So you smoked a little weed, and now you’re worried about passing a drug test. Or maybe you hated the stoned experience so much that you want every damn weed molecule out of your precious body immediately. Whatever the situation, your mildly high (and highly paranoid) mind is begging to know, how long does weed stay in your body from one hit? The good news is, the less weed you smoke, the faster it leaves your body. The bad news is, it can still be hard to say for sure when your system is completely clear.
This is because all bodies react to cannabis differently, as Daniele Piomelli, director of the University of California, Irvine’s Center for the Study of Cannabis, told me while we were discussing tolerance breaks: “This depends on several factors. How heavy and how frequent is [your] cannabis use? The heavier and more frequent, the longer the time to return to normality. Age, sex and individual differences are also important.”
For example, you in particular might be wondering, how long does weed stay in your system for a skinny boy, as opposed to a large king? The answer would be less time for the thinner guy, since cannabis metabolites are fat-soluble and therefore linger for longer in people who have a higher percentage of body fat. Your genetics can also play a role in how quickly your body eliminates weed molecules, as can your fluid intake and how regularly you exercise.
Nonetheless, all differences acknowledged, there are some accepted (and scientifically-backed) estimates for how long weed stays in your system, depending on your usage.
How Long Is Weed Detectable in Urine?
One Time: 4-8 Days
2-4 Times per Month: 11-18 Days
2-4 Times per Week: 23-35 Days
5-6 Times per Week: 33-48 Days
Daily: 49-70 Days After Last Use
Interestingly, though, sometimes daily users are able to test negative as quickly as one-time users, so again, it really depends on your body. It also depends on the type of test you’re given: The above numbers are for pee tests, but blood and saliva tests can only detect weed for up to a week after ingestion, and hair tests can identify weed in your system almost indefinitely.
Can’t wait four to eight days for that hit to leave your system? Here’s how to pass a drug test. Good luck at your new job.
Ian Lecklitner
Ian Lecklitner is a staff writer at MEL Magazine. He mostly writes about everyone's favorite things: Sex, drugs and food.
