An influx of people are discovering that delta 8 THC offers exactly the experience that they want out of the hemp plant. Its mild psychoactive effects paired with its particularly mellowing properties make it a must-have for many hemp enthusiasts, especially in the evening and nighttime hours. Delta 8 is a federally legal cannabinoid that any adult can buy online without any hassle, and because of this, it’s become extremely popular in recent years.
But, there’s one thing that a lot of daily delta 8 users overlook, which is that delta 8 can stay in your system longer than they may think. Now, this information is only really important on a practical level if you’re someone who gets drug-tested, and so, is worried that their delta-8 hobby is going to cause them to fail. Still, the biomechanics of this compound’s metabolism are fascinating regardless.
How Long Can You Feel the Effects of Delta 8 THC For?
Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid that comes from the hemp plant, making up only about 0.1% of the plant’s chemical composition. Note that the products labeled as “delta 8” on the market contain a purified, concentrated distillate of the cannabinoid, because the amount naturally found in hemp is too low to actually offer its effects in a noticeable way.
Delta 8 is the result of delta 9 THC which has oxidized in the plant material, converting partially into the delta 8 THC cannabinoid. Through this conversion process, delta 8 loses about 30% of its predecessor’s psychoactive properties, meaning that the high is milder for users. But, the duration of the high seems to be about the same.
How long that high lasts depends primarily on the type of delta 8 product that has been taken:
- Inhalable Products: Products that are inhaled, such as delta 8 flower or vapes, have the shortest-lasting effects, which can wear off in about 1 to 2 hours after consumption.
- Ingestible Products: By comparison, delta 8 products that are ingested, like gummies and capsules, can produce effects that last for around 8 hours total.
- Sublingual Products: Sublingual products (tinctures) tend to offer about 4 to 6 hours of a high for most users.
How Long Does Delta 8 THC Stay in the Body?
Now, just because the effects of the delta 8 high have worn off does not mean that delta 8 has now been fully cleared from your body. We know that with just about any substance, whether it be alcohol or a medication, requires time to fully metabolize and break down in the body long after its effects have been felt. Delta 8 and other cannabinoids are no different – even though you’re no longer high, delta 8 THC is present in the body.
So, how long is delta 8 in the body?
Well, anywhere from 2 to 30 days, on average. We know this is quite a wide range, but that’s because a lot of factors influence the length of time it takes for delta 8 to break down. For most people, half of their dose of delta 8 THC is metabolized by the 30-minute mark following absorption, and then 25% more gets metabolized 30 minutes later. But from there, a much slower metabolization process occurs to break down the remaining 25% of the initial dose, and this can take an unexpectedly long period of time.
What Influences the Length of Time During Which Delta 8 THC is in Your System
So, what determines how long it takes for delta 8 THC to fully clear from the system? A surprising number of factors, as it turns out. This is why it’s impossible to tell one individual how long it will take before their body is clear from delta 8, without knowing details about not only their delta 8 routine, but their body as well.
#1: How Frequently You’re Using It
How often you take delta 8 makes a huge difference when it comes to how long it takes to clear from the body. Taking it several times a day, as an example, causes something of a metabolization traffic jam, meaning it takes more time than average to fully break down. Taking delta 8 THC once a week leaves enough room for the metabolization process to completely rid the body of delta 8.
#2: That Said Delta 8 Product You’re Taking
Products that have longer-lasting effects also take longer to leave the body, which is why someone who consumes edibles each day is going to have delta 8 levels in the body for longer than someone who vapes the same number of milligrams.
#3: Product Strength
How many milligrams of delta 8 are in a product makes a difference, for the same reason as how frequently you take it. Naturally, the more delta 8 is in your body, the longer it will take for that amount to be fully processed by the body.
#4: Your Metabolism
Some people simply metabolize delta 8 more slowly than others, and there is no type of test that can tell you how long it takes for you to break down cannabinoids. For this reason alone, there is no specific answer for how long it takes for delta 8 to leave the system.
#5: When You Last Consumed Delta 8
Naturally, when you last took delta 8 will largely determine how long before it’s gone from your body.
- If you took delta 8 several weeks ago, chances are that it’s long gone by now.
- If you took delta 8 this morning, your body is still working to metabolize it.
Overall, it is Hard to Tell How Long Delta 8 THC Remains Detectable in the Human Body
Ultimately, there is no clear cut formula to tell you how long it will take before delta 8 THC is no longer in your system, because there are simply too many factors at work. Still, if you’re taking a drug test in the near future, best to abstain from delta 8 entirely until the test is over, as this cannabinoid can remain in the system for longer than you may think.