What You Need to Know About THC Detox
Have you ever needed to take a break from weed? One of the most common reasons why you need to take a THC detox is when you need to pass a drug test. This is a guide that will help you successfully flush out cannabis from your system.
What is a workplace drug test?
A workplace drug test is a test to screen an employee or a candidate employee against drugs. Most companies submit their employees to a random drug test while some require drug testing before an applicant is hired. The most common and easiest to use workplace drug test is a urine drug test.
Workplace drug tests are similar to most drug tests that check for marijuana metabolites in your urine. Metabolites are the by-product of any substance, in this case, marijuana, after the chemical has been processed by the body. After consuming cannabis, THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol levels in the bloodstream will increase. But as your body gets rid of THC from the blood, metabolites remain in your system.
Aside from the workplace, drug tests may also be required in other applications. In some countries, you need to pass a drug test before you can get a driver’s license or renew an old license. In some schools and universities, students may be subjected to random drug testing as well. Drug tests may also be required by a court to a person to help in clearing or disproving claims made by another party.
Are you ready for a drug test? Do you need a THC detox?
Drug tests will determine if you’re clean. And if you want to pass a drug test, you should effectively undergo a THC detox. Before a detox is done, you need to identify the following:
- How much THC and metabolites in your body.
- What kind of drug test will be used?
- Testing levels for drug screening.
How much THC do I have in my body?
Many factors can identify how much THC is in your system after you consume cannabis. Identifying this factor can also help determine the kind of detox method to use to get rid of THC fast.
1. How often do you use marijuana?
Do you use marijuana occasionally, once a week, or daily? The more frequently you use marijuana, plus the actual amount of weed you consume will give you an idea as to how much THC you have in your fatty tissue. And the more THC you have, the harder and longer it takes for you to detox from weed.
2. Your total body fat
THC is stored in the fatty tissues and it does not matter how often you take marijuana or how much you use. And the more fatty tissue you have, the more THC and THC metabolites stored in the body.
3. What type of cannabis you’re consuming?
Every marijuana consumer knows that the better quality weed he’s using, the better his high will be. Therefore, if you prefer only high-quality weed then you’re like to have more THC and its metabolites in your system. Also, not all cannabis products are the same. Some products come with more THC like potent concentrates, oils, and dabs compared to a raw flower.
4. Your overall health and metabolism
People who are in a state of good health are less likely to store a lot of THC and its metabolites. Also, different people have varying metabolic rates. People with faster metabolic rates tend to break down THC faster compared to those who have slower metabolisms.
How long will THC remain in the body?
THC can remain in your body for a day or two after you consume weed for occasional users. Those who consume weed almost every day can expect THC to stay in the body much longer. Take note that the half-life of metabolites is 7 days. This means, every 7 days, the THC amount may decrease by 50%.
With these findings, cannabis users can assume that they can get rid of all THC metabolites in around 3 to 4 weeks. Again, these just approximate your body weight, your frequency of use, and the amount of cannabis that you consumed.
The fatty tissue stores THC because it’s a fat-soluble compound. In turn, the fat cells secrete THC metabolites into the bloodstream. This is why most cleaning techniques will never work because the fatty tissues secrete THC metabolites continuously.
Different types of marijuana drug tests available
The following are the four different types of cannabis drug tests available in drug testing clinics and labs. The most commonly used are urinalysis, blood test, and hair test. Oral tests are rarely used
1. Urine Drug Tests/Urinalysis
A urine drug test is the most common type of drug test that’s used in businesses. This is the cheapest and is one of the most accurate. Urine drug tests can detect metabolized THC than the THC compound.
2. Blood Exams
A blood drug exam will check THC in the bloodstream but there are some problems. For people who don’t use cannabis daily, THC may not be measurable until several hours after use. Those who use cannabis daily will have THC in their bloodstream for a longer time.
3. Drug Hair Tests
Hair tests are also used but not as common as other types. In this test, the metabolites that remain in the hair follicles in the past months can still be detected. So a few pieces of your hair will be checked to identify if you used cannabis in the previous months. This test won’t find out if you have used cannabis today or yesterday but will give employers an idea of your previous drug use behavior. It’s quite difficult to pass this test but you may still try some options we have for this type of test.
4. Oral Tests
This type of test will determine the presence of THC along the oral mucosa as most ways to use cannabis is by ingesting, smoking, or vaping weed. Oral tests will measure if you have recently taken cannabis but won’t be as accurate as determining the number of metabolites in the body.
THC Detox: the key to passing a drug test
The best way to pass a drug test is to avoid all forms of cannabis and to start a cannabis detox.
Consider how drug tests are administered. Random drug tests are usually announced in short notice. This catches people off guard as they don’t have time to prepare for a test. If a test is for pre-employment, the applicant or future employee may still have time to detox or partially detox from marijuana before he decides to go on with the test.
But no matter how short or how long the preparation is for a drug test, you must avoid taking cannabis ASAP. This includes all forms of cannabis (edibles, vaping oils, teas, joints, waxes, etc.). The more time you have before the test is administered, the higher your chances to pass your test.
THC detox myths
Before we go to the actual way to detox from THC and pass a drug test, consider the different myths surrounding marijuana detox.
Do not use cranberry juice, vinegar, or ginger root tea to remove THC. Never drink creatine pills, niacin, or any other supplement in hopes of having zero THC in your system. Also, drinking a lot of water will never help and will only dilute your urine but the metabolites will remain. You cannot use bleach or any other chemicals to remove THC and metabolites because these are dangerous. These methods will never remove THC from the body and may even harm your body in the long run.
More tips to pass a drug test
1. Natural detox is the best method
If you’re scheduled for a complete yearly physical exam on a specific date of the year (as with most companies) and you know that this yearly exam has a drug test included, you still have a lot of time to prepare.
No need to use detox pills, kits, or programs because if you’re healthy then you can easily remove toxins in just 4 to 6 weeks. You’ll be able to do this with the right diet, exercise, and water intake. And as we have mentioned before, people who have a faster metabolism can do this quite easily and quickly.
2. Detox using detoxification products
If the test is just a week away (3 to 6 days) then there’s still hope. Detox from THC at this tight time frame involves the use of detox products. These products are safe and will help you remove all harmful toxins and drug metabolites from your system in a week.
Follow all the steps on how to use the product and always check using a home drug testing kit to check if the detox product worked.
3. Detox from THC in just 24 hours
There are same-day drug cleansing products that you can use. Products from TestClear.com are just some of the most popular online. What happens is that these cleansing products target your urinary system to flush out all metabolites from the body. This quick cleaning product will help you submit a clean sample. Most users were able to pass a drug exam with very
Urine drug tests are more common compared to hair drug tests. To pass a drug test quickly and swiftly and successfully, you don’t need to be completely free from THC. Your system simply has to have levels of the compound that are below the threshold. The threshold is 50 ng/ml for most tests and when your results are lower than 50, the test will show that you are negative.
Diluting your urine is the primary way to pass a drug test. Diluting urine will make it register below the 50 marks. However, there are some concerns. Testing labs are usually keen on testing diluted urine therefore, the best way to go is to dilute your urine and mask the truth that the sample is diluted.
On drinking water
There’s no need to drink a lot of water days or weeks before your test. This will only temporarily dilute urine. You must drink a lot of water, at least 2 to 3 liters of water throughout the day at least 24 hours before the test. You should also drink at least two liters a few hours before the test. But never drink excessive amounts of water because this is dangerous and can lead to severe conditions; you must always know your limitations.
Right after you drink a lot of water, your urine will be colorless and with very little creatinine. However, these are red flags for testing labs. You should further mask your urine sample
- Using vitamin B – vitamin B will turn your urine yellow. Vitamins B2 and B12 are two of the most effective B vitamins. You can buy supplements from a local drug store and take this a few hours before your test starts.
- Creatinine – Creatinine is a waste product of metabolism and is naturally found in the body. Labs look for the presence of creatine as it determines if the urine is diluted. You can purchase creatine supplements in a health and supplement store. Take a higher than average dose at least several hours before the start of your test.
- Detoxification drinks – detox drinks also make use of the mentioned techniques: dilution and masking your urine. These drinks contain creatine and vitamin B to hide diluted urine. Detox drinks are more expensive than using creatine and vitamin B as individual products but generally, these are more convenient and ensures that you are ingesting the right amounts of creatine and vitamin B right before a urine test.
Other ways to help pass a drug test
1. Do not exercise
If you exercise, the fat cells in the body will break down causing the release of THC metabolites in the bloodstream leading to a positive test result. A good rule is to never exercise at least 24 hours before the test. Exercise will spike the THC metabolites in your blood and your urine.
But if you have a lot of time, say two weeks before the exam, exercising can help break down the metabolites in fat and release these in the urine. But be sure to stop exercising two to three days before the exam day.
2. Submit a midstream, clean-catch urine sample
The beginning and the end of your urine stream have the most metabolites so it’s best to get a clean midstream sample. Also, early morning or your first urine of the day will be more concentrated than your urine in the middle of the day.
3. Using synthetic urine or a clean urine sample
If you take cannabis regularly and you have high-fat deposits in the body then exercise and detox may not be enough. You may have better chances of passing a test by using synthetic urine or the urine of another clean person.
In pre-employment urine drug tests, test administrators or medical technicians may not be as strict and may not watch you while you pee. You may be asked to collect a sample from a private bathroom and may only wait outside to get the sample. If this is the case, you simply fill the cup with synthetic urine or urine from another person.
Take note that the temperature of the urine sample is also taken so you must make sure that the fake sample you provide is close to normal body temperature.
The natural way to detox from THC
Of all the options available to pass a drug exam, THC detox is the best and the only effective, sure-fire way to remove THC from your system. Here are steps to make your cannabis detox more effective:
1. Avoid Cannabis
This is the easiest and the very first thing you need to do to reduce THC in your body. Consuming weed is a habit and it’s difficult to break. But this is the most important way to start detoxifying your body.
2. Exercise
This will work if you still have two to three weeks before your exam. Exercise will help you move THC metabolites from the fatty tissue to the bloodstream and eventually to be excreted in your urine. You can engage in any kind of exercise with cardio including running, swimming, biking, playing basketball, dancing, and more.
3. Drink more water
This is probably the most popular way to dilute toxins and metabolites in the body but it’s important not to overdo it. The best amount is around 6 to 8 glasses per day to remove THC metabolites from the body.
4. Detox with lemon juice and tea
Tea is one of the most powerful detox agents. You can select from black tea, white tea, jasmine tea, or peppermint tea and take at least a few cups per day. Any of these can help remove THC metabolites from the body in a natural way.
5. Do not eat red meat or bad food
Avoid junk food or food that’s high in sugar and sodium. These will only retain water in the body and slow down your metabolism. Stick to healthy food sources like fruits, vegetables, fish, eggs, and lean meat.
When you THC detox early, you’ll be able to completely get rid of THC metabolites from the body. Don’t wait before it’s too late to detox if you have a drug test soon.
