How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is a compound that might offer health benefits. As a result, many people consume CBD regularly. They might consume it in the morning, before they sleep, or in some cases, both. Since CBD is non-psychoactive and non-habit forming, you can enjoy its effects without worry. 

If you’re considering purchasing CBD products from our online CBD store, you may wonder how long CBD will stay in your system. And we’ll get to that. But before answering this question, you need to understand what CBD is and how your body processes this compound. Once we’ve got those basics covered, we’ll analyze how long CBD stays in your system. 

CBD Explained

The Cannabis plant, including hemp and marijuana varieties, consists of chemical compounds known as “cannabinoids”. In fact, the cannabis plant contains 113 specific compounds, all classified as cannabinoids.

One of these cannabinoids is CBD. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is another cannabinoid, which is the psychoactive ingredient responsible for evoking a “high” feeling among marijuana users. Those are the two cannabinoids that grab the most attention, but there are others, cannabinol (CBN), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabigerol (CBG), which may also produce effects in your body. 

When we look at cannabis varieties, we classify each strain based on its unique cannabinoid concentration. We classify plants with high THC concentrations as marijuana, and plants bred for their high-CBD and low-THC concentrations as hemp plants. Within the United States, a plant’s THC content should be below 0.3% to be legally known as hemp. But while hemp plants don’t contain much THC, they’re still packed with lots of other cannabinoids, like CBD. When you consume hemp-derived CBD, you are using a product that’s legal in this country, at least at the federal level, so check out the various forms of CBD products that we offer on our CBD oil shop page.

Reasons CBD Affects Our Bodies

Scientists recently discovered our internal endocannabinoid system, or ECS. Initially, they defined the ECS as being composed of two receptors, called CB-1 and CB-2. More research has developed the definition of the endocannabinoid system, and we can now identify 70 different enzymes and receptors. Primarily, they bind with cannabinoids to exert certain biological responses. And each receptor has a unique function within our bodies, meaning it interacts with different cannabinoids. 

CBD generally affects the CB-2 receptors, which are spread throughout your entire body. You can find these receptors in your skin, blood vessels, heart, and other organs. While research is ongoing, CB-2 receptors seem to be involved in your body’s pain signals and immune response, among other important functions. 

How Does Your System Process CBD?

How your body processes CBD depends mostly on how you use it. There are three primary ways to consume CBD. You may either inhale, ingest, or apply CBD topically. Many people prefer oral supplements (such as CBD capsules or tinctures) or topical applications (as with a CBD salve or lotion) in order to avoid potential side effects associated with vaping. 

If you ingest CBD orally, your digestive system is first to process the compound. Next, the CBD enters your stomach and later ends up in the liver. After the liver breaks down some CBD molecules, it transfers the rest to your bloodstream. 

Instead of eating CBD, some people prefer placing a few drops of CBD oil below their tongue. Using this method, your mouths’ membranes bypass the liver and directly pass the CBD to your bloodstream. In this way, choosing a CBD oil tincture is a great way to quickly experience CBD effects.  

Of course, you can inhale CBD (though not every state legally allows the use of smokable flowers). When you inhale CBD, your lungs (the alveoli, precisely) absorb the compound. Typically, the CBD molecules go from the alveoli directly to your bloodstream, delivering quick effects. It is vital, however, to remember that vaping has been linked to several severe injuries and even a few deaths. 

Regardless of your preferred delivery method, CBD eventually enters your bloodstream. And that’s when your liver takes over, sorting through each compound in your blood. When it finds foreign material like CBD, its focus is to remove the substance by metabolizing it or doing chemical modifications to select the molecule for disposal. The chemical modifications, or CBD metabolites of CBD, pass CBD molecules to specific destinations in your body for removal. 

Now, when it comes to topical CBD applications, its method of staying in your body is quite different. Much of the CBD that you apply to a swollen leg or a sore knee doesn’t enter the bloodstream. Instead, it affects your skin receptors, delivering effects that you notice in your skin health. 

How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

As we mentioned earlier, the length that CBD stays in our bodies relies partly on how we take it. With oral ingestion, evidence suggests that CBD stays in our bodies for 1-2 days, if taken in moderate doses. Since there has not been much in-depth research on this topic, however, estimates vary. 

According to a different study, the half-life of CBD is approximately 18-32 hours. This static implies that when you ingest 100 ml of CBD, after around 18-32 hrs, you will have 50 ml left in your body. Some reports claim that CBD remains in your system for as long as 3-4 days. However, on average, you shouldn’t expect CBD to remain in your system for more than a couple of days.

It is vital to remember that many factors play a role in the length that CBD remains in our systems. For instance, since CBD is fat-soluble, our bodies will use the fat cells as storage. For those who exercise frequently and have low levels of body fat, you’ll be faster at eliminating CBD from your body. Conversely, if you have relatively more body fat, CBD will remain in your system for a longer period. Still, on average, users should expect CBD to leave their system within a few days.

Keep in mind: higher doses of CBD might affect the length that CBD will remain in your system. As with any substance, your liver can only filter so much at one time. That’s because your liver is like the cleaning service for your blood; it breaks down particular substances from your blood every hour, but it has a limit on how much it can process at any one time. 

For instance, assume your liver can break down 50 ml of CBD each hour. When you ingest 600ml, CBD will stay in your body for around 12 hours. When you ingest 100ml, however, CBD will be removed in two hours. That’s why you can work with this general premise: when you consume larger quantities of CBD, that cannabinoid remains in your system for longer.

Of course, when you apply CBD topically, virtually no CBD enters your bloodstream. That means it won’t “stay” in your body per se. Instead, it will stay on your outer skin layer, directly affecting your joints and muscles. 

What Effects Does CBD Provide?

While research is early and ongoing, studies associated with the benefits of CBD have been reassuring. What’s more, the FDA cleared CBD for the treatment of certain forms of childhood epilepsy. Research also connects CBD with pain relief and mood stability. 

Researchers are also exploring CBD for potential benefits connected to other conditions. Current focuses include: reducing high blood pressure, alleviating tremor symptoms with Parkinson’s Disease patients, and benefiting heart health. According to other studies, CBD may even offer neuroprotective effects. While answers aren’t yet conclusive, many studies into CBD effects are ongoing, regularly providing new and exciting updates.

Find the Best CBD Product For You

With CBD, the key is to choose the right product that best suits your needs. For those who want longer-lasting effects, then a tincture might be your best choice. And for those who are looking for localized skin health, then salves are the perfect option. 

Just remember, CBD doesn’t last forever. When you ingest it orally, you will experience the CBD effects for around 2-6 hours. When you apply it topically, you might expect the impact to last approximately 6 hours and be significantly localized. 

Again, when it comes to the length of time that CBD stays in your system, quality matters significantly more than quantity. CBD brands that focus on high-quality sources and provide reliable concentration information are much more likely to produce a CBD product that stays in your system for longer. For those who wish to experience the benefits that CBD might have for you, choose a high-quality cream or oil and check it out for yourself! Visit our products page to explore what Tanasi has to offer.