Does Delta 8 THC Show Up on a Drug Test?

Delta 8 THC’s popularity has exploded in the past years as a legal and milder alternative to Delta 9 THC, a controlled substance. Amidst its popularity is the uncertainty of whether the cannabinoid shows up on drug tests.

If you are worried about whether or not Delta 8 THC could make you fail a drug test, keep reading this article. We will find out if the cannabinoid can lead to a failed drug test and what you can do to prepare for your upcoming drug screening.

What Is Delta 8 THC, and How Is It Different From Delta 9 THC?

Delta 8 THC is a cannabinoid in cannabis and hemp plants. It has a similar chemical structure as Delta 9 THC, which is why they have almost the same effects on the body. The main difference is that Delta 8 THC’s double bond is at the 8th carbon chain. On the other hand, the double bond of the Delta 9 THC is at the 9th chain.

Another difference between the cannabinoids is that Delta 8 THC is less potent than Delta 9 THC. Delta 8 THC will make you feel high, but the feeling is not as strong as much as marijuana will.

If you are curious about Delta 8 THC, try these Delta 8 tinctures and see the effects for yourself.

How Do Drug Tests Work?

Taking a substance for medical or recreational reasons will make your body metabolize it to induce effects. After your liver breaks down these substances, the THC molecules that are left can be found in your blood, saliva, urine, sweat, hair, and lungs. Even after the effects of Delta 8 THC have worn off, its track is still there, and a drug test can pick it up.

While drug tests can easily detect THC, they do not really check how much of that substance is currently in your body. Instead, the tests look for the chemicals your body makes after your liver is done breaking down the THC metabolites. In other words, the point of drug testing is to prove that you have used illegal drugs, but the authorities don’t care how much substance you take.

The THC metabolites detected in drug tests are usually called THC-COOH, and they can stay in your system for several days or even weeks after consuming THC products. THC is harder for your body to get rid of because it dissolves in fats and not in water.

How Does Delta 8 THC Show Up on a Drug Test

Yes. Delta 9 and Delta 8 THC have similar chemical structures. Due to a lack of technological progress in drug testing processes, it is hard to distinguish the difference between Delta 9 THC and Delta 8 THC. Thus, both substances may show up on a regular drug test.

Some Delta 8 THC products may have more than a 0.3% THC level, which is against federal law and may make you fail an upcoming drug test. Drug tests can show the presence of Delta 8 THC for different lengths of time, depending on the drug test, how much substance was used, and how fast the cannabis users’ metabolism works.

Depending on your drug test, THC can stay in your system for as little as two days or as long as many months.

• Urine test: Usually, urine tests are the type of drug test most laboratories do to detect if someone has used cannabis up to 30 days after the last time they used it.
• Blood test: Most of the time, blood tests can only tell if someone used cannabis between two and twelve hours ago. However, THC can still be detected in people who use cannabis often and in large amounts.
• Saliva test: THC can be detected by a saliva test for up to 24 hours after the substance has been used. People who smoked cannabis often still had THC in their saliva 72 hours after the last time they used it.
• Hair follicle tests: Hair follicle tests can detect the presence of THC up to 30 to 90 days after its use since cannabinoids move from the bloodstream to the hair follicles after usage.

How Long Does Delta 8 THC Remain in Your Body?

Your body may still show signs of drug use even after a few weeks. Although Delta 8 THC is not as potent as it used to be, it can still stay in the body for longer.

Many people think your body gets rid of Delta 8 THC and other THC after a week or two. But this is not true. They stay for a lot longer than you might think. The period range can change based on various factors, such as age, weight, metabolism, and more. Some experts have found that people who use a lot of Delta 8 THC products may have metabolites of the substance in their urine for 30 to 60 days.

About 50% to 80% percent of Delta 8 THC will be gone from your body by the end of the first week or after five days. But it is possible that the rest of the drug could stay in your fat cells and hair follicles for up to 90 days. In some cases, Delta 8 THC can still remain in your body for up to three months.

How to Pass a Drug Test if You Have Used Delta 8 THC

If you want to speed up the breakdown of Delta 8 THC, you might find it helpful to drink a lot of water daily. However, if you know you have a drug test coming, try avoiding cannabis use immediately.

Most people agree that delta 8 THC should be gone from your body after three to four weeks, but as already said, the exact length of time THC stays in your body depends on your lifestyle and metabolism.

Before you take the actual drug test, you can buy a home drug testing kit to see if THC-COOH is in your urine. However, do note that these tests’ results are not always accurate. If you want to defend your cannabis use after failing the first test, you should ask the authority for a second test that uses a method that can tell the difference between the metabolites left by Delta 9 THC and Delta 8 THC.

If this is your first time using Delta 8 THC, you probably won’t fail the drug test. Before delta-8 can get into your system, your body will likely get rid of it in as fast as one week. However, if you use the substance regularly, you will likely fail the drug test if it was conducted within 90 days after your last dose.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does Delta 8 affect the body?

Delta 8 THC has the potential to get people high, which is characterized by experiencing relaxation, euphoria, and visual distortion. Consumers of Delta 8 THC often use the substance to help manage medical conditions such as stress, bipolar disorder, depression, and panic attacks.

However, please take note that not enough conclusive research has been done on the effects of Delta 8 on the human body. Thus, it is vital to be careful and consult your primary health physician before including Delta 8 THC in your medication or lifestyle. Find out more about the effects of natural and synthetic Delta 8 THC here.

How long can the effects of Delta 8 last?

The length of the effectiveness of Delta 8 THC depends on how you are using the substance. If you smoke or vape Delta 8 products, you may immediately feel the effects. Eating or drinking Delta 8 THC edibles will take much longer, anywhere from half an hour to two hours, for the substance to work. This is because your body has to first break down the substance through your digestive system before dispersing it into your bloodstream.

Why does Delta 8 stay in my system so long?

THC stays in your body because it sticks to fat cells. How long it stays in your system depends on how active you are, how much weight you have, how long you have been using the substance, and several other things.

Since Delta 8 is a THC, it will stay in your body like any other THC. If you use Delta 8 a lot, you should expect to fail a drug test anywhere from 30 to 90 days after your last use, and sometimes even longer, depending on your body.

Does Delta 8 have any long-term side effects?

Because Delta 8 THC is a relatively new cannabinoid, little is known about its long-term effects on the human body. But some people who take Delta 8 report short-term problems like anxiety, paranoia, and dizziness.

Conclusion

Delta 8 THC has milder effects, which is why many cannabis enthusiasts have quickly become interested in it. However, Delta 8 THC can make you fail a drug test since most drug tests were not meant to tell the difference between Delta 8 THC and Delta 9 THC. Instead, they only look for the compound’s metabolites, which are almost the same in both types of THC.

If your mind is still set on using Delta 8 THC products, ensure that you only purchase from reputable and reliable dispensaries such as Harbor City Hemp. All our products contain less than 0.3% THC and are lab-tested, so you can rest assured that you are consuming legal substances at the federal level. Please check out our Discount Program to see if you are eligible for a 30% discount.