How Long Does 10 mg of CBD Stay in Your System?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural product of cannabis plants that has gained popularity for its potential health benefits. CBD may help with anxiety, pain, sleep, inflammation, and more. But how long does 10 mg of CBD stay in your system? And will it show up on a drug test?
What does “CBD half-life” Mean?
In the medical field, “half-life” refers to the time it takes for the body to eliminate half of a substance. For example, if you take 10 mg of CBD, the half-life is how long it will take for your body to reduce the amount of CBD to 5 mg.
The half-life of CBD can vary depending on several factors, such as the dosage, consumption method, and metabolism. However, some studies have estimated that the average half-life of CBD is 18 to 32 hours.
Also Read: The Pros and Cons of CBD Oil for Anxiety
The Method of Consumption
One of the main factors that affect how long does 10 mg of CBD stay in your system is the method of consumption.
There are different ways to take CBD, such as:
- Oils and Tinctures: are liquid forms of CBD that you place under your tongue and absorb into your bloodstream. This method has a fast onset of effects, usually within 15 to 30 minutes, and a relatively long duration, up to six hours.
- Pills and Capsules: These are solid forms of CBD that you swallow and digest. This method has a slower onset of effects, usually within one to two hours, and a longer duration, up to eight hours.
- Edibles: These are food or drink products that contain CBD, such as gummies, chocolates, or beverages. This method also has a slower onset of effects, similar to pills and capsules, and a longer duration, up to 12 hours.
- Vaping: This is a method of inhaling CBD vapor from a device such as a vape pen or cartridge.
- Creams and Lotions: are topical forms of CBD you apply to your skin. This method has a variable onset of effects, depending on how much you use and where you apply it, and a moderate duration, up to six hours.
How Does CBD Affect the Brain?
CBD aligns with the endocannabinoid system (ECS), a network of receptors and molecules that regulates various bodily functions, such as mood, pain, inflammation, sleep, and appetite. It has two primary types of receptors: CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors operate in the brain and nervous system, while CB2 receptors work in the immune and peripheral tissues.
Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a “high” CBD does not directly bind to CB1 or CB2 receptors. Instead, CBD modulates their activity by influencing other molecules interacting with them.
For example, CBD can inhibit an enzyme that breaks down anandamide, an endocannabinoid that binds to CB1 receptors and produces euphoria. CBD can also enhance the activity of serotonin receptors, which are involved in mood regulation.
CBD may affect cognition, emotion, memory, learning, and perception by affecting the brain’s ECS and other neurotransmitter systems.
How Long Does 10 mg of CBD Stay in Your System?
The time it takes for CBD to have an effect depends on the factors influencing how long it stays in your system. The method of consumption, the dosage, and your metabolism all influence how fast CBD kicks in and how it affects you.
As a general rule, CBD products that enter your bloodstream faster have a quicker onset of effects and a shorter duration. In comparison, CBD products that enter your bloodstream slower have a slower start of results and a longer period.
For example, vaping CBD can produce effects within minutes but may last only a few hours. On the other hand, CBD edibles can take up to two hours to have an impact, but they may last up to 12 hours.
Will it Show Up on a Drug Test?
The answer to this question depends on what type of drug test is used and what kind of CBD product you use. Most drug tests detect THC, not CBD. THC is the psychoactive compound in cannabis that causes a “high” and is illegal everywhere. CBD is non-psychoactive and legal in most places as long as it contains less than 0.3% THC.
However, some CBD products may have trace amounts of THC or other cannabinoids that could trigger a positive result on a drug test. It is especially true for full-spectrum CBD products, which have all the natural compounds found in cannabis plants, including THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD products have all the natural compounds except THC while isolating CBD products contain only pure CBD. Therefore, to avoid failing a drug test due to CBD use, you should choose CBD products certified by third-party labs to be free of THC and other contaminants.
As we have seen, many factors can affect how long CBD stays in your system.
Some of these factors include:
The Method of Consumption
Different methods of taking CBD have different rates of absorption and elimination in the body. For example, vaping CBD has a faster rate than eating CBD edibles.
The Dosage
The higher the dose of CBD you use, the longer it will stay in your body. For example, taking 20 mg of CBD will result in higher levels of CBD in your blood than taking 10 mg.
The Frequency of Use
The more you use CBD, the more it builds up in your body. For example, using CBD daily will result in higher levels of CBD in your system than occasionally.
Your Body Composition
Your body weight, fat percentage, water content, and metabolism can affect how your body processes CBD. For example, people with higher body fat may store more CBD in their fat cells than people with lower body fat.
Your Diet
What you eat before and after CBD can affect how your body absorbs and eliminates CBD. For example, eating high-fat foods can increase the bioavailability (the amount of CBD that reaches your bloodstream) and half-life (the time it takes for half the amount of CBD to be eliminated from your body) of CBD.
Your Liver Working
Your liver is responsible for metabolizing (breaking down) most drugs and substances in your body, including CBD. If you have liver disease or take other medications that affect your liver enzymes (the proteins that help with metabolism), you may have an altered metabolism of CBD.
Your Genetics
Your genes can influence how your body responds to different substances, including CBD. For example, some people may have genetic variations affecting their endocannabinoid system (the system that regulates various bodily functions and interacts with cannabinoids) or their liver enzymes.
What if I’m Breastfeeding or Chestfeeding?
If you are breastfeeding or chestfeeding your baby, you may wonder whether it is safe to use CBD products. The answer is unclear, as most data surrounds maternal use of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) derived from marijuana.
However, CBD and THC are classified as cannabinoids, which the data suggests enter breast milk after maternal consumption. Some studies have also linked marijuana use during breastfeeding to low birth weight, premature birth, and stillbirth.
CBD products may also have trace amounts of THC or other contaminants that could trigger a positive result on a drug test or harm the infant. Therefore, to limit potential risks to the infant, breastfeeding mothers should not use marijuana or CBD products in any form while breastfeeding.
If you decide to use CBD products while breastfeeding, consult your doctor first and choose products certified by third-party labs to be free of THC and other impurities. You should also monitor your baby for adverse effects, such as irritability, poor feeding, drowsiness, or developmental delays.
Also Read: Waxing CBD: What You Need to Know?
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Blood?
CBD can stay in your blood for different periods depending on how much you take, how often you use it, and how your body metabolizes it. Some studies have estimated that the average half-life of CBD in the blood is between 18 and 32 hours.
It means that if you take 10 mg of CBD, it will take about 18 to 32 hours for your body to reduce the amount of CBD in your blood to 5 mg.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Urine?
CBD can stay in your urine for several days or weeks after use, depending on the type of drug test used and the frequency and dosage of CBD consumption. Some studies have found that individuals who used a single dose of a standardized CBD formulation had visible levels of CBD in their urine for four to five days after ingestion.
However, other studies have reported longer detection times for chronic or heavy users of CBD or THC. Therefore, there is no definitive answer to how long CBD stays in your urine, and it may depend on individual factors and testing methods.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Saliva?
CBD can stay in your saliva for a similar period as it stays in your blood, usually within hours or days after use, depending on the dosage and frequency of consumption. However, there is limited research on the detection of CBD in saliva samples, and most saliva tests are designed to detect THC rather than CBD.
Therefore, it is unlikely that CBD will show up on a saliva test unless it contains significant amounts of THC or other cannabinoids.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your Hair?
Hair tests can detect drugs by analyzing hair follicles that grow from the scalp. These hair follicles contain traces of drugs or metabolites deposited in the bloodstream over time.
However, hair tests are uncommon, and most hair tests are designed to detect THC rather than CBD. Therefore, it is unlikely that CBD will show up on a hair test unless it contains significant amounts of THC or other cannabinoids.
Conclusion
CBD is a natural compound with various health benefits for different conditions. However, how long does 10 mg of CBD stay in your system can depend on many factors, such as the method of consumption, the dosage, the frequency of use, and individual metabolism.
CBD can stay in your system from hours to days or weeks after service, depending on the type of drug test used and the type of CBD product used. To avoid potential risks to yourself or your infant, consult your doctor before using CBD products, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
