Although marijuana usage has become more acceptable than ever before, many employers still have clear policies, which have a zero-tolerance for drug or alcohol use. And, of course, this includes using marijuana for both recreational and medicinal purposes.
Still, despite these policies, many employees continue to use marijuana. Therefore, if you’re a marijuana user, it’s important to understand how to detox your system and clean your urine, just in case you’re ever asked to take a urine test.
Some employers may surprise their employees with random drug testing, but most of the time, employees are given some advanced notice that they’ll be required to take a urine test.
This is the best case scenario since it will give you more time to detox your system and prepare yourself for the test. Essentially, the more time you have to prepare, the higher your chances will be of passing.
To get an idea of how long THC will stay in your system, check out this drug test calculator here.
What is THC?
THC is the main active ingredient in marijuana, which is responsible for giving its users feelings of euphoria.
When marijuana is smoked or consumed in any way, the THC molecules will quickly make their way into the user’s bloodstream where levels will peak just minutes after consuming the drug.
THC molecules are then broken down into metabolites, which are stored in a person’s fat cells for several days or weeks after having used marijuana. Because of how long THC can remain in your system, it’s important to begin cleansing your system as soon as possible if you know you have a drug test coming up soon.
Detection Levels
It’s worth noting that most urine test are only looking for traces of THC that are present at 50ng/ml or higher, and anything below this level will not cause you to fail a drug test.
Therefore, one common method for passing a drug test isn’t necessarily to completely cleanse your system of THC. But simply to lower your THC levels below the point where they are detectable. This can be done by drinking plenty of water and using detox products, which we’ll talk about a little further below.
How to Detox from Marijuana and THC
Failing a workplace drug test often means termination, or in some cases, even fines and lawsuits. Therefore, it’s vital to read our Drug Testing Reviews – how to pass a drug test to make sure you’re properly prepared.
There are many things you can do to increase your chances of passing, however, it’s important to understand that none of the following techniques are guaranteed to work. This is because there are many factors that can affect how long THC will remain in your system.
For example, since THC is stored in a person’s fat cells, the higher their body fat content is, the longer THC will likely remain detectable. Another important factor is your metabolism. People with faster metabolisms will generally be free of THC faster than those with slower metabolism rates.
How long THC remains detectable will also be affected by how much and how often a person uses marijuana.
The half-life of THC is about one week, or seven days. This means that if you’ve only used marijuana once, after seven days, you’ll still have about 50% of the THC left in your system. With that said, after two weeks, a person who has only used marijuana once should be able to pass a urine test.
However, if a person uses marijuana frequently, there will be significantly more THC in their system and in some cases, it can take anywhere between 4 to 8 weeks before being completely free of THC.
Proper Hydration
Drinking ample amounts of water is the absolute best way to cleanse your system. Not only does proper hydration give your body what it needs to function properly, drinking plenty of water will also cause you to urinate more often, essentially cleansing your system each time your go.
Healthy Eating
Eating a healthy diet is another excellent way to cleanse your system and prepare for an upcoming drug test.
Foods that are rich in vitamins and minerals, as well as fiber-rich foods are the best choice when it comes to cleaning up your system.
Just remember to avoid eating junk foods, which are high in fat content, since fat is where THC is stored. And, the more you eat fatty foods, the longer THC will likely remain in your system.
Exercise
You can also boost your metabolism rate and cleanse your system faster by exercising and getting your heart rate up.
When we exercise, our bodies turn to using their fat stores for fuel. Therefore, the more you exercise, the more you’ll be ridding your body of any traces of THC that may be present.
Just make sure to avoid any type of strenuous exercise starting the day before taking a urine test. This is because exercise is known to actually increase THC levels in your bloodstream before they are filtered and eliminated by your liver.
Our bodies also rid themselves of toxins when we sweat. So, even if you’re opposed to exercising, you can still help cleanse your system by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, which will elevate your body temperature enough to help clean things up.
Detox Products
There are countless detox products that are available, which can be used to help detox your system prior to taking a urine test.
These products work by providing your body with an abundance of vitamins and minerals that naturally rid your system of THC. These products also work to help mask any traces that are leftover.
Passing a Urine Test
As we’ve mentioned, none of the methods we’ve talked about are guaranteed to help you pass a drug test. This is partly due to the fact that modern drug testing has improved over the years, as well as the fact that there are many factors that will determine how long THC remains in your system
With that in mind, it’s important to stop using marijuana as soon as you know you’ll be taking a test. We also recommend using a combination of the aforementioned techniques for the best chances of passing a urine test.