faster than when it is taken with food. That’s because food slows down the digestion process.
Body Weight
Your weight plays a critical role in the distribution, metabolism and clearance of CBD, as with any substance. Your body size can also affect the kidney and liver function, which is needed to eliminate the substances from your system.
How Long Until the Effects from CBD Kick In?
This all depends on the above factors that have been discussed. Your body composition, the dosage and format of CBD all influence how quickly you will feel the effects. For most people taking it sublingually, you can expect to feel some effects within 15 minutes. However, using topical products or edibles might take a couple of hours to kick in.
How Long Will the Effects from CBD Last?
While it depends on how much you take, what form you take it in and your metabolism, you can expect to feel most of the effects of CBD for between two and six hours.
Does CBD Show Up on Drug Tests?
Most of the time, CBD doesn’t show up on drug tests. If you are taking a CBD product that also contains THC, it could. THC is the main active ingredient of marijuana and included in some CBD products. Of course, some only contain the THC in trace amounts, but could still produce a positive drug test result.
If this concerns you, be cautious about what CBD products you use. Here are some to look at.
- Full-spectrum CBD: This substance includes all naturally occurring compounds from the plant, which includes the THC.
- Broad-spectrum CBD: While very similar to full-spectrum, there is an additional process added that helps to eliminate the THC.
- CBD isolate: Only contains CBD.
If you are choosing a full-spectrum CBD, you might prefer to pick a hemp-derived option. This form is legally required to carry less than 0.3% THC. You can learn more about full spectrum CBD on our Zilis Ultra Cell Hemp Oil Reviews.
Why You Want Pure CBD Oil
Aside from trying to figure out how long does pure CBD oil stay in your system, it’s also important that you choose the right product. After all, there are different strengths and purities of CBD flower and CBD oil. Plus, some companies will dilute their oil, leaving you with less than what you are expecting.
Other people think that the best way to go is to order medical-grade CBD oil, but you aren’t going to find such a product, as nothing has been approved for consumer usage.
Instead, you want to take precautions when choosing the right CBD product for your lifestyle. To determine if the CBD oil is right for you, consider these factors.
- Color: The color is a perfect indication of quality. Typically, you want a full-spectrum extract to appear brown or dark green, while the isolates will be colored the same as the carrier oil used.
- Oil source: Check the brand’s website to find out where the product was grown. Plants grown in North America and Europe must adhere to strict guidelines, which ensure that no harmful products or chemicals were used.
- Third-party testing: Reputable brands will also use third-party lab testing to ensure purity.
- Reputable company: You don’t want to purchase your CBD oil from a fly by night establishment. Otherwise, the CBD oil could be sitting on the shelf, waiting for a customer. When kept in ideal conditions, the shelf life of the CBD oil is one to two years, but you don’t want a portion of that time used before you even receive it.
With a little research and diligence, you can find the CBD oil product that suits your needs.