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Delta-8 and Delta-9 have a lot in common, and people are enthused with both Delta-8’s intoxicating effects and it's therapeutic benefits. Many people look to the legal cannabinoid as a safe alternative to Delta-9 when undergoing drug testing for employment or other reasons. Unfortunately, Delta-8 can still trigger the same positive test result as Delta-9. The question is—Does Delta-8 stay in your system as long as Delta-9?
The answer mostly lies in the way that we metabolize Delta-8, but it's also affected by how much Delta-8 you take and how often you take it.
Keep in mind that there's still a lot of research to be done before we'll know everything there is to know about Delta-8-THC. In the meantime, here’s what we currently know about how long Delta-8 stays in your system compared to traditional THC products:
Before we discuss how long Delta-8-THC is present in your system, we want to talk about how long its effects are active.
The duration of Delta-8 effects vary, but they usually last between two and six hours. The amount of time the effects last is affected by the way that you take Delta-8, how much Delta-8 you take, your THC tolerance, and a few other biological factors, like body weight and metabolism. These factors all impact the way that Delta-8 is broken down by the body, which is why some people may experience psychoactive effects for just 2 hours while others are intoxicated for much longer.
All of the factors that affect how long Delta-8 effects will last also impact how long Delta-8-THC is present in the body after each dose. Let’s discuss:
Some dosing methods metabolize more quickly than others. For instance, smoking Delta-8 flower provides effects much more quickly than an edible dose. Because inhaled doses metabolize quickly, they may also leave the body faster, although the amount of time a Delta-8 dose remains in your system still depends heavily on the other factors listed below.
It may be obvious, but the more Delta-8 you take, the longer it will take to leave your system. Your body can only metabolize substances and remove waste at a certain rate, so it will take more time for the body to clear a heavier dose than it will a small dose.
The same idea applies here. The more frequently you use Delta-8, the longer it will take for the body to clear Delta-8 from your body. This is especially true if you’re ingesting more Delta-8 before the last dose has cleared the body. Delta-8-THC is stored in the body fat and will stack up over time until it can be processed.
We mentioned that Delta-8 was stored in body fat. The more body fat you have, the more Delta-8 you can store, and the longer it can take for those stores to be depleted. Your weight can also affect other factors, however, like metabolism.
Your unique metabolic rate directly impacts the metabolism and removal process for Delta-8 in the body. It's difficult to measure exactly how much your metabolic rate will impact the amount of time Delta-8 lasts in the body, but it’s commonly accepted that those with a faster metabolism will be able to pass a drug test more quickly.
As you can see, the amount of time Delta-8 stays in your system can vary greatly. In some cases (like for infrequent users who took a small to moderate dose), Delta-8 may be undetectable after only two days. In other cases, (like for chronic Delta-8 users), Delta-8-THC may be detectable for over a month.
In addition to the factors listed above, the amount of time that Delta-8 is detectable in the body depends heavily on the testing method used. Here are what to expect from some of the most common testing methods:
For moderate users, Delta-8 may remain in the system for around 30 days, the same duration of time that Delta-9 will last in the body.
There's no substantial difference in the way that Delta-8 and Delta-9 are metabolized that we know of. The amount of time any form of THC stays in your system will vary based on your own unique biological factors, but just know that you'll likely have a similar experience with both Delta-8 and Delta-9.
Simply put, Delta-8-THC is not a good alternative to Delta-9 when a drug test is near. It produces the same THC metabolites and will trigger a positive test result for about the same amount of time after dosing.
If you are limited from using Delta-8-THC for it’s therapeutic benefits because of a drug test, you may still be able to benefit from CBD instead. CBD is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid that is unlikely to trigger a positive test result. It has a wide range of therapeutic benefits, like potentially calming anxiety and easing mild to moderate pain.
Some people like to use Delta-8 and CBD in tandem to relieve more severe symptoms, but a high-quality CBD supplement can often do the job on its own. If you want to learn more about CBD’s benefits, you may want to read about:
Because Delta-8-THC and CBD are both federally legal, you can buy them in stores and online in many states. Keep in mind that hemp industry regulations vary from state to state, so it's wise to do a little background research before choosing a hemp product. Look for a brand with experience in the industry who uses clean hemp and third-party testing to ensure quality.
At Vida Optima, all of our products are made from U.S. grown, premium hemp that's processed in a cGMP compliant facility. All of our collections are 100% Farm Bill compliant and third-party tested.
Check out out Elev8 Collection and our Vitality CBD Collection to grab any of our delicious edibles, potent tinctures, or fragrant hemp flowers today!
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