How to Detox Your Body from Cannabis

If you need to pass a drug test for employment, or are randomly selected by your company for a test, you may need to detox your body in preparation. The best way to ensure your body is free of cannabis is to never use it in the first place. However, if you’ve already used it, it’s essential to understand the drug testing process and choose a strategy to improve your chances of passing. See Step 1 below to get started!

Know the factors that affect how long cannabis stays in your system. THC is the primary compound in cannabis that impacts the nervous system, and it remains in your body after use. The length of time THC (or its metabolites - chemicals that THC breaks down into) can be detected in your system varies from person to person, depending on several health and lifestyle factors (see below).

• Metabolism. Your metabolism affects how quickly your body breaks down and eliminates the metabolites produced by THC. Everyone has a different metabolic rate, which is influenced by height, weight, gender, activity level, and genetics. The faster your metabolism, the quicker THC is eliminated from your body.
• Body fat. THC is stored in fat cells. This means after using cannabis, THC primarily concentrates in fat-rich organs like the brain, ovaries, and testes. However, THC metabolites can stay in your body fat for up to a month after consumption.
• Frequency of use. The more often you use cannabis, the longer its metabolites will stay in your system. Since THC and its metabolites remain even after you no longer feel their effects, frequent use results in higher concentrations of these chemicals. Heavy users typically test positive longer than light users, even if they stop using cannabis at the same time.
• Potency. The strength of the cannabis you use also affects how long it stays in your system. Stronger cannabis, with higher THC levels, will stay in your body longer than lower-quality cannabis.
• Exercise/lifestyle. Exercise intensity is believed to influence THC levels in the body, though it’s unclear exactly how it does. Contrary to popular belief, exercise does not necessarily “release” THC from your body by burning fat cells. Some studies suggest that exercising shortly after cannabis use can actually increase THC levels in the blood, at least in the short term.

Assess the likelihood of being selected for a drug test. If your company has around 100 employees or receives financial backing from the government or private investors, it's possible you will be tested, whether it’s part of an initial screening or random testing during your employment. The Department of Defense mandates regular drug tests for military personnel, and probation officers/interns are also subject to similar screening. In some industries, such as restaurants and hotels, drug testing is less common, but it doesn't mean it's absent.

• It's important to note that while urine tests can diagnose pregnancy and other health issues, your company doesn't have the legal right to use them for these purposes. According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), they are prohibited from rejecting you based on these grounds.

Understand the types of drug tests you may undergo. Your company might use different methods to screen for THC in your system. These vary in cost, convenience, and accuracy. Most companies (but not all) will opt for cheaper methods, while businesses hiring for critical positions might require more expensive tests. Here are the most common types of tests:

• Saliva Test: Saliva tests (using a swab to collect saliva from the mouth) are inexpensive and only detect drugs for a very short time after use. Theoretically, saliva tests can only detect THC for a few days after use. Some companies prefer this test due to its convenience, ease of conducting surprise tests, and difficulty for employees to refuse. However, saliva tests have relatively low reliability and aren't widely used in the U.S., although they are more common in countries like Australia.
• Urine Test: Urine tests don't actually detect THC in the body. Instead, they identify THC metabolites (THC-COOH) that remain after using cannabis and may stay longer than THC itself. There are two types of urine tests:
  • The first, more common type requires you to visit a sample collection facility, where your urine is collected into a sealed cup and sent to a lab.
  • The second, cheaper method is an on-site test used for random screenings of employees or patients, as well as in rehab programs.
• Blood Test: A blood test detects THC in the bloodstream. Since THC only stays in the blood for a short period (usually 12-24 hours), it's less commonly used for pre-employment drug tests. Blood tests are more often used to determine if someone has a neurological issue in cases where such information is needed (such as after a workplace accident).
• Hair Follicle Test: Hair follicle tests are relatively expensive and typically used for sensitive or high-clearance positions requiring significant mental clarity. Depending on hair length, this test can detect drug use up to three months prior. It's widely used in the gambling industry.

Maintain a skeptical attitude. When it comes to passing a drug test, there's a lot of misinformation and half-truths online. Many home remedies and tips are widely discussed but lack any scientific backing. Therefore, you should approach these suggestions with caution to avoid wasting time and money on methods that won't help you pass the test.

• The methods in this section might be useful, but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll work. If used incorrectly, some methods could even increase your chances of failing, so proceed with caution.

Dilution method. The dilution method for passing a urine test operates on the following principle: since the test results are based on the concentration of THC metabolites in the urine, diluting the urine may lower the concentration below 50ng/ml (the threshold for most drug tests), allowing you to pass. Unfortunately, many modern urine tests account for this tactic, requiring additional countermeasures. Here's a guide to the dilution process:

• Start increasing the creatinine levels in your body three days before the test. You can do this by consuming more red meat or taking creatine supplements (available at specialty food stores, vitamin shops, or online). This step is crucial because many urine tests check for creatinine metabolites to ensure the urine hasn't been diluted. Skipping this step may cause you to fail if the test is designed to detect diluted urine.
• One or two hours before the test, take 50 to 100mg of vitamin B2, B12, or a B-complex supplement to color your urine. Then drink a glass of water every 15 minutes, totaling about one liter. Don’t drink so much that you risk water intoxication, which can be deadly. You should also urinate at least once during this time to avoid providing the first sample for testing.
• When it's time to collect the sample, use the “midstream” method: urinate into the toilet first, then catch the sample in the cup. This ensures the lowest concentration of metabolites, as the older, more concentrated urine is flushed out.
• If the urine is too diluted and you get a second chance to submit a sample, try to delay it as long as possible. This will allow you to pass the threshold where the test can detect THC, or adjust the dilution method so the urine isn’t overly diluted.
• Drinking water will not “flush” THC from your body, but it will dilute the urine.

Change your hairstyle. A hair test requires cutting a small strand of hair, so if there’s no hair, there’s no test. In such cases, the tester may ask for body hair samples. To handle this, shave all your body hair before the test and claim you're a bodybuilder or swimmer. However, if you already went for the interview with a full head of hair or thick body hair, the recruiter might suspect you're trying to deceive them. The best strategy is to shave before your first interview to make your story plausible.

Exploiting gaps in detection windows of tests. Each drug test for cannabis has a different 'detection window' for THC or its metabolites. Therefore, if you can time the test (and/or your cannabis use) so that your last use falls outside of this window, your chances of passing the test increase (though it's not guaranteed). Notably, most hair tests cannot detect cannabis if you used it just a few days before, as the hair containing THC hasn't grown far enough from the scalp. Here are the detection windows for common cannabis tests, assuming you used cannabis just once:

• Saliva test: 12-24 hours after use
• Urine test: 1-3 days after use
• Blood test: 1-3 days after use
• Hair test: 3-5 days after use and up to 90 days after use
• Note: For chronic users, it’s important to strictly follow the above timelines.

Try to delay the test. When all other methods fail, you may attempt to delay or reschedule the test. Every additional day of delay increases your chances of passing the cannabis test safely. Even just one or two days can make a significant difference. For instance, an unofficial study found that in the right circumstances, some urine tests could return a 'clean' result within a very narrow window of 24-48 hours after cannabis use.

Don’t try to “sweat it out.” As mentioned earlier, a popular home remedy for “detoxing” THC from the body involves sweating—usually through exercise, but sometimes using a dry sauna. The idea behind this method is that THC is stored in fat cells, so sweating and burning fat can help release THC through perspiration. In reality, there is no solid evidence supporting this method. While exercise may boost metabolism and therefore reduce the duration THC stays in the body long-term, some studies have shown that exercise can actually increase THC levels shortly after use, making this a poor choice if the test is approaching quickly.

Don’t stress over body fat reduction through diet. Like the previous method, this approach involves eliminating high-fat foods from your diet to reduce overall body fat, and therefore, the amount of tissue that can store THC. For the reasons mentioned earlier, this method could also fall into the unsupported by solid evidence category.

Don’t waste money on “detox kits” for cannabis. Since many people seek easy ways to pass drug tests, companies have capitalized on this lucrative market by selling cannabis “detox kits.” These kits often contain pills or supplements formulated to “flush” THC and its metabolites from the body before the test. There is no scientific evidence supporting the claims made by these companies that vitamins and supplements can eliminate THC from the body. Any customer testimonials claiming negative results after using these products should be regarded as opinions, regardless of whether the supplements were used or not.

Don’t ruin your hair with special shampoos or solutions. A widely circulated rumor about hair tests is that washing your hair with special (often expensive) shampoos can remove THC. In reality, no shampoo has ever been scientifically proven to remove THC. Additionally, some DIY versions of this method recommend using chemicals like bleach, which can irritate the scalp. When dealing with cannabis testing, be cautious whenever considering applying strong chemicals to your hair—just as you would in any other situation.

• Try to delay the test as much as possible to increase your chances of passing successfully.
• Do not consume any more cannabis in any form (edible, smoking, etc.). Otherwise, your body will continue to accumulate cannabis metabolites.