Several factors determine how long tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is what gives you the high when using a cannabis edible, stays in the human body. Dosage and amount of THC in the cannabis, patterns of use and method of consumption, metabolism, lifestyle, and overall health all contribute to the amount of time the body needs to eliminate THC out of the system. The liver breaks THC into metabolites, which are the byproducts that are formed during metabolic processes. The body then excretes the byproducts from the cannabis in the form of urine and feces. THC metabolites in urine can be detected with testing for up to 3 days for occasional users and up to 30 days or more for heavy users. They can also be detected in the blood and saliva for up to 7 days, although the typical expectation is 1-3 days for both. THC metabolites last much longer in hair follicles, up to 90 days in some cases, although there are concerns with the reliability of hair follicle THC testing because environmental factors can result in false positives and they can’t determine recent use.
