Many people are now turning to cannabidiol (CBD) as a natural remedy for a variety of health needs. They also want to make sure they are using a product that is safe.
It’s important to know how long CBD stays in your system after you consume it. It’s already known to be quite effective when taken properly, but how long does CBD stay in your body?
Does it interact with medications?
How long does it take for your system to flush it out?
Read on to find out!
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System? (5 Most Important Factors)
Now that CBD products are becoming more and more popular, it’s important to know how long it takes for CBD to clear out of the body and the factors that contribute to the process.
Here are the 5 most important factors you need to know when it comes to the time CBD stays in your system:
Consumption Method
CBD can be consumed in various ways. The way you use it dictates the onset & duration of its effects, as well as how long it will stay in your system.
There are different forms of CBD. Here are the most common types:
- Oils and Tinctures. CBD oils and tinctures are consumed through the use of a dropper, by placing drops beneath the tongue, or by mixing it with your food or drinks.
- Capsules. CBD capsules are for people who want to take CBD conveniently without having to calculate dosages every time. They are discreet, odorless, and easy to take. That’s why CBD capsule products are also suitable for those who are looking for a CBD supplement to use on the go or while traveling.
- Edibles. These are basic food products that are infused with CBD. The most popular include CBD honey sticks and gummies. Like capsules, people want it for convenience. You can also opt for edibles if you want to take CBD like a child would enjoy candy.
- Topicals. This type of CBD is applied to the skin and absorbed into the body. Commonly used in salves, creams, lotions, gels, and balms.
Your Metabolism
Different people experience different results with whatever substances they take. CBD is no exception.
Your metabolism plays a role in terms of how long CBD remains in your system. It may leave your system faster if you have a fast metabolism. But, it will also stay in your system longer if you have a slower metabolism. This is true for all supplements and drugs.
What you eat affects the way your body processes and eliminates everything you put in it. Men usually have a higher metabolic rate than women. This means that, if anything, men should eliminate CBD from their bodies faster than women.
However, there are some exceptions to this rule. If a man is on a weight-loss plan or has a sedentary job, his metabolic rate will be lower than a woman with the same body fat percentage.
Our body mass index (BMI) is correlated to our metabolism. So the higher your BMI, the longer it will take for CBD to leave your body.
The Dose of CBD
Just like when you consume other substances, if you consume a high dosage of CBD, you can expect it to stay in your body for a longer amount of time.
The effects of CBD can last anywhere from three to six hours, depending on the dose. For example, an individual who ingests 25-50 mg of CBD would experience effects for about 4-6 hours. However, if someone consumed 100 mg of CBD, the effects would certainly last way longer.
As you can see, there is a direct relationship between the amount of CBD you ingest and the duration of its effects. This means that if you want to feel its effects for an extended period, you need to consume more CBD.
However, consuming too much CBD can be dangerous. So, how much CBD is too much? If you’re just starting out with CBD, begin with a low dose and slowly increase it over time.
How Often You Take CBD
When determining how long CBD stays in your system, consider how many times per day you take it.
If you take CBD every day, the cannabinoids will build up in your system over time. It will take your body longer to clear them out than if you only take them occasionally.
The half-life of CBD, meaning the time it takes for your body to eliminate half of the cannabinoid, is anywhere between 20 and 50 hours. That means that if you take CBD every day, it will take your body up to two days to eliminate half of the cannabinoid.
If you take it twice a day, it will take up to four days to eliminate half of the cannabinoid. If you take it three times a day, it will take up to six days to eliminate half of the cannabinoid.
In short, the more you consume, the longer it will stay in your system.
Taking CBD with/without a Meal
Should I take CBD with or without food?
It is safe to take either approach. How you proceed depends on your goal.
If you’re looking for immediate results, you can take it without a meal. CBD will be processed more quickly if you consume it on an empty stomach.
Some people are more comfortable eating a meal first. If you’re taking CBD with food, it will slow the absorption process, causing your body to process it at a slower rate.
Learn more: meal
CBD’s Metabolism: How Long Does It Stay In Your System?
How Long Does CBD Last in Your Body?
The short answer is: it varies.
CBD is known to work by interacting with the endocannabinoid system, which is the system in our bodies that deals with all things cannabinoids. And, as we know, everyone is different.
There’s not a solid answer as to how long CBD will stay in our bodies because it depends on the person, the dosage, and the kind of CBD consumed.
In general, oils and edibles will take longer to metabolize from your system than vaping or smoking CBD.
Based on this study, it is safe to say that you will most likely detect traces of CBD for at least five days after your last dose [1].
How Long Do the Effects of CBD Last? (By Product Type)
CBD Oil
When you ingest CBD oil, it is metabolized by the liver and enzymes break it down in the digestive tract. This process takes a few hours.
Typically, the effects of CBD can last from around 4 to 8 hours. Some research shows that the effects of CBD can last up to 12 hours after you ingest it.
However, some people have reported its effects lasting a whole day. Several other factors may have been involved, including the dosage and their body.
CBD Capsules & Gummies
In terms of how long they stay in your system, CBD edibles and oils are pretty similar since they can both be consumed in the same way.
The effects of CBD capsules and gummies last for around six hours. This is because CBD dissolves in fat and takes time to get absorbed into the bloodstream.
It is important to note that the effects of CBD capsules and gummies last less than that of CBD other products that you vape or smoke. However, if you take large doses of CBD edibles, it tends to accumulate in the body and the effects may last for up to 24 hours.
CBD Vapes
Vaping CBD has been found to last from 15 minutes to 4 hours. It still depends on the amount of CBD used in the vape pen, the potency of the product, and a person’s physical tolerance to the substance.
CBD is most potent when directly inhaled. The effects of CBD are immediate when it is smoked or vaped, so the effects are felt in the body very quickly. It’s mostly felt in the body in under 15 minutes.
Vaping is ideal for those who need immediate relief from their discomfort.
CBD Topicals
There are many different types of topicals, such as lotions, balms, and patches. The products are ideal if you only wish to use them on an affected area of the body.
Topical CBD products are absorbed by the skin and directly affect the receptors. The effects are slower compared to ingesting or smoking CBD.
People report feeling relief from their discomfort within an hour. CBD topicals also work as a preventative measure, which means you can apply them before your next intense workout.
Final Thoughts
Several factors affect how long CBD oil lasts. The main ones are how you consume CBD, how quickly your body metabolizes it, how often you take CBD, and the dosage.
Each type of CBD product also has a different duration of effect. Aside from that, different bodies react differently to CBD.
We hope this blog has helped answer your questions. If you have other questions related to the topic, please feel free to leave a comment below.
If you have not tried CBD yet, but now feel ready after reading this post, then check out the high-quality CBD products we offer in our online shop.
