Dabs, also known as wax or shatter are concentrated forms of butane hash oil. Dabs can have more than 70% THC which means they are super potent. Dabbing enthusiasts opt for that form of weed because enjoy intense highs and minimal smell. However, if you have a busy day ahead you might be hesitant about picking up your dab pen. How long do dabs stay in your system? Here’s what we know.
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Do Dabs Stay in the System Longer?
Yes, dabs do stay in your system longer because they have more THC.
Let’s talk about getting high from dabs.
The fact that dabs are potent means you get high quickly and the high can last long.
As a matter of fact, when you take a hit of a dab, according to Healthline, you feel high almost instantly. What’s more, dabbing gives you the quickest high. Smoking can take up to 10 minutes and eating an edible usually takes hours.
In terms of how long the high lasts, Healthline says, “Similar to smoking, the effects of dabbing usually last 1 to 3 hours. If using a high-THC concentrate, you could feel the effects for an entire day.”
Even when you’re not high, THC can still be in your system.
Very Well Mind says, “THC is rapidly broken down and modified into molecules known as metabolites. At least 80 different metabolites are formed from THC.”
The body excretes a lot of these metabolites in the urine for example. Drug tests look for those metabolites.
However, not all THC metabolites are excreted right away.
THC metabolites are also stored in fat cells and are released over a period of time.
The amount of time THC stays in the body varies from person to person and is reliant on many factors. One of these factors is the amount of THC consumed.
Since dabs are potent, you can expect them to stay in your system longer.
However, the way you use weed also matters. Very Well Mind says “If marijuana is smoked or vaped, the THC levels in the body will drop faster than if you ingest it.”
However, we’re not sure if this applies to dabs since they’re so concentrated.
How Long Does a Dab Stay in Your System?
Usually, when people ask about how long dabs (or another cannabis) stay in the system, they want to know how long they will be detected in a drug test.
There is no set time for how long the dab will stay in your system.
We only know that it puts a lot of THC in your body which means it will take the body longer to excrete it.
In relation to factors that influence detection times, Medical News Today says, [T]he amount of THC that a person consumes is a significant factor.”
Other factors that influence detection time, according to Medical News Today include:
- Test sensitivity
- Body fat
- Sex
- Hydration
- Exercise
- Metabolism
As you can see, all of these factors vary from person to person.
In addition to those factors, how much weed you use and how frequently you use it can influence how long it stays in your body.
That means if you use weed every day, there is usually more THC in your system than someone who hits their bong occasionally.
While we don’t have an exact time a dab would stay in your system, here are the average times for weed to show up in a drug test:
- Hair test- 90 days.
- Saliva test- 1-2 days but can be longer for chronic cannabis smokers
- Blood test-1-2 days but can be up to 25 days.
- Urine test- Up to 30 days for chronic heavy smokers but 3 days for people who used cannabis once
Therefore when you take a hit from your dab pen, especially daily or frequent hits, chances are you’ll test positive for your drug test for a longer time.
If you use CBD dabs, unless they’re pure CBD, there is also a chance you’ll test positive in a test.
How to Get Dabs Out of Your System
There is no reliable way to shorten your high or get THC out of your system. The only sure way to do both is to let time pass.
However, if you’re taking a weed break to get dabs out of your system, don’t forget about withdrawal symptoms.
While they’re usually mild and resolve in a few days, if you feel you’re addicted to weed, you may want to seek professional help.
Very Well Mind says, “Before you embark on this journey, it’s important to seek guidance and also consider whether you’d be comfortable detoxing at home or at a treatment facility.”
Their rationale is that if you think you won’t be able to stay on track then a treatment facility may be better for you.
Takeaway
How long do dabs stay in your system? There is no set time. Due to a variety of factors, dabs may stay in your body for varying lengths of time. Since they are potent, it’s expected that they’ll stay in your body for a longer period of time than a less potent form of weed. To be more exact, you can expect to be high from dabs for 1-3 hours but it could be longer. That also means dab enthusiasts may test positive on drug tests longer. We’re looking forward to more research on dabs.
