Marijuana: The Basics
As you may know, marijuana is decriminalized and is becoming legal in many cities and states throughout the country. This natural substance, which is rich with THC, is also known as cannabis and weed. Weed can either be smoked or ingested orally.
Effects of Using Marijuana
The effects of smoking or ingesting weed begin between 15 and 30 minutes after using and typically last one hour to three hours. While the effects vary for everyone, most users will experience some sort of “high.” Side effects of using marijuana may include:
- Relaxation
- Feeling of well-being
- Distorted sense of time
- Giggling or chattiness
- Altered perception
- Inability to focus
- Increased appetite
- Sleepiness
- Coordination problems
- Rapid heart rate
- Restlessness
- Confusion
- Dry mouth and eyes
- Anxiety or paranoia
- Feeling faint or sick
Using weed regularly may also increase an individual’s risk of memory issues, cognitive impairments, learning problems, mood disorders, hallucinations, bronchitis, lung infections, heart disease, or even stroke.
While the effects of weed disappear rather quickly, the THC will stay in a person’s body for much longer.
How Long Does Weed Stay In Your System?
How long weed stays in your system can depend on many factors including your age, gender, body mass index, and more. It can also vary depending on how much you smoke or ingest at a time and how frequently you use marijuana. Someone who uses marijuana once a week is considered an occasional user, whereas a person who smokes weed multiple times a day may be referenced as a chronic heavy user.
THC is broken down into metabolites, which stay in the body much longer than THC itself.
These metabolites are detectable in bodily fluids for anywhere from one day to over 30 days. Let’s break down every fluid that metabolites could be found in:
- Blood. If someone is an occasional user, weed will likely not stay in their blood for longer than two days. If someone smokes multiple times a day, marijuana might be detectable in their blood for up to 25 days.
- Urine. Urine tests are the most common types of tests that detect marijuana use. Marijuana is detectable in urine for anywhere from 3 days to over a month.
- Saliva. For occasional users, THC stays in saliva for 1-3 days. For chronic users, it could remain in the saliva for anywhere from one day to 30 days.
Marijuana can remain in hair for much longer, however. It can be detected in a person’s hour for up to a few months. The longest reported time of metabolites being detected in hair is 90 days.
Using Marijuana Responsibly
Many individuals use marijuana as a type of treatment for pain relief and some mental disorders, so it can definitely be used for beneficial purposes. However, someone can become physically and psychologically dependent on marijuana if they use it regularly. If you use marijuana for medicinal or recreational purposes, it is important to stay hydrated, maintain a healthy diet, and have a regular exercise routine.
To learn more about how marijuana and other drugs and how they can affect your body and seek treatment, contact our team of substance abuse specialists by calling 866-488-8684.
Sources
https://www.verywellmind.com/how-long-does-marijuana-stay-in-the-system-67791
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system#metabolization-time
