How Long Does Delta 8 Stay In Your System?

Delta 8 THC consumption has gone through the roof, but a question lingers: How long will delta 8 stay in my system? The answer to this question is complicated. How long delta 8 stays in your system depends on many factors, including how often you consume it and what type of drug test you'll be taking. Some things can help make the wait go by faster, though. If you're looking for ways to pass a drug test with delta 8 THC, check out these helpful tips!

What is Delta 8 THC?

Delta 8 THC is a THC variation that is derived from Hemp cannabinoids. Like its Delta 9 THC cousin, it has psychoactive effects and can cause a user to experience a high.

How it compares to Delta 9 THC

On a molecular level Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC are very similar, and the only difference is the location of a double bond between two carbon molecules.

The sources of each molecule are different. Delta 8 THC is produced from hemp, and Delta 9 THC is primarily produced in marijuana. Hemp is allowed to have a trace amount of THC but is not at the threshold that can cause a user to get high like a medical or recreational marijuana product.

Psychoactive properties between the two THCs differ as well. Delta 8 THC is considered a tamer version of Delta 9 THC, and the high is not as intense at the same mg and is more of a body high.

Is Delta 8 THC Legal?

Unlike its Delta 9 THC counterpart, Delta 8 THC is federally legal due to the 2018 Farm Bill. The bill descheduled hemp and legalized its cannabinoids, isomers, and byproducts while setting a legal limit for Delta 9 THC at 0.3% content by weight.

Though it is legal federally, some states have taken action against Delta 8 THC and have outlawed it.

Current legal states: Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and in Washington D.C.

Gray area states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Michigan, Mississippi, and Kentucky.

Illegal states: Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, Delaware, Idaho, Iowa, Montana, New York, Nevada, North Dakota, Rhode Island, Vermont, Utah, and Washington.

Methods of Consuming Delta 8 THC

There are four ways of consuming Delta 8 THC. Each method will have a different effect, duration, and how long THC can show up on a drug test.

Sublingual

This method drops the Delta 8 THC tincture oil under your tongue. There are blood vessels underneath your tongue, so it enters your bloodstream relatively quickly. Tinctures have a mid-range duration.

Edible

When you consume an edible like your gummy, it's processed through your digestive system. Onset time will depend on how full your stomach is, and edibles have longer-lasting effects.

The Delta 8 THC is processed in the liver with this method and can provide more intense effects than other methods. With edibles, it's better to start slow and find your baseline.

Topical

When you are looking for relief in a specific location, topicals are the answer. These products you apply to your skin and your dermis absorb the topical, providing the least intense effects and having a moderate duration.

Inhalation

Smoking or vaping Delta 8 THC has the fastest onset and shortest duration. Current laws make it more challenging to sell Delta 8 inhalation products and will likely see its popularity decline.

Factors how long delta 8 stays in your system

How long does delta 8 stay in your system? That depends on several factors. THC metabolites will clear the body, but how long that takes can vary.

Body Type

THC metabolites like to bond with fat cells. A person with a higher body fat content will hold them longer.

A leaner body with an active workout regimen will clear the Delta 8 THC from the body faster as there are fewer opportunities for the metabolites to bond.

Consumption Frequency

The more frequently you consume Delta 8, the longer it will take to clear the body. Consuming daily or close to it will not give your body enough time to clear the THC levels and stay in your system longer. If you are a frequent consumer, you will need to abstain from use for a more extended time because you are at risk to fail a drug test.

Consumption Method

Each method of consumption takes a different amount of Delta 8 to get the lasting effect. Edibles and Tinctures are similar in their dosage amounts and tend to be the highest mg of THC consumed to achieve an effect. Smoking and vaping typically consume less but at a more frequent interval wiping out any mg advantage. Topicals often have less mg than the other methods and result in lower concentration in the blood.

Drug Tests

Since Delta 8 THC is closely related to Delta 9 THC, they produce the same THC metabolites that stay in parts of the body longer than others which means drug tests can vary in their detection window for Delta 8 THC.

To pass an impending drug test, you will need to suspend usage of Delta 8 THC for 2-90+ days, depending on the type of test.

Occasional users will require less time for THC to clear the system, whereas more frequent users will require a more extended period of abstinence from Delta 8 THC.

Hair

Hair follicle tests have the longest detection window of any drug test, and they can detect THC usage for about 90 days. These tests work by detecting Delta 8 THC metabolites bonded to the hair shaft.

If you have a hair follicle test scheduled, you will need to abstain from use for at least three months. These tests are not standard because they are the most expensive out of the four. High-end employers and court battles with significant consequences are the most common reasons for hair follicle tests.

Urine

Urine tests have the widest variation in detection time out of all the drug tests. Frequency and amount play a significant role in how long Delta 8 consumption can show up.

To clear a urine test, you'll have you should abstain from using Delta 8 THC for at least 30 days before an upcoming drug test.

Oral

Saliva tests can detect Delta- THC for up to 24 hours after consumption. These tests work by detecting free-floating Delta- THC molecules in your saliva.

This type of drug testing is usually done in the field by law enforcement after a stop or incident.

Blood

Blood tests are a more invasive test, primarily associated with the suspicion of a DWI.

A blood test can often detect Delta 8 consumption for two days, but chronic and heavy use can extend that range out to 25 days!

Methods to clear THC faster

If you have a drug test coming, there are methods to clear the THC metabolites from your system quicker, and these methods are far from full proof and do not guarantee you will safely pass your drug test.

Here at CBD LION, we do not endorse any of these methods and should only be completed under medical supervision. The only sure-fire way to pass a drug test after consuming Delta THC is to abstain from future use and let enough time pass before the drug test.

Detox

One way to clear Delta 8 THC out of your system quicker is a detox. These work by flushing unwanted toxins in your body along with metabolites from THC.

There are multiple detox-specific drinks on the market, and if you choose to go this method, you should do so under medical supervision.

Water Consumption

A cleaner and safer way to detox are to drink a large amount of water. It's natural and doesn't have any contents that are hard on your body.

Consuming a large amount of water right before a drug test is not advised, though. The drug testing companies have become wise to dilute urine and not consider it a passed test and force you to test again.

Exercise

Doing physical activity is a long-term way to reduce the THC liability in your body and is not a method to pass a drug test scheduled in the near term. By exercising and burning fat, you limit the fast storage the metabolites from the Delta 8 THC can be stored in. Less fat equals less THC stored.

If you get into exercise, you'll want to combine it with a healthy and balanced diet for maximum effect.

About CBD LION

Here at CBD LION, we craft the highest quality Delta 8 THC products. Most companies treat quality and safety as buzzwords to sell their product, but it's something we take to heart. We invested heavily in creating an ISO 7 certified cleanroom to package and produce our goods in the cleanest environment. We back that up with 3rd party lab testing each product to ensure potency and quality. These tests are readily available by scanning the QR code on the label!

Our founders are cannabis plant experts and know how to produce the most effective industrial hemp products on the market. They started their careers crafting products for one of the largest medical and recreational cannabis companies. With that knowledge, they put together an award-winning hemp derived product line!

We have Tinctures, Bath Bombs, Sports Tape, Chocolate, Gummies, Lotion, Roll-Ons, and More on the CBD side.

For the Delta 8 THC lovers, we have flavored tinctures and a delicious gummies pack.

In-conclusion

So how long can Delta 8 THC stay in your system? It all depends on the drug test used, your body, how frequently you consume, and the type of product you consume. Delta 8 THC use can cause you to fail a drug test and should be used with caution if you are subject to testing.

The best thing you can know is the drug test type and how frequently you consume. You can use at-home test kits to gauge how long it takes your body to clear THC. Be aware they are not on the same level as those administered by medical facilities.

Except for the hair follicle test, abstaining from use for about a month will have you in the safe zone, but the longer, the better, as there are so many factors that can extend the length Delta 8 remains in your system.

Resources:

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system