Are you a sportsman and can you be tested for drugs? Have you found a job that requires you to take a regular urine test? Or maybe the police have stopped you and you need to be tested?

Before we talk about how long CBD lasts in urine, we must clarify that current drug tests do not look for the presence of CBD. 

CBD is an active ingredient extracted from the cannabis plant that has no psychoactive effects, is therefore considered safe and is currently used for its countless beneficial properties. 

Rather, what drug tests look for is THC.

It is a compound similar to CBD, also extracted from the cannabis plant, but with psychoactive effects, i.e. with the ability to provide a high if taken in high doses. Tests look specifically for the level of THC since, if high, it can denote marijuana use. 

Unlike traditional marijuana, which is considered a narcotic in many countries, including Italy, legal light cannabis contains high levels of CBD but a low percentage of THC. This percentage, set by the state, is considered safe for health. 

The problem arises when the final product contains higher than legal levels of THC. In this case, the drug test could give a positive result. 

To avoid this inconvenience, it is advisable to purchase products from safe and authorised dealers, reading the actual THC percentage on the lab tests of the final products. If you are still in doubt despite this, find out how long CBD lasts in urine.

Can traces of CBD be found in urine?

First of all, you need to know that cannabinoids are fat-soluble. This means that they enter the bloodstream quickly after intake. This is why their effect is so rapid after intake. But, on the other hand, it also means that they go to rest in the adipose tissue. 

The kidneys then have the task of excreting the substance and this explains why urine tests are required. 

The presence and permanence of cannabinoids in the urine depends on several factors. First and foremost certainly the frequency of cannabis consumption, as we have already mentioned that in occasional users the substance remains in the body for a shorter period of time. Then there is the amount of cannabis consumed and one’s diet. Finally, one’s build and fat mass is also important. 

The amount and duration of cannabinoid traces in urine depend on all these variables. 

We have said, however, that CBD is not the substance sought by urine tests. Therefore, even if there should be traces of it, this is currently considered legal. Moreover, unlike in the United States, such specific drug tests are not performed in Italy except in very special cases. In normal tests it is difficult for traces of CBD to emerge, partly because it is absorbed very quickly by the body. 

How long does CBD last in urine?

Scientists have also wondered how long CBD lasts in urine, and a study by a team of Italians consisting of researchers from La Sapienza University in Rome and researchers from the National Centre for Addiction and Doping in the Marche region of Italy provided the answer. The study was conducted on light cannabis, given its widespread use. 

Participants smoked 1 gram of light cannabis, i.e. buds containing a THC concentration of less than 0.2%. A fluid screening was then carried out, followed by a urine and saliva test. 

In the first 30 minutes after smoking, there was a THC concentration of 2.5 to 21.5 ng/mL in the oral fluid. Then the value progressively decreased until a negative result was returned. In contrast, a value of 15.1 ng/mL CBD and 1.8 ng/mL THC was recorded in the urine. 

The conclusion established by the researchers was that users of a single 1-gram dose of light cannabis did not test positive in urine screening. However, they would have tested positive if they had been screened on site in the first hour after smoking. 

With higher amounts, it is estimated that CBD may remain in the urine for about a week, but in some cases even longer. 
According to other scientific sources, if use is prolonged over time, traces in the urine may be visible for several weeks.

How drug tests are carried out

When we talk about drug testing, or drug testing, we have to distinguish between the different types. It is important to know the types of tests because the results can change a lot from one to another. 

To find out whether there has been recent substance use, the most common and quickest test is a blood test. Through a blood sample, it is possible to tell if a person has recently taken any substances. Traces of THC, which in high amounts is considered a drug, can remain in the blood for up to 1 week in the case of occasional users and up to 2/3 weeks in regular users. 

If, on the other hand, an authority wants to find out whether there has been drug use in the last three months, it will request a urine test. This test, unlike a blood test, allows one to go quite far back in time. 

To go even further back, there is finally the hair test. This is the one used by the police when, during a control, they stop a person who could potentially be under the influence of drugs. A urine test is requested immediately and, in the event of a positive result, hair tests are subsequently requested, which can even last for years.

How long to dispose of CBD

As we saw earlier, the length of time that traces of cannabinoids remain in the body varies from person to person, the frequency of use and the amount taken. 

The metabolism is indeed different in each of us and the method of intake also makes a big difference. 

One dose is disposed of fairly quickly by the body, as the test carried out by Italian researchers has just shown. Major problems arise for habitual users. Traces of cannabinoids may appear in the urine of a regular user, i.e. a person who consumes cannabis several times a week, up to a month later. 

Even more serious is the situation of those who take cannabis several times a day, because their tests can remain positive for up to two months. 

There is therefore no one-size-fits-all answer. What is certain is that if you know you have tests, it is best to limit consumption in the period beforehand. To limit the result in the urine test, we advise you not to deliver the first urine of the day, which is richer in metabolites, but to urinate a few times before taking the sample for the test.

How to dispose of CBD and THC

The good news is that there are ‘tricks’ to get rid of cannabinoids faster. Actually, it has everything to do with the variables we have listed, i.e. diet and lifestyle. This applies more to blood and urine tests than anything else, because on the hair test there is very little you can do. 

Let’s see what habits can help you get rid of CBD and THC more quickly: 

• Water: you should drink a lot of water a day, the recommended two litres to stay healthy, as water helps to cleanse the body and dilutes cannabinoids in the urine (so that your urine is not over-diluted, and thus does not arouse suspicion, compensate by taking a creatine supplement); 
• Healthy diet: as you may have already guessed, the duration of cannabinoid traces in the body also depends on diet as they bind to fat mass, which means you should limit foods that increase fat mass in favour of lean mass; 
• Physical activity: still on the subject of lean mass, exercise can help you burn fat, it also makes you sweat and this is another method of expelling the substances taken.

This is not a magic remedy, but good habits to follow if you want to start a period of abstinence. The advice is always to dose wisely and avoid taking it if you know you are facing a test. 

Make sure you choose products that do not compromise testing

Now that you know how long CBD lasts in urine, you can make a more informed choice about which products to take, when and in what quantity. The real problem with cannabis is always the level of THC it contains, which is why legal cannabis has an extremely low percentage. 

However, you have to pay attention to Italian laws because, for example, smoking cannabis, even light cannabis, is forbidden in Italy. This means that you cannot justify yourself by saying that you have smoked legal cannabis. 

In general, the body disposes of CBD fairly quickly. The important thing is that you always choose legal products and follow the recommended dosage and directions for use. 

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