You smoke marijuana regularly and are not worried about it. But, suddenly your organization announces a dope test. Read on to learn more about how long marijuana stays in your system.
Marijuana in the System
THC in marijuana stays on in the body depending on a few factors such as body metabolism rate, physical activity, general diet, body weight and regularity of smoking. Marijuana will stay on for a longer time in your body if you are a heavy eater of junk food, lead a sedentary life and do not drink the required amount of fluids.
Typically, marijuana stays on for about 3-30 days in the body. In regular smokers, it can stay for up to 45 days. In occasional smokers, marijuana can stay up to 10 days. If the drug is ingested orally, it can spread in the blood taking just 30 minutes to two hours. Marijuana can also be stored in the fat cells of the brain, kidneys and liver.
Types of Tests
The user’s blood, saliva and hair will retain marijuana. Therefore, a hair or urine test can detect its presence. While a urine test is most commonly used, blood test is more accurate. But, the most precise test is the hair follicle check.
Hair Test for Marijuana
Hair tests can reveal THC in the system for up to three years after smoking. This is because hair cannot cleanse itself and even cleaners do not help. Generally, hair which is a few centimeters from the scalp is used for testing. Body hair can also be used if scalp hair is absent.
Duration of Marijuana’s Presence in the Body
Marijuana’s presence in the body depends on the frequency of smoking and the amount ingested. In frequent smokers, the drug stays on for a longer time. As marijuana is fat soluble, it takes a longer time to exit the body, compared to other drugs, which are water-soluble and hence move out more easily from the body.
Sedentary and Obese People Carry the Drug Longer
Fat cells need to be “burned” to generate energy. Therefore, inactive people will not be able to burn fat cells or the marijuana metabolites deposited in them. The situation is exacerbated in obese people, as their fat cells are more voluminous, thus requiring strenuous burning activities. Therefore, a strict diet is required along with effective exercises to eliminate the marijuana metabolites deposited in the fat cells.
