How Long Does Cannabis Stay in Your System?

Over the past decade, cannabis has become increasingly popular and more widely accepted. Mainly because of findings regarding its healing properties and health benefits. Besides, countless scientists performed research to prove its properties make it an excellent alternative to pharmaceuticals.
It’s essential to know more about cannabis and its lasting effects. Knowing how long cannabis stays in your blood, urine, saliva, and even hair is vital.

How long your body retains traces of cannabis

Blood

Most studies conclude that cannabis traces remain in your bloodstream for up to 4 hours with once or twice-a-month intake. However, if you use cannabis daily, it’ll stay in your bloodstream for 3 to 6 hours. 
As far as testing goes, cannabis can still be detectable in your bloodstream for anywhere between 1 to 2 days. Depending on what type of user you are, it can be detected in a blood test up to 25 days later.
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Urine

The length of time cannabis stays in your urine is primarily dependent on how often you use it. Your urine will retain traces of cannabis for up to 3 days if you indulge in it once or twice a week. If you use cannabis more than a few times a week, you can expect cannabis to stay in your urine for up to 21 days. The trace of cannabis in the urine lasts for a month or more in daily cannabis users.
Cannabis stays in your urine this long because it contains fat-soluble metabolites, which tend to cling to fat molecules. That is why employers and medical professionals alike use urine tests to check for traces of cannabis since they’re inexpensive and convenient.
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Saliva

Cannabis can be detected in your saliva for as short as 1 hour after consumption. Most people found traces of cannabis in their saliva up to 24 hours after use. Finding traces in your saliva still largely depends on the method of ingestion you choose.
Consuming cannabis at least once or twice a week leaves traces in the user’s saliva for about three days. If you use cannabis every day, your saliva retains it for up to 29 days.
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Hair

Checking a person’s hair is another method of tracing long-term cannabis consumption. Hair tests usually use hair samples closest to the scalp. Cannabis residue travels from the bloodstream to your hair follicles and remains for 90 days until your scalp pushes them out.
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Nails

If you’re a cannabis user who enjoys smoking daily, then your nails could retain remnants of cannabis for up to 12 months after consumption. You can’t wash your hands enough to make it untraceable. Studies prove that cannabis traces bind more perfectly in your nails than in your hair.
Cannabis traces pass through your body and get mixed with bloodstream components. And as these components get mixed, they become temporarily part of the cellular matter of your body.
For heavy cannabis users, these trace elements start to build up before exiting your system. Testing your nails can be done within 20 to 57 days as it can stay within your system for a long time.  
In preparation for ELISA or enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests and other confirmatory tests, the technician will wash your nails with acetone or methylene chloride depending on what they are testing.
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Know more about how cannabis affects your body

Whether you’re a seasoned user or just beginning to explore cannabis’ endless possibilities, there is nothing wrong with understanding how it affects your body.
However, make sure to inform your doctor and be honest about your cannabis intake to maximize its healing properties. You may want to contact your local dispensary at (970) 515-5839 if you have additional questions about how long cannabis lingers in your system. ​