Stoners have definitely become creative when it comes to edibles. Marijuana edibles come in so many different forms. You can buy a variety of THC-infused brownies, cookies, drinks, and of course, gummies. Curious about how long THC gummies stay in your system? Here’s what we know.
Photo: Unsplash
How Long Do Weed Gummies Stay in Your System?
Believe it or not, the THC from your weed gummies can stay in your body for a while. As a matter of fact, THC from edibles stays longer in your body than if you hit a blunt.
Very Well Mind says, “Edibles take longer to break down in the body and leave your system.”
Weed gummies are just like other forms of edibles, in terms of how they’re processed by the body.
After you eat your weed gummy, the body breaks down the THC into about 80 metabolites over time.
These metabolites have different fates in your body. Some are excreted soon after while others are stored in your fat cells.
Very Well Mind says, “Some THC metabolites have an elimination half-life of 20 hours, whereas others are stored in body fat and have an elimination half-life of 10 to 13 days.”
In this context, half-life refers to how long it takes half of the THC to be eliminated from the body. For THC, Very Well Mind says it takes 5-6 half-lives to be eliminated.
Therefore, THC metabolites will be present in your system even after the effects of the gummies are long gone.
According to Healthline, “Generally, THC metabolites are detectable in the body for 1 to 30 days after last use. Regular cannabis users may have elevated THC levels even after a period of abstinence.”
We also want to mention that even if you didn’t feel any effects from the weed edibles, there are still THC metabolites in your body.
Drug Tests and THC Gummies
For most people, the time THC metabolites take to leave the body isn’t important. However, for people with a drug test coming up, it’s pretty important.
If you have a test soon, you may want to abstain from weed gummies and any other form of weed.
The length of time you should abstain depends on the type of test you’ll be doing and how much weed you usually consume. For example, hair follicle tests can detect THC metabolites in your hair for up to three months.
In addition to that, if you use weed regularly, it will show up on your drug tests for a longer period of time than someone who uses weed occasionally.
Healthline says, “More frequent use is associated with a higher baseline concentration of THC metabolites. The more THC metabolites an individual has in their body, the longer it will take for them to be excreted.”
Besides the frequency of use and the type of test, Very Well Mind says the following can affect detection time:
- Sex
- Metabolism
- Body Mass Index (BMI)
- Hydration
How Long Does a THC Gummy Take to Wear Off?
As you probably already know, edibles, like weed gummies, usually take much longer to hit than bongs or a blunt but the effects last longer.
Very Well Mind says, “If weed is ingested orally rather than smoked, it takes longer to be absorbed into the blood, usually from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.”
There is no specific time it will take a THC gummy to wear off.
Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN told Insider admits that an edible can typically last 4-6 hours. However, Theisen also says some stoners can feel edible for up to 12 hours.
So, the time it takes a THC gummy to wear off definitely varies from stoner to stoner and is reliant on certain factors.
According to Insider, the following factors influence the onset and how long an edible will last for you:
- Age
- Dose
- Gender
- Medication
- Health conditions
- Metabolism
Do THC Gummies Expire?
Surprisingly, they can!
THC gummies expire in about 6-9 months if left at room temperature. There is no set time they’ll expire if you store them in the fridge or freezer. However, at some point, they won’t taste the best.
However, unlike other kinds of edibles, THC gummies tend to keep their potency and freshness longer.
CFAH says, “Gummy edibles are the most popular edible option for a reason. Not only do they stay fresh for longer, but they also don’t lose potency as fast as other formats because it’s infused with cannabis resin oil or distillate instead of cannabutter.”
Takeaway
So, how long do THC gummies stay in your system? They stay in your body for the same amount of time as other edibles. The exact time varies from stoner to stoner. That’s because there are many factors that affect how long THC metabolites stay in your system. However, if it is a drug test that you’re worried about, abstaining from weed is the most effective way to pass it. The amount of time you need to abstain depends on the type of test you’ll be taking and how often you use weed.
