jason-crawford

Medically Reviewed by
Jason Crawford

Article Last Updated on January 13, 2023

Whether you smoke marijuana, consume edibles, or toke using the good old bong, detoxing your body from weed has probably crossed your mind on more than one occasion. This article will focus on how we can help you remove THC and the THC metabolites from your body faster. 

This topic isn’t new to us, as we’ve already covered subjects like how to get rid of THC in a week, what detox drinks work for THC, and where THC is stored in the body. So, now we’ll just have to sum all of this information for you and give you tips on how you can cleanse your body of THC.

A Word or Two on Cannabis, Cannabinoids Like THC and CBD, and Their Metabolites

Out of over 400 chemical compounds that are present in marijuana, the ones that scientists have researched the most are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD), and they’re the reason for the effects that come from cannabis use. However, none of these effects would be possible without the endocannabinoid system which is the reason why we feel these effects.

After we smoke marijuana, the cannabinoids interact with our endocannabinoid system through the cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors, which is the reason why we feel the psychoactive and sedative effects of cannabis. Once the initial effects wear off, all that’s left in the body are the metabolites, which are the natural byproduct of cannabinoids like THC.

The metabolic enzymes in the liver metabolize cannabis and all that’s left are the two most important metabolites which show up on drug tests, 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), although most drug test screen for the presence of THC-COOH.

Depending on the cannabis consumption method, peak levels of THC can vary. For example, if you’re smoking a joint, peak THC concentration happens after 10 minutes, however the levels of THC-COOH peak at around 80 minutes. 

THC Metabolites Are Stored in the Body Fat

After you’ve smoked your joint or eaten your edible, the active ingredients will end up in the bloodstream, and the THC metabolites will get stored in the fat cells inside the body. Because cannabinoids are lipid-soluble, their metabolites linger in the body fat for a while which is why they can be detected through various drug tests. Because of where they’re stored, metabolites have a pretty long detection time, it only depends on the type of drug test you’re using since not all tests have the same detection rate.

Cannabis Drug Tests 

As we’ve previously said, drug tests search for the leftover THC or THC metabolites in our bodies through:

  • Urinalysis (the urine test is one of the most common cannabis drug tests which requires the person tested to submit a urine sample so it can be checked for the presence of THC metabolites). 
  • Blood test (drug testing a blood sample is the second most common way to test for cannabis use).
  • Saliva test (the saliva test is the least invasive drug test, however, it’s not as popular as the urinalysis).
  • Hair follicle test (this test has one of the biggest detection windows for detecting drugs and cannabis users could test positive for up to 3 months after the last time they’ve consumed weed).

Popular Marijuana Detox Methods

Different people choose different cannabis detox methods, some go for detox drinks, while others use different kinds of pills. Keep in mind that none of these methods are a sure thing, but they can help the detox process. 

Detox Drinks That Can Help You Flush THC Metabolites

Below, we’ll go over the most commonly used drinks that may help with flushing THC metabolites out of your system.

Coffee

Since the caffeine in coffee is a natural diuretic (it helps the body to eliminate fluids faster), it’s no wonder it got its place on this list. Drinking it along with water and electrolytes to replenish your vitamin and mineral levels may help you get rid of THC metabolites over time.

Tea High in Antioxidants

Along with coffee, tea is also one of the best options if you’re doing a marijuana detox since it contains a small percentage of caffeine, and also a lot of antioxidants if you go for, let’s say green tea.

Lemon Water

Whatever you’re detoxing from, lemon water is a classic option since it’s refreshing, full of vitamins, and helps the metabolism speed up and flush out THC a bit faster.

Cranberry Juice

Cranberry juice is another recommendation for people going through a detoxification process since it provides numerous benefits to the urinary tract system, and also flushes out the kidneys and intestines.

What Else Do People Use?

Apart from the above-mentioned natural detox drinks, some people also use THC detox kits, cleansers, and detox pills to get rid of the THC metabolites faster. The main ingredients in these detox pills are often vitamin B, creatinine, and niacin (a form of vitamin B3) which is often used as a detox method for getting rid of weed metabolites. There’s no guarantee that any of these methods work 100%, however, they may help you flush out the metabolites a little bit faster.

How Long Does THC Remain in Your System?

Even though THC flushes out of your body pretty fast, the metabolites linger in your body fat and can be detected even after 3 months through a hair follicle test. However, the length of time weed metabolites stay in your body depends on several factors.

Frequency of Use

The length of time weed metabolites stays in your body mostly depends on how often marijuana users consume weed. Heavy users and regular cannabis users will need a longer time to detox their bodies compared to occasional users.

Amount of THC Consumed

The consumed dosage will also have effects on how long the body takes to flush out the metabolites. Lower doses will be metabolized faster, while larger doses will stay in your fatty tissues longer.

BMI and Physical Activity

Your physical activity and body mass index (BMI) also affect how fast your body gets rid of the THC metabolites. People with a lower BMI will detox much slower compared to those who are more physically active and have a higher BMI. So eating healthy and exercising isn’t only good for your overall health, but may also help you flush out toxins and weed metabolites faster.

Final Thoughts on Cleansing Your Body of THC

Using the above-mentioned products doesn’t guarantee a negative drug test result, even though many people seem to have had success with them. Also, keep in mind that quick fixes like using synthetic urine aren’t just illegal, but they don’t guarantee that you’ll pass a drug test. 

Your best option for cleansing your body of toxins and getting rid of cannabis metabolites is going through a regular detox process and giving your body enough time to process the metabolites. 

It’s also worth noting that people going through a detox process can experience side effects and withdrawal symptoms including nausea, vomiting, headaches, and other symptoms.

A passionate advocate for the benefits of cannabis. Fraser Horton, who has a background in botany and a strong love of nature, has spent years researching how cannabis affects the body and mind. He established Leaf Nation in 2020, where he has devoted himself to educating people about the legalisation of marijuana and its safe and responsible use. Fraser is committed to highlighting cannabis’ potential for improving wellness and working to dispel the stigma associated with its use.

Disclaimer

The information presented on this page is provided as a public service to aid in education and is derived from sources believed to be reliable. Readers are responsible for making their own assessment of the topics discussed here. In no event shall Leaf Nation be held reliable for any injury, loss or damage that could happen if using or abusing drugs.