Tetrahydrocannabinol or commonly known as THC is the active ingredient that is present in cannabis and cannabis products which is the cause of the intoxication and psychoactive effects of marijuana. THC can be detectable in bodily fluids such as urine, blood, and saliva. Traces of THC can be found even after many months of sobriety, depending on the method of testing. THC will retain its traces in heavier and frequent users much more than lighter cannabis users.
How long does THC remain in your system?
In short, the psychoactive euphoric state that cannabis provides is short-term and can wear off very easily after an hour or so, but the metabolites found in THC can remain in your hair, blood, and other bodily fluids and your system weeks after consumption.
The longevity of THC in your blood: The most common way of taking THC is to get it infused into your bloodstream for the effects. Thus few tests involve taking the user’s blood as a sample. As THC metabolizes rapidly in your body and gets mixed into your blood, lighter users may retain traces of THC in their blood for more than an hour to one or two days after usage.
The longevity of THC in your saliva: A saliva test is a pretty common case when testing for THC consumption. After consumption of THC, it appears in your saliva after an hour and can remain there for detection until you have swallowed your saliva completely, which can take up to one or two days. Saliva tests are very common and are regularly used by traffic police to check on on-road drivers.
The longevity of THC in your urine: The traces of THC that can be found in your urine can vary depending on the usage of THC. If you are a regular user, then traces can be found even after 60-70 days after usage. If you are a lighter user and have only consumed cannabis once, then traces can be found up to five to eight days after usage.
The longevity of THC in your hair follicles: Other than blood and urine, THC metabolites and traces can stay longer in your hair follicles than other systems in your body. This is the most reliable and accurate test as traces found from 1.5 inches of hair can detect usage of THC even after 1 or 2 years of usage.
Based on this information, you can easily find ways to lower your probability of testing positive for cannabis use.
