Searching the internet for “how to pass a drug test” might result in an overwhelming amount of information, including fast cures, falsehoods, and, of course, poor advise from strangers.
So, what does a stoner (or casual cannabis user, or medical patient, for that matter) do when all they want is a single, dependable option?
If you need to pass a cannabis drug test, you should first learn how drug tests and detoxing work so you can put yourself in the best possible position to pass. We’ve broken it all down for you so you don’t have to look it up on the internet.
When you smoke marijuana, how long does it stay in your system?
- Urine Test: 30-45 days (daily consumer)
- Blood Test: 45-60 days
- Hair Test: 90-120 days (daily consumer)
- Saliva Test: 1-7 days (daily consumer)
What factors influence the amount of time THC remains in your system?
- Body Mass (BMI)
- Metabolism
- Levels of THC in your body
The natural time it takes for THC to leave your system varies depending on a variety of factors such as age, body mass, metabolism, frequency of exposure, duration of exposure, and the intensity of the cannabis consumed.
For most people, traces of THC from cannabis can take up to 4-6 weeks to naturally escape your system from the last time you used it. THC is fat-soluble, which means it is stored in your fat cells and organs, unlike other tested chemicals.
In general, the less frequently you consume food and the less body fat you have, the shorter the time it takes to cleanse. As you can expect, the more regular and intense your intake is, and the greater your body fat levels are, the more difficult it is to get THC out, which typically necessitates detoxing with a strict diet plan.
What are the different kinds of drug tests?
- Urine Test: most common method of drug testing
- Hair Test: fastest-growing new method of drug testing
- Blood Test: less common—typically for specialized or sanctioned drug testing
- Saliva Test: least common—typically for government/roadside drug testing
Because of its simplicity and low cost, the urine test is by far the most popular drug testing method employed by companies and drug testing labs. Hair testing is gaining favor among the government and select companies with specialized roles due to its unique capacity to detect previous drug use for far longer periods of time than other tests, sometimes up to several months. A blood test will be administered by larger enterprises and government entities. For roadside testing, saliva tests are commonly employed. You can always inquire as to which test will be given so that you are prepared on test day.
How does a marijuana drug test work?
Answer: Cannabis leaves traces of THC in your fat cells, which deposit in your circulation and can be detected by drug tests that look at your urine, hair, blood, or saliva.
Hair test for marijuana
Another test that uses two tests to confirm a positive result is this one. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the first test, followed by the GC/MS, which is the second test.
The first inch and a half of your hair from your scalp down is evaluated for most hair drug tests. Your hair grows half an inch every month on average on your scalp. THC use will thus be detectable for roughly 90 days using an inch and a half of hair obtained for a drug test.
Hair tests are not the greatest choice for detecting recent cannabis usage, despite their capacity to test further back than a urine test. This is because traces of THC might take up to a week to appear in your hair. Furthermore, several medications have been known to cause false positives, so inform the tester if you are using any prescription or over-the-counter medications.
Urine analysis for marijuana
The unit of measurement used in drug tests is nanograms per milliliter, or ng/mL. The most popular urine test is set to detect THC levels of 50ng/mL or more in your system. This indicates that the test must detect at least 50 nanograms of THC per milliliter of urine in order to be positive. This technique of testing is the simplest to overcome by using a detox drink or a detox kit to flush your system for the day or permanently.
There are two types of drug testing for urine analysis. Immunoassay, the most often used approach, is the less expensive of the two and produces results quickly. This type of testing, like other rapid and cheap things, has certain drawbacks; immunoassay tests can occasionally generate false positive results.
If your first test is positive, you’ll be given a second test to confirm the result. The gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) test is more expensive and takes longer to complete, but it is a considerably more reliable test that seldom produces false positives.
Urine tests can produce diluted results, indicating that the test was inconclusive and that it needed to be repeated. The test is normally retaken the next working day, giving you more time to detox. Because urine tests can produce false positives (you are clean but it says you are filthy) and false negatives (you are unclean but it says you are clean), methods for contesting and requesting a re-test may be acceptable depending on the drug test.
Blood tests for cannabis
When it comes to detecting recent cannabis usage, blood testing is the most reliable method of detecting THC in the body. THC is detectable in your blood within seconds of smoking, which is why some roadside testing can be blood tests in specific conditions.
THC can be identified in your blood for one to seven days if you simply took one puff with a buddy; however, heavy users should anticipate it to stay in their blood for much longer, and similar to urine, it can be detected in your blood for up to two months after you stop using.
Mouth swab tests for cannabis
Mouth swabs are becoming more popular since they are simple to use and provide accurate information on recent usage; however, they are only useful for recent usage. As a result, law enforcement has embraced mouth swabs as a method of determining whether someone is driving under the influence.
- Do these techniques for avoiding a drug test actually work?
- Natural cleansing might take anywhere from 30 to 60 days.
- THC can be flushed in 5-10 days with detox kits.
- Detox drinks can be used to flush THC from the body the same day for a few hours.
- Synthetic Urine: can be effective, but it is also traceable and dangerous.
- Home remedies such as Niacin, Certo, and Vinegar are all BOGUS.
- Other Urine: pee from a friend with a straight edge won’t be warm enough.
When it comes to cannabis, detoxification can be a lengthy procedure. The longer you have to detox (days or even weeks), the better. Regrettably, not everyone has an abundance of time.
There are a variety of choices available to help speed up your body’s detoxification process; however, some perform better than others. Check out this primer on the numerous types of detox solutions available to help you make an informed decision when choosing the correct alternative or product for your detoxification needs:
Natural cleanse
A natural detox usually takes 30-60 days for most people. To ensure that your body is discarding the THC that has been stored in your system, you must adjust your lifestyle as well as your food habits.
Detoxing happens at a different rate for everyone. Although most people can detox entirely in a few weeks, heavy daily users have stated that it can take up to 90 days to test free of THC after their final puff due to the fact that cannabis is retained in fat cells.
Detox kits
A good detox kit will guarantee that THC is not present in your urine sample while leaving other signs intact. A detox kit will permanently purge your system of measurable THC levels, unlike same-day detox cocktails that will ensure your pee is pure for a few hours. Detox kits, which usually last five to ten days, contain herbal supplements to help your body’s natural detoxification process. If you’re not sure what type of test you’ll be undergoing, consider a full-body detox that includes a detox shampoo.
During your detox, you must abstain from all forms of consumption. You will be permanently free of traceable THC levels after completing your detox kit and passing the at-home test kit. Of course, this is only true until you ingest cannabis again.
Detox drinks
Same-day detox beverages can assist stimulate your body’s natural detoxification process, but they can also help you create a window of opportunity to test clean. Just be aware that some detox solutions can remove the indications that urine testers look for to establish that the samples are authentic. Remember that your urine sample must be the correct color, temperature, creatinine level, ph level, and include uric acid in order to pass a pee test.
Synthetic urine
The bit about not having THC in synthetic pee is the easy part. Labs have advanced to the point that passing off a non-human source is nearly difficult.
Some tests demand that you be observed while producing your sample, making this ruse even more difficult. Not to mention the fact that carrying fake pee in your pocket is, well, nasty. This is a bad idea.
Home remedies
Many home cures, like as cranberry juice, tea, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar, disguise THC in your urine (or blood) so that it doesn’t register as strongly as it would otherwise.
Remember that the only way to completely detox is to allow your body to do so on its own schedule.
Certain substances can assist speed up the process—many of which have significant health benefits—but none of them can guarantee a complete cleanse. These are urban legends that cannot guarantee passing test results.
Trust quality
Thankfully, when it comes to detoxifying, there appears to be agreement on one thing: utilize reputable products. It is obvious that many of the home cures will not be effective. Do you really want to rely on something that delivers varied results if your livelihood depends on a clean test?