Taking CBD in the form of a tasty treat is a delicious and convenient way to experience this relaxing cannabinoid’s mild effects for an extended period. How long will CBD edibles linger in your body, however, after their effects fade away? In this guide, we’ll dive deep into how CBD edibles work, helping you better understand how long it will take until your system is entirely free of cannabidiol.
What are CBD Edibles & Types of CBD Edibles
CBD edibles are food items that have been infused with CBD. When you hear the word “edibles,” the first treat that comes to mind might be brownies. With CBD, however, edibles most commonly appear in the form of gummies, which take both the mess and the guesswork out of dosing cannabinoids.
Gummies are far from the only CBD edibles you can try, however. A more complete list of CBD edible types includes:
- CBD mints and chewable tablets
- CBD chocolates
- CBD brownies and cookies
- CBD + CBN gummies for sleep
- CBD crackers or chips
How Edibles Work in the Body
The body processes CBD edibles similarly to many other food items that have been infused with medicinally beneficial substances. Nutrients are separated out for other metabolic processes, while active ingredients — in this case, CBD — are processed by enzymes secreted by the liver.
As it is processed, CBD undergoes transformations: into 7-OH-CBD and then 7-COOH-CBD. Along the way, more and more CBD enters your bloodstream and passes to your brain, providing the cannabinoid’s notable relaxing effects. CBD will also disperse to the rest of your body, affecting your serotonin and inflammation-related neuroreceptors.
Due to the delayed release of the oral route, CBD edibles will continue to exert their effects for around three hours. The effects of CBD edibles dissipate subtly with no “crash” or “comedown.” CBD is not known to be toxic it at all, and your body can handle it in very high doses.
What is the Half-Life of CBD Edibles?
When it comes to substances you ingest, “half-life” has a very different meaning than it does in the context of radioactivity. This term refers to how long it takes for half of a substance you consumed to leave your body. In the case of CBD, the half-life of this compound is around 5 days.
This means that 5 days after you consume CBD, only around 50% of the substance will still be detectable in your tissues. After 30 days, the amount of CBD in your system has halved so many times that hardly any is left at all.
How Long Does Edible CBD Stay in Your Body?
The longest that orally ingested CBD can remain detectable in the human body is around 30 days. By that point, CBD will have been processed through your tissues to the extent that none remains — assuming you haven’t taken any more CBD in the meantime.
Edible CBD products might fully leave your system in far less time than 30 full days, however. Various factors, including your metabolism and how much CBD you take, can affect the duration this cannabinoid remains detectable in your body.
Which Factors Influence the Duration of Edible CBD in Your System?
Put simply, the more CBD you take and the slower your body gets rid of it, the longer it will be detectable in your system. Let’s take a look at a few of the common factors that might affect CBD half-life:
Dosage
The amount of CBD you take has a direct relationship with how long it will stay in your system. Your body can only process and excrete so much CBD at a time, so if you take more CBD, it will take longer for your body to be clear of all traces of the cannabinoid. No matter what CBD gummy dosage you take, though, CBD won’t remain detectable in your body after 30 days have passed since the last time you ingested it.
Frequency of Use
If you use CBD more frequently, it will have more of a chance to build up in your system, meaning it will be detectable longer. Taking a large dose of CBD the day after you just took a similarly sized dose, for instance, doesn’t give your body enough time to entirely clear the cannabinoid before it receives even more CBD to process.
Metabolism
Each individual person has their own metabolism, the rate at which their body processes nutrients and other substances you ingest. If your metabolism is faster, your body will process CBD faster as well. Individuals with slower metabolisms, however, might retain CBD in their bodies for longer — up to a maximum of approximately 30 days.
BMI
The more fat there is in your body, the greater the volume of tissue for CBD molecules to lodge inside before they are processed and excreted. Also, individuals with higher BMI also tend to have slower metabolisms, adding to the duration CBD might remain detectable.
Can You Fail a Drug Test with CBD Edibles?
Yes, it is possible to fail a drug test for THC after taking CBD edibles. CBD and drug tests generally don’t have anything to do with each other, but full-spectrum CBD products can contain up to 0.3% THC, which could be enough to show up on a drug test under certain circumstances.
If you take enough full-spectrum CBD over a short enough period, it’s possible for trace amounts of THC to accumulate to the point that they’re detectable in drug testing. It’s generally necessary to take a very large amount of full-spectrum CBD to trigger a drug test, though, and this potential problem cannot occur at all with broad-spectrum and full-spectrum CBD products.
How Long CBD Gummies Take to Leave Your System
CBD gummies (and any THC they might contain) can remain detectable in your system for various amounts of time, depending on the type of testing that is being conducted. Learn the maximum duration that CBD can remain detectable in urine, blood, saliva, and hair follicles:
Urine
Urine testing, or urinalysis, is the most common type of drug testing worldwide, and it can detect CBD gummy use for up to 30 days after you last ingested CBD. Most users will find that CBD and THC are no longer detectable in their urine 7-14 days after they last ingested cannabinoids.
Blood
Blood testing is not usually used to detect CBD or other cannabinoids since these substances don’t remain in your blood for very long. You can only detect CBD oil use that occurred in the last 24 hours or so with blood testing.
Saliva
Saliva tests are now often administered during traffic stops in which police suspect drug use. Taking a saliva test will show if you inhaled a CBD product containing THC recently, but it won’t provide any data on your CBD gummy usage. Saliva tests can only detect drug use that occurred within the last few hours.
Hair
Hair follicle testing provides the longest window of drug use detection, but it can’t detect drug use that occurred within the last seven days or so. In contrast to urinalysis, which can detect drug use that occurred very recently but only up to 30 days ago, hair follicle testing can detect drug use that occurred up to 90 days in the past.
How to Get CBD Out of Your System Faster
If you’re concerned about CBD oil being in your system for any reason and want to remove it faster, there are some easy and safe steps you can take. Following the first three of these tips will also help you lead a healthier and more balanced life, even if you aren’t trying to flush CBD as fast as possible. Let’s dive in:
1. Stay Hydrated
Water is the primary tool your body uses to clean itself from the inside out. Ensuring your body has access to plenty of this vital resource will make sure that CBD and other cannabinoids exit your system in a timely fashion. Don’t overdo it, though, since it’s actually possible to poison yourself with too much water.
2. Exercise Regularly
Exercise keeps your body’s processes in motion, which ensures quick and efficient elimination of CBD and any other substances that have accumulated in your fatty tissues. Too much exercise puts stress on your body, though, so stick to low-impact cardio. Exercises that make you sweat will help you purge your system of CBD oil even faster!
3. Increase Fiber Intake
Increasing the amount of fibrous food you eat on a daily basis encourages regular bowel movements, which helps your body purge itself of CBD faster. Many fruits, such as apples and raspberries, contain plenty of dietary fiber even if you only eat 1-2 servings a day.
4. Limit Further CBD Intake
CBD stays in your system longer if you keep taking it. If your concern is with THC remaining detectable, though, and not CBD, you can simply switch to a no-THC option like CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD products.
Is It Safe to Take CBD Edibles Everyday?
For most people, there is no reason not to take edibles containing CBD extract on a daily basis. Of course, CBD is only half of the equation with edibles, and you also have to make sure the other ingredients in your CBD extract treats are also safe to consume every day.
If you have any concerns about whether it’s safe to take CBD gummies or other edibles daily, consult with your doctor. These days, most physicians are open to CBD and can even help recommend proper dose schedules while steering clear of drug interactions.
Can CBD Gummies Interact with Other Medications?
Yes, the CBD in CBD gummies can interact with a wide variety of different medications. This is not a concern because of any CBD benefits that might become overemphasized, but rather the danger of other drugs accumulating because they are competing with CBD to be processed.
Taking CBD can increase the effects of blood-thinning drugs, for instance, potentially to a dangerous degree. That’s why it’s always wise to review a full CBD drug interactions list before making the decision to try this cannabinoid. It may also be wise to consult with your doctor, who might change your prescriptions accordingly.
Where to Buy Trusted CBD Gummies
Over the years, the internet has continued to prove to be the best possible source of CBD gummies. Online, you can choose between dozens of different options, narrowing down the ideal solution for your particular needs.
You’ll also enjoy much greater value when shopping for CBD gummies online. The types of companies that ship their products across the country have to compete with many others like them. Over the years, competitors that couldn’t make the cut have faded away while other brands have risen to positions of trusted prominence.
Offering the world’s best CBD since 2017, Colorado Botanicals is one of the most-certified and highest-regarded CBD companies online. Whether you’re ready for a large dose right away or you’d prefer to start slow, our 25mg CBD Gummies and 10mg CBD Gummies are there to provide the ideal amount of CBD for every time and place. They also offer award-winning CBD oils, CBN oils for sleep, CBG oils, CBD softgels, and CBD for pets.
Clean, easy to dose, and fully certified. Colorado Botanicals CBD Gummies lead the way as the CBD industry continues to evolve and grow.
CBD Edibles FAQ
Familiarize yourself even further with the world of CBD edibles with these frequently asked questions:
Which cannabis compounds do drug tests detect?
The only cannabis compound that drug tests usually detect is THC. Since it is a legal substance, there is no reason for drug test manufacturers to include CBD in their lists of screened substances. Drug tests often also detect forms of THC other than delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol, but CBD is different enough from THC that it won’t show up when testing for THC alternatives, either.
Is CBD legal?
Yes, CBD is fully federally legal under the 2018 Farm Bill. Since the passage of this landmark piece of legislation, almost all states have passed their own bills echoing the legality of CBD. States that have enacted anti-CBD bills generally target commerce, not individual possession, making it possible to buy CBD edibles online even if your state has a “CBD ban.”
You can find out each state’s laws here:
Can you calculate how long CBD will stay in your system?
It might not be possible to predict the exact date and hour when your system will be entirely free of CBD, but it’s easier to narrow down how long it will take CBD to leave your body by following these simple tips:
- Doses of CBD under 100mg generally clear your system within 7 days
- If you take a larger dose or the same dose multiple times, however, expect CBD to remain detectable for 1-2 weeks
- Only in cases of daily use of high doses of CBD does the cannabinoid remain detectable for more than ~14 days
- The average CBD user’s body will be entirely clear of cannabinoids no later than 21 days after their last dose
- The maximum period of 30 days that cannabinoids can remain detectable is only relevant to daily users of high doses
How do I know if CBD interacts with my medication?
There’s a simple trick you can use to determine if a medication shouldn’t be taken with CBD: Look for a “grapefruit warning” somewhere on the label. Usually denoted by a picture of a grapefruit with a line through it, this warning will tell you not to eat grapefruit while taking the medication. CBD can interact with this type of drug, so consult with a doctor before taking CBD with any prescriptions that come with grapefruit warnings.
Conclusion: How Long Do CBD Gummies Stay in Your System?
Drug tests can seem overwhelming when you’re concerned an illegal substance might show up. Just wait 30 days before taking a drug test, however, or choose a form of CBD that doesn’t contain THC — drug tests don’t detect CBD, just THC.
Hemp-derived CBD products are now plentiful on the internet, making it easy to narrow down your options to a brand that truly speaks to your needs. Trust Colorado Botanicals to deliver the pure CBD your body needs without worrying about drug testing or THC.
