As of December 2019, 64 million Americans had tried CBD.
Experimentation with a hemp-based product is sure to come with a lot of questions. One of the main ones asked by potential CBD users is, “How long does CBD stay in your system?”
There’s not one solid answer to that question, though. Instead, you’ll have to consider a multitude of factors to know how long CBD lasts.
What Does CBD Do?
Before we dive in, let’s take a quick look at why you’d want to try CBD in the first place.
Those who use CBD religiously can quickly cite the many benefits they feel from taking it. For instance, people say CBD can soothe acne, mute chronic aches and relax the body during chemotherapy treatments. Research has yet to verify all of these CBD oil uses, but anecdotal evidence touts advantages like these.
And it makes sense, considering CBD stands for cannabidiol. The compound interacts with the body’s built-in endocannabinoid system, which regulates hormones and manages pain levels. Adding CBD may enhance these processes, although more research is required.
It’s important to note that CBD doesn’t contain THC, which is the psychoactive element in marijuana. So, CBD gives you the relaxing vibes without the head rush.
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
Although CBD doesn’t contain THC, people may still be curious to know how long the hemp-derived substance will stay in their system.
That’s a layered question — here’s what you need to know.
Several Elements Affect How Long CBD Lasts
Everyone’s body is different — and that’s just the first of many factors that affect how long CBD stays in your system.
How Often You Use CBD
For starters, the frequency with which you use CBD will determine how long it stays in your system. If you’re consistent with it, it will stay around for longer. Meanwhile, if you use it occasionally, it will clear out quickly.
How Your Body Processes CBD
Then, you have to consider your body and all of its processes. One person’s metabolic rate will be different from the next — and that’s just one internal factor that can affect the amount of CBD in your system.
Your body mass index and the amount of water you drink can affect how long CBD lasts, too. And, if you eat before taking CBD, it won’t get metabolized as quickly as if you take it on an empty stomach.
How You Take CBD
You have plenty of options when taking CBD — it comes in a variety of forms, including:
- Sublingual oil tinctures
- Pills or capsules
- Edible gummies and candies
- Topical lotions and ointments
- Vapes
Vaping introduces CBD into your system the fastest, and it takes as little as 15 minutes to feel it.
The rest need more time to kick in but tend to stick around for longer. For example, your body has to metabolize edible CBD before you feel its effects, and that’s not a quick process — it can take a couple of hours before you start experiencing the soothing vibes.
In most cases, you’ll continue to feel the effects for anywhere from two to six hours.
So, How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
The CBD has worn off after a few hours, but that doesn’t mean it’s out of your system.
For most people, traces of CBD disappear in anywhere from two to five days. For other users, it can take weeks for it to go away completely.
Although CBD is legal in many places, its lifespan can be a consideration for some users.
Will CBD Affect a Drug Test?
In most cases, you don’t have to worry about how long CBD stays in your system. It won’t show up on a drug test because it doesn’t contain THC.
However, some varieties of CBD do carry trace amounts of THC, which might affect the results of your exam. If you’re concerned about drug testing, then know what you’re buying before picking up your hemp-based products.
You’ll find a variety of different options when it comes to CBD. Here’s what you might see on the label — and what it means regarding THC content.
Full-Spectrum CBD
If a product is full-spectrum CBD, then it encompasses all of the compounds contained in the hemp plant from which it comes. As such, full-spectrum varieties of CBD often contain some THC.
When choosing full-spectrum CBD, try and select one that’s hemp-based. There are regulations in place to ensure these products have only a trace amount of THC.
Broad-Spectrum CBD
This variety of CBD is basically the same as full-spectrum, but it is further strained to remove all THC.
CBD Isolate
If you purchase CBD isolate, the rest of the hemp-based compounds have been removed from your product. Instead, it’s just CBD.
Regardless of the type of CBD you choose, be sure to check out the lab reports provided by CBD producer from whom you buy. They should give a breakdown of the ingredients so you can know precisely how much THC you are or aren’t getting.
Will CBD Affect Breastfeeding?
You might want to know how long CBD stays in your system because you plan to breastfeed soon.
Experts recommend stopping CBD use a week before you plan to start breastfeeding. However, they also note that very little research has been completed in this area.
If your CBD contains trace amounts of THC, though, this can be passed onto your nursing child. As such, the pros say you should avoid using it during pregnancy or breastfeeding until they can say with certainty that it’s safe for babies to ingest.
Take With Care
How long does CBD stay in your system? For everyone, this answer will be slightly different. Please do your research before trying it out to ensure it fits into a happy, healthy lifestyle.
And, when you’re ready to try CBD, you know where to look. We have Happy Hemp candies, bath bombs, tinctures, roll-ons and more. Check out our online shop here.
