If you’re an athlete worried about getting caught with weed in in your system, you’ve come to the right place. I’ll let you know how long weed stays in your system, and then you can decide between the best detoxifier or the best synthetic urine (provided above) to pass a drug test.
Depending on varied factors, it can take at least three days to fully get rid of weed from the system of a first-time athlete smoker. Those who use weed frequently should expect a detection window of about 5-7 days. Potheads who tend to smoke less than one joint daily will have positive weed test results for the next 30 days.
In this article, I will shed more light on how long weed stays in an athlete’s system, whether it will show up on a drug test, and how as an athlete you can beat a Marijuana drug test.
How Long Does Weed Stay in the System of an Athlete
Weed, commonly known as Marijuana, constitutes more than 4000 chemical compounds referred to as cannabinoids.
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is among the many compounds found in undried and fresh weed plants. Upon drying the weed plant, the chemical gets decarboxylated into delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
Upon smoking, Weed, THC cannabinoid component finds its way into the body system through the respiratory tract. It then gets processed in the lungs or stomach depending on how you ate it, after which it gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream and transported into other body organs, including the brain.
In the brain, THC attacks the neurons and fixes itself on both the CB1 & CB2 receptors, which form the endocannabinoid system, and as a result, you start experiencing psychoactive effects.
In the liver, THC gets broken down into THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), an inactive form. Cannabis is then transported from the liver through the bloodstream into the kidneys and excreted in the form of urine out of the body system.
What Gets Tested?
During the weed detection window, amid the many cannabinoids found in Marijuana, THC (delta-9-THC) is the compound checked for, known for mind-alteration. After consuming weed as an athlete, components that are not THC related do not remain in the body system for a long time.
However, THC gets metabolized into a couple of inactive metabolites without necessarily making an individual experience a high sensation.
Hence, the weed test window checks for the THC metabolites in their inactive form. During the process of THC metabolism, at least 80 distinct metabolites get broken down. The breakdowns are then packaged in body fats, after which they get eliminated through urine and feces. Hence, making urine test an ideal form of weed test.
Will Weed Show up on a Drug Test
Weed will show positive results on different drug tests, including hair, urine, blood, saliva, and sweat tests. However, the time length that THC will show after ingestion varies greatly. Thus, each method of testing weed possesses a distinct time range of weed detection window.
The following all the various tests used to check for weed in the body system;
Urine Test
This method of testing for the presence of weed is most commonly used because of its precision. It is also known as a urine drug screen, piss test, and urinalysis. Through this drug, it takes roughly 3-45 days for the results to get proved positive. According to research conducted by scientists:
- It takes 2-6 days to detect weed for occasional users
- 1-2 weeks for moderate users to show Positive for Weed
- 10-15 days for frequent users to tests positive for weed
- While for heavy users, it can take more than 30 days
The urine test detects a by-product of weed known as THC-COOH. This method is the most popular in detecting the herb in an athlete’s system for various reasons.
Blood Test
Your body filters weed from the blood faster than in the urine. The compound THC checked in the blood test is not the by-product THC-COOH. For that reason, it takes 1-2 days for weed detection in the blood. However, for heavy users, the parameters changes due to an increase in the amount of inhaling.
Immediately after smoking weed, it gets absorbed directly and enters your bloodstream, and it can be detected between 24 and 72 hours. Typically, the blood test is commonly used in injuries, DUI investigations, and accidents.
Hair Follicle Testing
This method is also known as hair analysis, which is only suitable for heavy smokers and not occasional smokers. The THC finds its way into the hair follicles via tiny blood vessels, and the detection window goes up to 90 days.
Hair analysis calls for advanced and modern testing equipment making the blood and urine tests more preferable.
Saliva Test
This form of testing offers a very brief weed detection window. Occasional users have a 24 hours detection window while those who heavily use the drug have 72 hours or more detection window.
How Athletes Can Beat a Marijuana Drug Test
As an athlete, you might have a drug test popping up soon and want to find a way of ridding weed of your body system as fast as possible. Unfortunately, speeding up the flushing process to get rid of THC can be challenging.
But there exist some means of flushing out THC metabolites out of your body system. These avenues include;
Use safe detoxing: This will accelerate your body’s natural detoxification systems naturally. Use of detoxification products will cleanse your urine and blood of toxins such as THC metabolites in approximately 3-6 days contingent on the number of toxins packaged in your body.
Administration of large amounts of liquids: Fluids such as water (excluding alcoholic beverages) washes away THC metabolites faster and is another way of beating the marijuana test. This method is effective, but it possesses some risks and it can be risky. Drinking too much water can result in water intoxication whose aftermaths may result in illness or even death.
It is advocated to take in Cranberry juice, which is more effective than water and greatly aid in flushing the metabolites. On the same note, overly diluted urine may act as a red flag, and it is recommended to take in vitamin B to improve on the concentration and appearance of your urine (More yellow).
The first void: You should avoid using the first urine. Before the day of taking the test, urinating as many times as possible makes a huge difference. Additionally, avoid collection of the first urine stream because the chances are that it will have a massive quantity of metabolites.
Stay away from high-calorie diets: Other possible means of beating a marijuana drug test as an athlete are reducing the intake of calories and exercising heavily.
THE 100% SURE WAY: Well, none of the numerous tips you find all over the internet are foolproof. In truth, the best method to ensure that that you pass a weed drug test is marijuana abstinence. Ceasing from taking weed as you prepare for a forthcoming test will provide you with ample time to thoroughly flush out all THC metabolites in the body.
Withdrawal Process Symptoms
As an athlete who regularly ingests cannabis, you might experience some withdrawal symptoms such as:
- Headaches
- Reduced Appetite
- Depression
- Craving for Marijuana
- Irritability
- Mood changes
- Anxiety
- Sleep problems
Bottom Line
Drug tests are a common procedure in any work environment, but it poses a real challenge for both medical and recreational cannabis users. For this reason, it’s crucial to understand how long compounds and’s for by-products of cannabis tend to stay in your body. This information will help you formulate a plan or stay away from the herb for a while when you hear the news of an upcoming drug test.
