CBD, which is short for cannabidiol, is quickly gaining traction. Why? Studies have shown the cannabinoid may possess a host of health and wellness benefits. But, with more and more people just now learning about this therapeutic chemical compound from cannabis, many questions are popping up — Specifically, how does CBD work in the body? And also, how long does CBD stay in your system?
In this article, we’ll briefly dive into the unique connection between CBD and the body.
CBD and The Human Body
The work of CBD on the human body is a process that researchers are still trying to fully understand. Sometime in the late 1990s, a resilient system containing a network of cells within the body was discovered. What was so interesting about this discovery? Known as the endocannabinoid system— endo meaning “within”— (ECS), this system is responsible for maintaining a number of biological functions to ensure optimal balance and functionality.
When the body is in need of something, or has too much of something, the ECS will signal the body. When these signals go off, certain hormones, proteins, and cells are produced in order to give the body what it needs to get back to running smoothly.
While the body is truly resilient, there are sometimes when our body needs a little boost. Even the slightest bit of extra stress can throw off your body’s internal balance or homeostasis, which can leave you feeling discombobulated and many times, unwell.
In many cases, the body has the ability to bounce back on its own, however this can take a lot of time and even more effort — this is where CBD comes into play.
As a cannabinoid, CBD works amazingly in helping the endocannabinoid system to achieve homeostasis. Essentially, CBD will act as an endocannabinoid (or “natural” cannabinoid) to support important bodily functions. While the cannabinoid itself cannot fully reduce your stress for example, it will work alongside functions such as memory, sleep, pain, appetite, and many others in your body to achieve internal balance.
Well, now that you’ve learned a little about the work of CBD in the body, perhaps the most important question is: how long does it stay in your system?
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
How long CBD stays in your system ultimately depends on you. CBD is a very personal experience. Everyone is going to process CBD differently and therefore, the cannabinoid will affect every person differently.
Perhaps some of the most important factors are tolerance, delivery method and dosage. If you’re someone who has never tried CBD before, after consuming it for the first time, the cannabinoid will more than likely not stick around for long. However, if you’re someone who is a seasoned consumer in the realm of cannabis, cannabinoids aren’t foreign to your system. This then gives CBD the chance to build up in your system and remain for longer periods of time.
It’s important to understand that factors like height, weight, medical history, and even diet can influence the longevity of CBD in your system. If you are heavier, it may take longer to be metabolized. On the other hand, consuming CBD on an empty stomach may cause effects to subside faster due to the fact that cannabidiol has nothing to hold on to. Furthermore, factors like the method of CBD delivery will affect how long the cannabinoid stays in your system. For example, edibles generally have a slower onset, and must pass through a process of digestion, which in turn, will cause CBD to stay in your system a little longer compared to other methods — it all depends.
How Long Does CBD Last?
The duration of how long the effects of CBD can be felt all depends on your body type, how much CBD you consume and the method of ingestion. Typically the effects of consuming CBD products can range from 2 to 8 hours.
Can 0.3% THC Show Up on a Drug Test?
Typically, products you find in a dispensary contain much higher amounts of THC than 0.3%. 0.3% THC is the federal legal limit for hemp products and is not nearly enough THC to get you ‘high’.
Cannabis flower from a dispensary can contain over 30% THC. When purchasing a standard 3.5 gram package of cannabis flower from a dispensary, you are receiving 1,050 mg total of THC. When consuming hemp CBD flower, containing 0.3% THC, you will only be receiving 10.5 mg THC for the same size package (3.5 grams of flower).
That being said, consuming very high amounts of hemp products (containing THC) does pose a possible threat of showing up on a drug test. Contrarily, consuming lower doses of hemp products will not typically cause a failed drug test.
Do hemp hearts or hemp seed show up on a drug test?
A little known fact, products like hemp hearts, hemp seeds or “hemp oils” found on marketplaces like Amazon and in grocery stores do not actually contain CBD. The cannabinoid CBD is developed in the plant during the vegetative and flowering phases. To reiterate, hemp hearts or hemp seeds do not contain cannabinoids and will not affect a drug test.
Dosing Consistently
If you’re a person who is experiencing benefits from consuming CBD, introducing the cannabinoid constantly into your system has the potential to make its effects worthwhile. Instead of consuming a little CBD and then calling it good, many are achieving optimal wellness through dosing CBD on a consistent basis. While research is still ongoing, this kind of micro dosing allows for a healthy build-up of CBD in the body to ensure that CBD stays present in the body for a constant therapeutic effect.
The Facts and Figures about CBD and Your Body
While CBD has been becoming increasingly popular, its presence in the body has worried some people about the potential of THC and even the possibility of failing a drug test.
Let us establish the facts.
On its own, CBD is completely non-psychoactive. What exactly does this mean? Unlike its botanical cousin THC, CBD is chemically different, has a unique molecular structure and offers a unique therapeutic effect that not only won’t cause a high in the body and therefore, but also won’t cause a positive drug test.
CBD In Your System
Furthermore, CBD derived from hemp plants is legal nationwide in the US so there is no reason to be concerned about consumption. Whatever CBD product you choose, to be on the safe side just be sure that it doesn’t exceed the mandated levels of THC — 0.03%. Anything more and the THC could build up in your system and potentially cause a positive drug test. CBD products containing the mandated levels of THC, however, will not. This would an extremely heavy amount of consumption.
Purchasing high quality, third-party lab-tested CBD products will help you consume safely and responsibly. If you’re interested in trying out CBD, check out our online selection of CBD products today!
