How long CBD stays in your body depends on how much you take, how often you take it, how you take it and your own metabolism. Here is what is known.
What “half-life” means
A compound’s half-life is the time it takes for the amount in your blood to drop by half. A 2018 review in Frontiers in Pharmacology (Millar et al.) found reported CBD half-lives ranging from a few hours to about a day after a single dose, and about 2 to 5 days with regular daily oral use. As a rule of thumb, a compound is mostly cleared after about five half-lives, so CBD may be detectable for several days to a week or more.
Factors that change the timeline
- Amount: larger servings take longer to clear.
- Frequency: daily use builds up in the body more than occasional use.
- Method: CBD taken by mouth, such as gummies or tinctures, passes through digestion. Topicals applied to the skin are not designed to reach the bloodstream in meaningful amounts.
- Food: taking CBD with a meal, especially one with fat, can increase how much is absorbed.
- Body: metabolism, body weight and activity level all play a part.
Will it show up on a drug test?
Standard workplace drug tests do not look for CBD. They look for THC. Whether a CBD product could affect a test depends on whether it contains any THC. Read more in Does CBD Show Up on Drug Tests?
Our products
Our CBD gummies and Airlie CBD topicals are made with hemp CBD isolate, and each product page links its lab report.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is general information, not medical or legal advice. Talk to your doctor before using CBD, especially if you are pregnant, nursing or take medication.