How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

How long does CBD stay in your system?

Sure, CBD doesn’t have the same intoxicating effects as THC, but it does get stored in your body.

And yes, most drug tests only test for THC, but since many CBD products on the market contain some trace amounts of THC, this is something lots of people are concerned about.

It even stops some from taking advantage of it, which is tough. (Can CBD show up on a drug test? It’s possible, but in most cases, it’s highly unlikely that CBD oil will lead to a positive drug test.)

If you’re worried about timing and how long CBD stays in your system, check this out.

How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

So, how long does CBD stay in your system? The typical timeframe is 2-5 days.

In fact, a clinical trial from 1991 found that CBD is pretty much gone from the system after a week. This trial, during which participants were given CBD daily over a six-week period, found that just one week after administration stopped, the CBD remaining in the blood was “virtually undetectable.”

A study from 2005 shows us similar results as far as CBD not remaining in the body for long. Study participants were given cannabis extract with 2.5mg of THC and 1.35mg of CBD. Researchers found that the CBD was only detectable in the blood for about 9 hours after it was given.

However, that number really depends on a few different factors…

#1 How Much You Use

This one is pretty straight forward. The more you use, the longer the CBD will stay in your system.

#2 How You Use it

There are several different ways to use CBD:

  • oils and tinctures
  • pills and capsules
  • edibles
  • topical creams and salves
  • vaping

The method you choose not only impacts how quickly CBD goes to work, but also how long it stays in your body. 

Thankfully, science breaks it all down for us. Research from 2018 shows us how different methods of administration can impact how long CBD lasts in the body. For example, researchers found the average half-life (the time it takes for something to reduce by half its initial amount) of CBD to be:

  • 2-5 days after chronic oral administration
  • 31 hours after vaping
  • 24 hours after IV infusion
  • Just under 2 hours after a single 20mg oral administration
  • Between 2.95 and 3.21 hours after ingestion of 10mg capsules

Related: How long does it take CBD to work? Read this next!

#3 How Often You Use it

How often you use CBD can also impact how long it remains in your system. If you use CBD every day, it builds up in the body. That’s what makes reverse tolerance possible (read more on this here). It’s also why experts suggest giving it time to work – not everyone sees results after 1-2 doses – sometimes you need several days to get the full effect.

So, if you use it every day, it will probably linger for a longer period of time. That said, don’t forget about the 6 week trial we mentioned above. Those participants used it every day for 6 weeks and it was virtually undetectable after a week.

If you only use it every so often, when you’ve got a headache or if you’re feeling particularly stressed, for example, it’ll clear your system faster.

how long does CBD stay in your system

#4 What You Eat

Yes, the food you eat can impact both how fast CBD goes to work as well as how long it lasts in your system.

This is because certain foods enhance bioavailability (the amount of CBD that enters the system and can be used by the body) and increase the overall CBD concentration in your body. 

When you take CBD with food, it gets absorbed through your digestive system. It travels to the stomach, but gets broken down along the way. Then it moves into the small intestine, where it’s absorbed, then transferred to the liver.

So, if you take CBD on an empty stomach, it’s metabolized and eliminated faster than when you take it after a big meal, which slows down the digestion of it.

Related: What’s the best food to eat when you’re taking CBD? Check this out.

#5 Your Body 

Everyone’s body is different. That’s why CBD and other substances affect people differently.

Certain things that may impact the length of time it hangs around include:

  • Your metabolism
  • Your body mass index (BMI)
  • Water content

How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System: Final Thoughts

Thankfully, there is significant research to look at to help you make an informed decision regarding how long CBD stays in your system. The thing to remember though it that everyone is different, and, as with everything CBD-related, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer.

Also, remember, even if you’re using full spectrum CBD oil with trace amounts of CBD, it’s unlikely it will show up on a drug test, but if you’re overly concerned, just watch your dosage and take a few days off to give it all chances of leaving your system.