How Long Does Delta 8 THC Stay In Your System?

Delta-8 THC has taken the cannabis products world by storm—and its popularity is not dwindling any time soon. An isomer of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, Delta-8 THC is a hemp-derived product that is anecdotally milder than Delta-9 THC yet still offers similar psychoactive effects and health benefits. If you wonder how long Delta 8 can stay in your system, you are in the right place.

While it may be the milder option than Delta-9 THC in its psychoactive properties, Delta-8 THC’s effects can still linger in the body and show up on drug tests. Let’s dive in.

Key Points

• How long Delta 8 stays in your system depends on many factors, such as how you take it, what doses, and more.
• Edibles vs. smoking have different effects on the body; one lasts longer than another, with a few exceptions.
• Will Delta-8 THC show up on a drug test? If you consume Delta 8 THC, you should expect it to show up in a drug test such as a blood test, saliva test, urine test, and hair follicle test.
• If you are new to Delta 8 THC and have used it a few times, expect it to stay in your system for a few days, whereas if you are a frequent user, expect 2 to 4 weeks.

So, how long does Delta 8 stay in your system? 

Well, that all depends on many factors, including your preferred consumption method of Delta-8, dose, and other important factors. 

The method with which you consume Delta-8 will not only have an influence on how long you will feel its effects but also how long Delta-8 THC will stay in your system. Cannabis lovers can now find Delta-8 THC in various forms, including gummies, tinctures, flower, edibles, soft gels, and more. 

And while we all love having options, it helps to know how each method will impact you and how long Delta-8 THC stays in your system.

Industrial hemp has undoubtedly made a splash in the cannabis world, and we can only hope its popularity continues to grow! 

So, let’s talk about how you can expect to feel Delta-8’s effects once consumed, and then we can talk about the really fun stuff, such as what other factors to consider if you have an upcoming drug test for work. 

If you know you have a drug test scheduled, we are here to help!

How The Methods Of Consuming Delta-8 THC Affect Your Body

Delta-8 THC Gummies And Other THC Edibles

Delta-8 THC gummies and edibles are wildly popular methods of consuming THC, partly because most users say they feel a euphoric feeling longer and partly due to the fun and absolutely delicious options on the market.

But also because it’s not as psychoactive as its sister Delta 9 THC, but similar in its strength if what it can help with beyond the “high” feeling.

Once consumed, the edible is digested by stomach acids and enzymes that break it down to its component parts.

Delta-8 is absorbed through the stomach lining and taken to your liver, transforming the THC into 11-Hydroxy-THC (the main active metabolite of tetrahydrocannabinol). 

THC Gummies And Its Effect

The onset time varies, but you should begin feeling the effects of Delta-8 THC gummies or edibles anywhere from 30 to 90 minutes after consumption. Users have reported feeling the effects of Delta-8 THC edibles for up to 5 hours. 

THC gummies and edibles have a reputation for hitting a bit harder than a typical joint. Because 11-hydroxy-THC is more potent than THC, its psychoactive effects can feel stronger and last longer than if you smoked a joint or hit a vape pen. Of course, several factors can affect how Delta-8 THC gummies or edibles will affect you.

If potency and intensity are a concern, you should consider eating a meal before consuming a Delta-8 THC gummy or edible. On an empty stomach, the effects of the edibles can be amplified.

And, well, you’re likely to get the munchies. Waiting until after you’ve consumed an edible to eat can actually increase the potency of the cannabis that is already in your system.

A general rule for edibles: start small and wait a few hours. You can always consume more, but you can’t un-consume it once you’ve swallowed it (sounds pretty obvious, we know, but even the most seasoned cannabis users have accidentally pushed their limits with edibles once or twice). 

So think about what we said further: Delta 8 is less strong than Delta 9 THC. So a 10mg Delta 9 gummy equals a 20mg – 25mg Delta 8 THC gummy.

Delta-8-THC Vape Cartridges

Vaping any THC oil involves vaporizing an extract from the plant and inhaling the vapor. The effects from vaping Delta-8 THC hit much faster than with edibles, but the effects aren’t particularly long-lasting. 

Check Delta 8 THC Disposables if you want to feel it fast!

You should begin to feel Delta-8 THC’s effects within about 5 to 10 minutes. The effects can last for up to five hours, peaking between 30 minutes and two and a half hours.

While it’s recognized that everybody processes cannabis and cannabinoids a little differently, people often debate whether vaping gets you higher than smoking. Anecdotally, the answer is yes, it can. 

A 2018 study published by the JAMA Open Network found that people who had been vaping weed had higher quantities of THC in their bloodstream than those smoking weed, which is important to note if you have an impending drug test or frequently have to take drug tests. 

Delta-8-THC Oil Tinctures 

Delta-8-THC tinctures and oils are liquid cannabis extracts made by soaking flowers in a solvent. The process separates the terpenes and cannabinoids from the plant material, creating a solution that contains high levels of compounds. Additionally, the solvent preserves these compounds, so tinctures generally have a long shelf life.

Tinctures are usually consumed sublingually, and because of this, they’re absorbed into the system through the lining of the mouth.

You should begin to feel Delta-8 THC’s effects after about 30 to 90 minutes, and you can expect the impact to last around 4 to 5 hours, peaking at approximately 60 minutes to two hours.

Additional Delta-8-THC Products, Such As Soft Gels 

Some other methods to consume Delta-8 THC such as soft gels. Immediate-release capsules work identically to edibles and hit around the same time, so you can expect the same or very similar results to what you experience with edibles. 

Time-release capsules are slightly different, although they follow the same route of digestion and metabolization. Capsule shells engineered with liposomes and drug-polymer conjugates allow for the timed release of their contents, delaying or drawing out effects. 

How Long Does Delta-8 Stay In Your System For Drug Tests?

Delta-8 THC has two metabolic phases—a rapid and slow phase. Within just one minute of consuming Delta-8 THC, a portion of it has already been cleared from the body, slowing down the metabolic rate. 

The half-life of Delta-8 (how long it takes for half of the drug to be metabolized and eliminated from the bloodstream) in the slow phase is around 30 minutes or so, leaving behind around 50% of the starting dose. Another 30 minutes later, half of this dose is cleared, leaving 25% of the original dose. This goes on until there’s nothing left to clear. 

Different doses can stay in your system for more or less time because of the half-life. THC metabolites may have their own effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system. The THC metabolites are stored in body fat and gradually eliminated through feces and urine. This goes for the other THC compounds you can find on the market too. Delta 9 and Delta 10 act similarly after entering the body, so keep that in mind.

The amount of time Delta-8 THC stays in the system depends on several factors: 

• Frequency of use: the more often you use Delta-8 THC, the longer it stays in the body. First-time Delta-8 THC users can expect the cannabinoid to stay in their systems for around 3 to 4 days, while more occasional users or frequent users can expect the Delta-8 THC to stay for anywhere from a week to about a month. 
• Your age: the older you are, the longer it will take for your body to metabolize compounds. 
• Method of consumption: Inhaled forms of Delta-8 exert their effects much quicker than ingested forms, but they’re also cleared from the body more quickly.
• Metabolism rate: everyone is different, and some people metabolize faster than others. People with faster metabolisms will tend to excrete THC faster than those whose metabolisms are slower.
• Dose: a lower dose of Delta-8 will clear from the body faster than a higher dose. 
• Body fat content: Delta-8 is fat-soluble, meaning it accumulates in fat stores in the body. The more fat cells the body contains, the more the body can absorb THC.

Other factors can include various health conditions, as taking supplements and medications can affect your body’s ability to metabolize THC.

Delta-8 THC can be detected through a drug test such as a blood test, saliva test, urine test, and hair follicle test. Hair analysis can detect Delta-8 THC for the longest duration of time—up to 90 days! Most that consume Delta 8 THC already understand the rest behind it as they consume it for its benefits, such as lowering the overall anxiety and pain levels many experiences these days and when they are older.

How long Does Delta-8 Stay In Your Urine?

Urine tests and saliva tests are the most common type of drug test for workplaces (because asking for blood tests is a bit extreme and hair follicle tests can be inaccurate), and those should be able to detect THC for up to 2 weeks in the casual user and even longer in the chronic user.

Drug testing is inarguably the biggest concern for any cannabis user, even if they are of legal age.

Can I Flush Delta-8 THC Out Of My System For A Drug Test?

If you’re here, then you’re already wondering: how long does Delta-8 stay in my system for drug tests?

This is a controversial question as the community is pretty torn over whether or not you can completely flush Delta-8 THC out of your body to prepare for upcoming drug testing.

The short answer: probably not. THC and other cannabinoids bind to fat and take longer to leave the body than other drugs.

Whether or not you’ll pass a drug test has little to do with how hydrated you are and more to do with how Delta-8 THC is eliminated from the body. Even a healthy and balanced diet won’t do the trick when flushing out unwanted toxins; Delta-8 THC can still show up in a person’s urine if they do urine tests.

Some so-called hacks claim that drinking large quantities of water and urinating frequently before the drug test helps flush it out.

But this method doesn’t account for the slow release of Delta-8 THC metabolites out of fat stores and back into the bloodstream, meaning it can stay in your system even if you spend a few days religiously drinking water.

Can You Really Beat Drug Tests By Drinking Water?

Due to the way that Delta-8 is eliminated from the body, it is highly unlikely that a cannabis consumer will beat a drug test by drinking a ton of water or cranberry juice or using detox products.

Even though hemp-derived Delta-8 THC is federally legal, it’s difficult for standard drug tests to differentiate this compound from Delta-9 THC (and Delta-9 THC is unfortunately still illegal in most states). 

As controversial as drug testing is, many workplaces still require them. And since nobody wants to fail a drug test, abstaining from Delta-8 THC (or Delta-9 THC… or any THC and other drugs) is your best bet. Passing a drug test depends on abstaining from frequent marijuana use or using hemp-derived THC of any kind.

As mentioned above, test results won’t differentiate between Delta-8 THC and Delta-9 THC. All forms of THC get broken down by the metabolism into THC metabolites, making it nearly impossible for most drug tests to tell the difference between the compounds.

Got a drug test coming up? You might want to avoid D8!

If you’re worried you might fail a drug test coming up (whether it’s a blood test, urine test, saliva test, or hair follicle test), it’s wise to avoid using Delta-8 THC for a couple of weeks, and even more so if you have to take hair follicle tests (three months!).

If you take Delta-8 often or in high doses, you may need to wait somewhere between 2 weeks and a month for it to be completely flushed from the body so you can safely pass a drug test.

The bottom line here is that everyone is different, and since so many factors play into how quickly your body can rid itself of any THC, it’s best to abstain from cannabis in any form for at least a couple of weeks if your goal is to pass a drug test.

Final Thoughts

Generally, Delta-8 THC will remain in the system for about two days if you’ve only used it once or twice. And if you’re a frequent user or if you consume in high doses, you probably need to wait between 2 and 4 weeks for it to completely clear out of your system.

At the end of the day, everyone is different, and experiences may vary.

If you have an impending drug test, your best bet is to abstain from all THC for at least a couple of weeks leading up to the test.

Suppose you want to try our Delta 8 or some other THC products; we suggest starting with our THC gummies 2-packs. They are perfect for first-timers and offer various options, strains, potencies, and flavors.

Or if you want to dive directly into our organic delta 8 gummies, we got you covered!

We ship nationwide and directly to your front door.

References:

1. Chemistry, Metabolism, and Toxicology of Cannabis: Clinical Implications
2. In vivo adulteration: excess fluid ingestion causes false-negative marijuana and cocaine urine test results
3. Detection time for THC in oral fluid after frequent cannabis smoking
   
   

LEGAL DISCLAIMER
The legal status surrounding hemp-derived THC is new and constantly changing. We always strive to do our best to give you the most updated information. We recommend that you always check your current state law before purchasing any hemp-derived CBD and THC products. The data in this post is not intended as legal advice nor to diagnose, treat, or give any medical advice. In any event, do your due. Always seek your doctor’s advice if you are in doubt or are currently taking any prescription medications. 

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