How long does marijuana stay in your system?

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(39) On October 26, 2011 at 5:13 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

Moved from answer area:

• I smoke about 5-7 g (average, could be more and not usually less) spread throughout the week and have done so for the past 2 years (I haven't given up or taken a break from it). I'm 6 ft tall and weigh 183 lbs. I eat ok and sometimes go to the gym. Recently I was told I would have a drug test for a very important job. As soon as I found out about the test, I stopped smoking. I didn't smoke for a total of 16 days. I passed the test and I got the job. I didn't do anything differently for those days: I didn't drink plenty of water or try any of those detox methods. I didn't eat differently, and I certainly didn't exercise more! I just carried on as normal, but without smoking. I did, however, buy 2 take-at-home drug tests. These were extremely helpful in letting me know when it was safe to take the real test. (Handy if you can find some way to delay your test.) Luckily, I had tested clean the day before the real one. I just thought I'd share my experience, seeing as a lot of people here reckon it takes months or whatever. It could be down to the amount I smoked or my metabolism, I simply don't know. I'm also not saying to use me as a benchmark as everyone is different and I'm not saying what I did will work for you. I am purely giving you my experience in comparison to others. I will say though, the only way to beat the test is to give up for a while. It's not as bad as you think!

• For daily smokers, it stays in your urine for anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, or a month on average. Extremely heavy, long-term users (people who've been using all day every day for years) might want to wait 8 weeks to be safe. For occasional smokers, the timeframe is more like 2 weeks to one month for your urine to be clean. For blood tests, it takes substantially less time. I believe it's around 2 weeks for daily users (perhaps 3 weeks for extremely heavy-long term users), 3 to 4 days to one week for occasional users. All drugs stay in your hair permanently, until you stop using and grow a completely new head of hair. Growing a completely new head of hair takes one to two years (depending on the length). So it takes one to two years to be able to pass a hair test, for any drug. It's also virtually impossible to cheat a hair test. There's no way to clean the drugs out, and no way to cheat.

• Legal marijuana will stay in your system for the same time as illegal marijuana. Usually about 7 days detectable, 30 for hair follicle, and about 3 hours of intoxication.

(38) On October 26, 2011 at 5:13 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

• The nurse who answered above is absolutely correct. If you drink excessive amounts of water directly before the test, they will identify your sample as "diluted" and your sample will be submitted for a more in-depth analysis, an actual drug test as opposed to the "drug screen" you are initially taking. Also, THC metabolite is stored in fatty tissues, so drinking water has no effect on cleansing your system of it. The poster who stated that it always helped him was certainly not helped by the water. Another person also stated that they had never heard of a blood test for marijuana; well, they absolutely do blood tests in different situations, and marijuana can be detected there as well. A fast metabolism will cleanse your system faster, but that is out of your control. The frequency of use will have a great impact on how long it takes. If you only used once, or a small amount, it will probably take 3-4 days. As a police officer who has contact with the coroner who performs drug tests on drivers suspected of being impaired by marijuana and other drugs, know that what I'm telling your is accurate, and the best way to pass a drug test is to not use. If you do use, there is no simple fix for immediately removing the metabolite from your system. A drug screen can alert on pretty small traces of THC, and a full drug test is quite advanced and won't be beat by the promises of quickie drug cleansing systems or substitute urine samples purchased on-line.

• I am a frequent user, maybe 2-3 times a week but not every week. I was going for a drug screening for a job that I really wanted and actually stopped smoking as a precaution that I may be called in for an interview. I was five days out and was told I would be taking the drug test in about 5 days. I bought a 4-day toxin rid that was guaranteed to rid me of toxins. While talking to the gentleman on the phone I specified that I wanted to rid myself of THC. He informed me that this was the right product that was coupled with a money-back guarantee. A no-lose situation, right ? WRONG! I followed the directions to the letter and still failed the drug test. These products give a false sense of security and hope. As for the money-back guarantee, I am still out $114.00 and no job. My best advice if you are looking for a job that includes drug screening (or a drug screening in general), is to quit smoking and let nature run its course. Don't fall for all the products that are advertised online to be 100% guaranteed or your money back! This is good, honest advice. Take it from someone who knows.

(37) On October 26, 2011 at 5:11 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

Moved from answer area:

• With Vitamin B and cranberry juice, lots of water and coffee, and strenuous exercise, I have actually got a clean test result less than a week after smoking

• The time varies with your weight, height, metabolic rate and how much you smoke or ingest. I read that the best way to get it out of your system faster for a urine test is by drinking a lot of water, exercising a lot and eating a lot--but going overboard with that can be bad for your health.

• It would usually take months for the weed to go away but you should drink lots of water.

• Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC can stay in a persons system from 2 to up to 90 days depending on several variables such as height, weight, physical fitness and substance usage. Occasional users would be clean within one week, a daily user can take up to one month, and a constant user can take up to almost 3 months

• a week :)

• Depends on how long, and how often, you smoke. If this was a one time bit, it will be physically out of your system beyond absolute testable threshold in 2 weeks. However, with exercise and large quantities of water, creatine and B vitamins, you can dilute your system and likely pass a test whenever.

If you smoke all the time, on a daily or multiple times per day basis, then it will be 4-6 weeks, longer if you are a fat ass. However, once again, you can dilute with a drink mix (expensive) or you can dilute. With dilution you may pass a test, give yourself 3 days if you can, while drinking that level of fluids whenever you can (but especially drink this mix the morning of the test, likewise if you're using a mix, then just follow it's label directions).

If urgent, you could also use synthetic urine in a kit, but be wary of designs that aren't resistant to a pat down.

• 4-7 days (although the daily, heavy user can sometimes be detected up to 30+ days).

• I am a nurse and have done drug testing. I can tell you straight out that trying to clear it out with teas or water or anything else that is sold for cleansing doesn't work for a very simple reason: Drug tests are wise to that. If a test is suspicious it is sent out for further testing. Those tests are sophisticated and measure how diluted the urine is and come back as marked as an attempt to "fool the test". In other words, urine shows excreted metabolites which should be in a certain range; if not, then it is clear that the subject attempted to dilute the urine and you won't pass the test. If you really want that job, quit and let nature clear your system.

(36) On October 26, 2011 at 5:11 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

Stories from users moved from answer area:

• If you smoke rarely (once a month or less) it takes a very short time for the marijuana residue to leave your system -- around three days. If you do it more than once a month, the time gets longer and longer depending on how often you do it.

• If you smoke about a $20 bag a day of mid-grade marijuana (approx. 4 blunts), it can take months.

• It takes an average of about 30 days for urine tests. When you smoke weed, the THC gets into your fat cells. Therefore, if you are a skinny person, then the THC will leave your system sooner than 30 days. But if you are a heavier person, the THC stays in your body for a longer time period. If it is an emergency, you can go to the GNC and get detox pills or herbal tea; these can clean out your system in as little as five hours. Be sure to read the directions. Don't eat 4-5 hours before you take the pill and drink a lot of water. It can get quite expensive, though: $30 for one little pill.

• Depending on how much you smoke, it takes 2-5 weeks, during which time it can be detected on a drug screen. If you need to pass a drug test for a job or any kind of certification, I wouldn't chance it; you should stay "clean" for 6 weeks. Super fast "detox" potions are expensive and unreliable.

• Marijuana can be detected in your urine for at least five weeks. If you want to pass a drug test, don't do any for two months to be extra sure.

• 30-45 days

In reference answer #1... it says to drink liters of water to really dilute your urine. But take caution to start flushing days before the test and then drink a moderate amount the day of the test. The labs or doctors that take your urine for testing know that people try to flush their systems. The first thing that is checked is the concentration of creatin: If you drink too much prior to the test and dilute your creatin levels, it shows up immediately and is considered an automatic fail!! Do not try diluting with toilet or sink water, as the urine temperature is checked immediately, and if not in range of the normal body temperature, that is also an immediate Fail.

• With marijuana, it is really not cut and dry. It can be gone in as little as a week, or it can stay in your system for up to 45 days. Unless you're smoking a quarter-bag or more a day, odds are it would not be longer than that, under any circumstances.

Others have hit on these same points, but I will say them again. A lot of this depends on how active you are, how heavy (fat) you are, and what you are trying to do to clean out your system. If you are fairly fit, and fairly active, you have a better shot at getting clean sooner than a fat, lazy person who watches television all day.

As for passing a UA Test ("Pee Test")... Just to warn you, few of the "drink" solutions you buy at the head shops actually work. Don't fall for that. That is a very popular "quick fix" that often ends up getting someone a positive (i.e., failed) drug test result.

I am not a medical doctor, and I doubt any of these answerers are, but I will talk about myself as an example. For a long time, I smoked one small bowl of pot (about 4-5 hits) every couple of days, just to relax. I weigh 189 lbs and am 5'11" tall. In my case, the THC was normally out of my system in about 14 days, without even doing anything to try and flush myself clean.

To be safe, though, starting about 5 days before I expected my drug test, I would always begin drinking lotsof water and lots of coffee, in addition to a gallon of cranberry juice each day (which is two normal-sized bottles of Ocean Spray that you would find in your grocery store).

I supplement these actions by taking Vitamin B Complex every day -- except for the day of the test. Vitamin B turns your urine neon yellow (almost glowing) for about 12 hours after taking it... which is a red flag to the testing facilities.

I use the Vitamin B and the cranberry juice, because both are notoriously famous for cleaning out your system. The key point -- in addition to Vitamin B and cranberry juice -- is quite simply to drink every liquid you can get your hands on. Exercise sure doesn't hurt things, either.

(35) On October 26, 2011 at 5:10 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

Stories from users moved from answer area:

• Also, when you take those drug tests, it stipulates that if there is any reason to believe that you have tried to deceive the test it would be treated as a positive and you won't be hired anyway. Therefore, I'm sure they also test for those substances that will give you a negative reading when they do the test.

• I don't smoke weed regularly, but only every few months, over the duration of about a week. Whenever I've had to do a drug test, I just drank plenty of water (lots!) on the night before the test -- and on the day of the test -- and it came back clean. I also take a hydrochlorothiazide pill and I'm sure that helps too.

• Most of the answers on this blog are incorrect. It depends on how often you smoke, and on your metabolism. If you smoke once a week for 3 months and stop, you'll be clean within 3-5 days. If you smoke daily for 3 months and then stop, but exercise daily, you're looking at 2-3 weeks. The best way to find out is to purchase a few urine tests. They're cheap, and you can use them at home.

I've never heard of a blood test for marijuana.

There are ways to beat a hair test. Cut your hair to a reasonably short length and use Aloe Rid daily. Soak your hair in an astringent and wash with Tide. Again, you can buy hair test and mail it in.

It doesn't take months.

• I know the best way to get bud out of your system in under 3 days. All it takes is for you to suck up and gulp down something nasty: It's called psyllium. It's a type of powder you mix in a drink. Drink this stuff fast; the longer you wait, the tougher it is to drink. Take it 3 times a day, and 3 days later, you'll be THC-free. You can get it at any local grocery store or health store.

• First, there are multiple types and qualities of drug tests and these can greatly effect the amount of time the marijuana will stay in your system.

Urine tests: This depends greatly on how much you smoke and the quality of the test. If you don't smoke often -- say, about once a week -- are skinny (because the marijuana residue is stored in the fat cells), have a fast metabolism (this determines how quickly you use your fat cells), and stop smoking (this is important) it will take about 3 or 4 weeks. But if you have a urine test to get a job, drink a lot of water -- I'm talking about liters -- a few hours before you go, and your urine will be so diluted that it will be impossible for the test to pick anything up.

Blood tests: This takes six months. Period.

Hair follicle tests: Well, since the residue will stay in your blood system for approximately six months, new hair growth in that time will have traces of marijuana. But, if you don't cut your hair after that, it will still be there. I have long hair. If you were to do a test on my hair follicles, you have my drug history for the last 2 years.

(34) On October 26, 2011 at 5:09 pm Myrab51 [2541] said:

Stories from users moved from answer area:

• I don't usually smoke marijuana but I went to the comedy show and smoked a blunt. I smoked the blunt on February 29, 2008, and took a urine test for a job on Tuesday, March 11, and tested negative. My height is 5' 7.5" and I am overweight (254 lbs.), but I go to the gym 4-5 days a week and drink plenty of water.

• I attended a court ruled drug class and learned that marijuana has a half-life in your system. How long it takes to leave your system depends on how much you smoke. But the time maxes out at around 45 days. One smoking session for someone with a clean system takes about 3-4 days to be clean. Smoke 2 days later and then have to wait about a week, and so on. The time it will take roughly doubles every time you smoke until it maxes at about 45 days to be clean. So if you are maxed out and you wait about 2 weeks and then smoke again, you're basically back to 45 days.

This also depends on the test. Most job drug tests only test down to about 100 nanograms, which isn't dead accurate but will pick up if you are a smoker obviously. Court-appointed tests can test anywhere down to 10-20 nanograms, which is very accurate, and can also detect high levels of water, and any other drug test liquids. You can not fool those tests, and drinking water and tea does nothing for getting weed out of your system at all. The ONLY way to get it out is time, because it is in your blood.

• Marijuana can be detected in urine for nearly a week after smoking. Blood tests can be more accurate, and it might take a month to be totally clear. Hair tests show every drug ever taken when that hair was growing - this is why you see so many drug addicts with shaved heads or buzz cuts, by the way. Also by the way: taking laxatives and drinking wacky chemicals won't "cheat" a drug test. It will just make you go to the bathroom!

• I recall reading a while back that weed -- if you are a rare user -- usually stays in your system 3-4 days. But to be safe, I would say a 10-day "test window" after you last smoked will give you a negative result. If you are a regular user, you will definitely have to detox yourself for at least 30 days.

(33) On September 14, 2011 at 5:04 am Paul Fritz [0] said:

I smoked about 2 to 3 bowls a day and I had 48 days of not smoking at all. I took a DOT drug screen and it came up positive. I'm 6'0 210 pounds. I wasn't worried because I thought being one day shy of seven full weeks I was in the clear. They test down to 15 for DOT they said after 48 days I was at 104. Needless to say I was not hired.

(32) On September 13, 2011 at 1:58 am Mama0f2 [0] said:

I am 5'2 and 160lbs I quit 3 weeks ago and my husband...(we are seperated) says that he will be clean within 3 days because he has less body fat, but he smokes often and I only smoked once in a while. I quit because it is insane when the smoke becomes more important than your kids. Anyways, my question is will he really be able to clean his system out that fast normally? He is taller than I am maybe a few in. and aprox. 155lbs.

(31) On July 14, 2011 at 6:10 pm Tbird27239 [0] said:

My husband quit smoking 43 days ago and has been using the at home test strips to make sure he is negative before taking a "real" one for a great job. The line for negative is very light. Not clean yet but getting there. He is 5'5 and weighs 160lbs and is 45yrs. He has been drinking a lot of water and excercising. He was a heavy user. 5-7g. every week for years. He found out there is no quick fix. Just stop plain and simple.

(30) On July 7, 2011 at 9:04 pm Texaspatriot63 [0] said:

I was a daily pot smoker.It has taken me 60 days to get to 49 ng/ml. Most employers test to a cut off of 50ng/ml. I am 48 years old, 6 '3", 205 lbs. In good physical condition. FYI

(29) On May 27, 2011 at 12:27 pm Scalex1155 [0] said:

i am a chronic pain patient. i legally use long acting fentanyl and morphine derivatives for pain and have used them for 16 years. i was forced to start with a new pain doctor who tests patients every visit to prove we ARE taking our meds and not selling them. i have used marijuana in conjunction with these drugs to combat nausea, improve appetite, reduce muscle spasms pain and headaches as well as aiding sleep. i will be tested in 23 days again, i know my first was dirty. i have smoked steadily for the last 15 years. recently i have had access to medical marijuana and have used it in a vaporizer once or twice a day as needed. i am worried my next urine will be dirty even tho i will have quit for almost 30 days. i am not in shape,, and obese thanks to all the drugs I've been given instead of marijuana to treat the above symptoms.does anyone know how long i will be positive because if i am my doctor will fire me. it is impossible to find a doctor to treat pain because of all the abuse. anyone with any input on being tested by doctors would be great. the drugs out there for nausea are awful. if you get prescribed reglan use it sparingly or you will develop tardive dyskinesia, a movement disorder that will make your life miserable with no cure, ironically pot makes the movements slow down.......go figure

(28) On May 10, 2011 at 4:13 pm Wbt319 [0] said:

I am not a regular smoker. I did smoke weed 18 days ago and I had to go take a drug test at work last night. I called everyone I know that smokes and all said I should be fine since I dont smoke but 3 or 4 times a year. Being worried i went and bought a at home drug test. It came up negative. Still a little worried cause the urine was a little over the max urine level line on the testing stick

(27) On April 21, 2011 at 9:48 pm Magron [1] said:

I am an older male (over 50) and a daily, heavy smoker. On two separate occasions I have ordered the Marijuana urine test modules you can mailorder on the internet for 2 or 3 USD each and tested this. It was slightly over 3 months not smoking before I showed clean on these. Now I'm retired. screw them.

(26) On April 6, 2011 at 3:05 am Mbr311 [0] said:

All this discussion should show you is that its different for every single person, PERIOD. There is no "set" time it stays in your system because its different for every person. Its very difficult to "cheat" a test depending on how good of a test it is. Simply diluting your urine might not do the trick as the test will show low levels of cretin and it will red flag you. I've never met anyone that passed while smoking and using any of those supplements. Synthetic urine will work I'm sure, but you have to be very careful. There are certain rules about patting you down for a job interview that they can't do, but they sure as hell can do it if you're talking about probation or something. I was in a head shop today and a girl was buying synthetic urine and the lady at the counter was telling her how to use it. I was laughing..just don't smoke! I've been smoking for something like 25 years and I was hospitalized and went on disability, and now I'm back in the job market. Knowing this, I just flat out stopped around 4 months ago to be safe. In the end, is it worth losing a great paying job you love over some pot? I love it as much as anyone, but until they legalize it and/or stop testing for it, unfortunately the only way to pass is to go clean. Those that are saying they smoked every day and waited 14 days and passed, like I said, good for you but the fact is that won't work for most people. Best thing to do is follow what the nurses, lab techs and police officers are telling you in this thread as they have more experience than anyone else with the tests themselves as well as the ways people try to cheat them. Just let it go for awhile..its not worth it. Then you get your job, and roll up a nice blunt to celebrate!

(25) On March 25, 2011 at 2:55 am Susan Ford [0] said:

I dont smoke cigarettes but smoked half a joint last wed and have to pass test this friday. I am 5'1 and weigh lbs. will i pass?

(24) On March 17, 2011 at 6:13 pm Street79 [0] said:

i passest in 21 days i fail a random drug test do to school. i did nothing at all besides drink some water and i smoke at least 5 grams a day still do after my drug test 20 minutes later i was on a dirt road smoking again. point is put the joint down and youll be ok

(23) On March 8, 2011 at 4:24 pm Jaw0021 [0] said:

It is just not worth it. Period. End of story! I am being drug tested weekly for an arrest. I am a 5'11 160lb 21 yr old male with a fast metabolism, and currently being prescribed adderall which speeds up my metabolism even more. I hadn't smoked in at least 2 months and smoked one bowl 4 days prior to my drug test. I just received a phone call from my case manager informing me of my failed test meaning I will be spending the weekend in jail and 3 more months of no smoking, snorting, drinking, or anything for that matter. So if they have you by the balls, you seriously just might as well suck it up and not do it because it isn't worth it and I will be experiencing that first hand this weekend in the county jail. Even with my very fast metabolism and lack of smoking for a very long time, i was still unable to beat out the "supposed" minimum duration of detection time. IT'S NOT WORTH IT!! Please let me speak from experience and try to save you from going through the hassle that I am

(22) On December 8, 2010 at 8:32 pm Annentre000 [0] said:

from what i have experencen it stays in ur system 4 about 3 weeks!!

(21) On October 3, 2010 at 3:33 am Predicated [0] said:

I smoke a joint once a day and have been for a few years now. I have to take a urine test for a job. If I stop smoking now how long should I wait until I can take the urine test safely? I will need to take it within the next 2 weeks. I am 120 lbs. Thanks!

(20) On July 11, 2010 at 10:20 am Tomves1 [0] said:

I've heard a urine test is 30-90 days, and a hair test is 90-120 days.

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