How Long the Effects of CBD Last in Your Body?

Have you ever wondered how long the effects of CBD last in your body after consuming it? This article highlights the factors that determine the amount of time CBD effects last in the body, including the body's metabolism rate.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has become excessively popular over the past few years, particularly as a supplement. However, since it has trace amounts of THC, it may be detectable during drug tests. This may be a problem, especially if you are seeking employment. It is believed that CBD and THC are similar. As much as CBD is a natural supplement, there's still the possibility of THC metabolites being detected during a drug screening test. This article will explain how CBD interacts with your body and the factors that affect how long the effects of CBD will stay in your body.

What is CBD?

CBD is a compound of cannabis. CBD does not have psychoactive effects like its counterpart THC, meaning it cannot get you high. Even though CBD doesn't alter an individual's state of mind, it has various effects on the body.

How CBD Affects the Body

Your body produces CB1 and CB2 receptors. CB1 receptors are located all over your body, but most are in the brain. These receptors are responsible for coordinating movement, thoughts, moods, and emotions. Whereas CB2 receptors are found in the immune system, they mainly affect pain and inflammation.

Other cannabinoids interact with CB1 and CB2 receptors, producing various effects in your body. THC binds itself to CB1 receptors, whereas CBD stimulates them, making the body produce its cannabinoids known as endocannabinoids. This results in pain and inflammation reduction and body relaxation.

Though CBD provides a calming feeling without altering the mind, how it affects you may vary depending on the extraction method. For example, unlike CBD derived from the hemp plant, CBD derived from marijuana may contain intoxicating THC.

You can also choose either full spectrum or broad spectrum CBD. Full spectrum CBD has many cannabis plant compounds such as terpenes, cannabinoids, flavonoids, and THC content. On the other hand, broad-spectrum CBD only has non-intoxicating compounds like flavonoids, terpenes, and others. The broad spectrum starts as a full spectrum but then undergoes a process that eliminates all intoxicating compounds.

How Long Do the Effects Last in the Body?

According to Shannon & Opila-Lehman (2016), CBD's effects help relieve pain, anxiety, stress, and other conditions. However, how long the effects of CBD last in the body varies greatly. This is because the duration of CBD's effects is determined by several factors, as described below.

Dosage

According to Johnson et al. (2013), the higher your dose, the longer CBD's effects will last in your body. However, it is not recommendable to use a high dose, especially if you are a beginner. Begin by consuming the lowest recommended dose indicated on the product, then gradually increase your dose if necessary.

Frequency

How frequently you use CBD products determines how long CBD effects last. If you use CBD regularly, it will stay in your body longer. After using CBD continuously, its build-up could make the effects last longer. However, using it once in a while will quickly clear your system's effects.

Body Type

Everyone's body is different, which is why CBD products affect everyone differently. Weight is an important factor because it influences metabolism. Moreover, CBD is fat-soluble. Therefore, it's stored in the body's fat cells. Therefore, if your body has less fat, it won't store a large amount of CBD and will enable you to process it faster, which will shorten the duration of its effects. If your body has a high-fat percentage, CBD effects may last longer because your body would take more time to process a large amount of CBD in the fat cells.

Lifestyle

According to  Flannery et al. (2018), your lifestyle also influences the duration of CBD's effects on your body since your metabolism is affected by your lifestyle. If you are an active person, your metabolism will be higher. Therefore, your body will process CBD faster. In short, if you have an extremely active lifestyle, the effects of CBD will not last long.

Food

What you eat and the amount of food you take greatly matters. Using CBD products on a full stomach seems to delay the body's capacity to process the substance. Therefore, CBD's effects may last longer.

Method of Consumption

The consumption method is one factor that influences how long CBD effects will last. Every consumption method offers different timings for how quickly the effects kick in and how long they last in the body. Below are the most common consumption methods and the duration of their effects;

CBD Boosters

These include CBD products like vape oils, juice, e-liquid, tablets, and mints. The effects of CBD boosters only take a few minutes to kick in. For example, CBD enters your lungs when vaping and is absorbed immediately. However, the effects of boosters leave your body as quickly as they enter. The impact of CBD boosters only lasts for two to four hours.

CBD Topicals

According to Linher-Melville et al. (2020), CBD topicals are applied directly to your skin to relieve pain in the affected area. Most people use CBD topical to treat external conditions, such as joint pain. CBD topicals can also be used to treat acne. In addition, some CBD topicals have additional ingredients that provide the skin with moisturizing properties. Examples of topical products include salves, lotions, and creams. They come in tubs and mostly contain one to four ounces. The onset of such products is usually longer than the one experienced in CBD boosters since the skin takes time to absorb the product.

It normally takes 15 to 20 minutes for CBDs effects to kick in and about 5 hours for them to wear off. Determining the ideal dosage can be very challenging because the content of CBD varies per tub. However, to determine the perfect dosage, you can try and listen to the body and understand what it needs.

CBD Tinctures

CBD tinctures are made by combining alcohol and water to remove the desired compound from cannabis. The extract may be created using oil, glycerin, or vinegar. However, these solvents do not provide a similar potency level as the alcohol and water extract. CBD tinctures are taken sublingually. This way, the substance is absorbed by the tissue under the tongue. Therefore, it doesn't go via your digestive system. The onset time is shortened through this delivery method, and the effects are felt within thirty minutes. Tinctures are potent, and the effects last about 12 to 48 hours. Therefore, they provide a good option if you want quick relief. Taking more than two or three teaspoons daily is not advisable.

CBD Edibles

CBD edibles pass through the digestive system and must be metabolized. Their effects take one hour to kick in. Moreover, CBD edibles' effects can last 12 to 24 hours in your system. You can continue feeling their impact several days later as they leave your body.

CBD Oil Capsules

Like edibles, capsules go via the digestive system to the liver, where different enzymes metabolize them. This process delays the effects a bit. The effects may kick in about an hour after taking the capsules. However, those effects last for about twelve to twenty-four hours.

CBD Oil Transdermal Patches

This method's effects last the longest, ranging between twenty-four to ninety-six hours. Nonetheless, they have an extended onset time. However, it may take hours to feel the impact after applying the patch. Learn more about what are flavonoids?

Conclusion

Research into CBD is still ongoing to provide people with a complete understanding of its effects. However, CBD is regarded safe for use. Previous studies show that CBD has fewer side effects compared to THC and some over-the-counter medications. It's impossible to doubt the popularity of CBD products due to their efficiency in reducing pain and inflammation and managing stress and anxiety. Though its full possibilities are yet to be grasped, CBD benefits many people.

References

Flannery, L., Poutahidis, T., Berg, G., Clarke, G., Dao, M. C., Decaestecker, E., ... & Rook, G. (2018). The impact of human activities and lifestyles on the interlinked microbiota and health of humans and of ecosystems. Science of the total environment, 627, 1018-1038.

Johnson, J. R., Lossignol, D., Burnell-Nugent, M., & Fallon, M. T. (2013). An open-label extension study to investigate the long-term safety and tolerability of THC/CBD oromucosal spray and oromucosal THC spray in patients with terminal cancer-related pain refractory to strong opioid analgesics. Journal of Pain and symptom management, 46(2), 207-218.

Liner-Melville, K., Zhu, Y. F., Sidhu, J., Parzei, N., Shahid, A., Shankar, G., ... & Singh, G. (2020). Evaluation of the preclinical analgesic efficacy of naturally derived, orally administered oil forms of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol (CBD), and their 1: 1 combination. PLoS One, 15(6), e0234176.

Shannon, S., & Opila-Lehman, J. (2016). Effectiveness of cannabidiol oil for pediatric anxiety and insomnia as part of posttraumatic stress disorder: a case report. The Permanente Journal, 20(4).