4 Things to Know About Marijuana Detox

Posted by Green on June 24th, 2019

Marijuana is now legal for medical and recreational use in some parts of the country, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t circumstances that require that you detoxify yourself from the substances left in your body following marijuana use. If you must pass a drug test for a job, for example, you may want to scrub all evidence of marijuana use from your system. Maybe you simply want to reset your tolerance to the substances found in marijuana, which involves removing the relics of frequent marijuana use from your system. Or, if you’ve recently quit marijuana, a good detox program can help you clear your system more quickly.

Regardless of your reasons for pursuing marijuana detox, it can be a valuable tool for ridding your body of the chemical artifacts of marijuana usage. By following a few simple steps and using the effective available tools to speed the process, you can cleanse your body of the effects of cannabis and reset your system baseline. Keep reading to learn more about marijuana detoxification.

What is Left Behind?

When you use marijuana, you are ingesting powerful natural substances present in the cannabis plant. Those substances, known as cannabinoids, include THC, which is the psychoactive euphoria-inducing component of the plant, as well as cannabidiol or CBD, which is promoted as a natural medicine. There are hundreds of other lesser known cannabinoids that can remain in your body after ingesting marijuana, most of which can leave a telltale trail of markers that indicate marijuana use.

What Drugs Tests Screen?

Drug tests usually require a sample of urine, saliva, or hair, which is then analyzed for the presence of specific cannabinoids. Tests are looking for a specific cannabinoid and its metabolites, or the substances that are created as cannabinoids are metabolized. The primary cannabinoid that is targeted by drug tests is THC, which is stored in fat.

How Long Does Detox Take?

There are many variables involved in marijuana detoxification, so it’s difficult to provide a concrete timeline. The largest group of people need two weeks to a month to rid their bodies of THC and its metabolites, though outliers may see shorter or longer detoxification timelines. Because THC stores in fat cells, in people with a greater body fat ratio the timeline may be longer. Also, those who are physically active may see cannabinoids metabolized more quickly.

How Do Detox Products Work?

While the body will naturally detoxify itself of cannabinoids if given enough time, in some circumstances time is a critical factor. Therefore, there are products that work to accelerate the detox process by amplifying the natural rate of metabolism. While some detox products claim they mask the presence of THC metabolites, the most effective products use the body’s own detox methods and amplify them. For example, specific compounds can increase liver enzyme production, increase the pH of urine, bind metabolites, and speed their excretion from the body through the urine and bowels.

If you want to reset your system after using marijuana, you should understand the basic principles of successful marijuana detox. By using your body’s natural ability to cleanse itself alongside detox products that expedite excretion, you can return to your pre-use baseline more quickly and efficiently.