How Long Does THCA Stay in Your System? Understanding Detection Times
The buzz around THCA is real. Think of it as THC’s laid-back cousin — non-psychoactive in its raw form, but it becomes the life of the party once heated, delivering that familiar high.
Plus, it is a new legal THC in states where weed is illegal or if people can't access it. THCA is legal in so many states and has gained popularity as an alternative to THC.
Curious minds often wonder whether THCA shows up on a THC drug test or how long it stays in your system. In this article, we'll explore how long THCA lingers in your system, its detection times on drug tests, and the factors that can influence its detection window.
What is THCA?
THCA or Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid found in raw cannabis and is the precursor to THC. It converts into THC when heated through smoking, vaping, or cooking.
Though it doesn't produce psychoactive effects, it may offer some of the therapeutic benefits of THC. THCA may help reduce anxiousness, improve sleep, and relieve physical discomfort. Many people use raw THCA to experience its potential benefits without the psychoactive high.
If you want to learn about the difference between THC and THCA, check out our THC vs. THCA guide to explore their effects, benefits, and how they interact with your body!
How long does THCA stay in your system?
The duration of THCA stay in your system depends on your metabolic rate, frequency of use, and the type of test used, such as blood, hair, urine, and sweat tests. In addition, the detection window of THCA is also influenced by the form of cannabis consumed.
While THCA is a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, it becomes psychoactive when it undergoes decarboxylation, a heat-triggered process that transforms it into THC, impacting both its effects and detectability.
Is THCA detectable in urine? Most drug tests don't screen for THCA, so consuming raw THCA is less likely to trigger a positive result on a urine drug test.
If you're trying to stay under the radar, using raw cannabis high in THCA is unlikely to be detected in standard urine drug tests, as they aren't designed to detect it.
However, you might be wondering: can you pass a drug test after smoking THCA? Smoking THCA increases your detection risk because heat converts it into THC, the psychoactive compound that standard drug tests are specifically designed to identify.
Does THCA show up in drug testing? Detection time for THCA
Detection time for THCA is based on the type of test and frequency of cannabis consumption. Below are the different types of drug tests and the duration for which THCA may be detectable.
Blood test:
THCA remains in the blood for a shorter duration than it does in urine. THCA metabolites can be detectable in a blood test for up to 24 hours. However, factors like usage frequency and metabolism can influence drug test results.
Urine tests:
THCA metabolites can be detected in a urine drug test for up to 45 days. However, this detection window can vary depending on the frequency of the cannabinoid use, body weight, metabolism, and dosage amount.
Hair follicle tests
Cannabinoids stick in hair follicles for a longer time. Hair follicle tests can detect THCA use for up to 90 days. Like other drug tests, the detection of hair follicle tests can be influenced by factors such as consumption frequency, metabolism, dosage amount, and other biological factors, including hair growth. If your hair grows faster, it may clear THC metabolites more quickly.
Saliva tests:
A saliva drug test typically has a short detection window. Generally, THCA can be detected in saliva for up to 48 hours after use. The duration THCA stays in your saliva can vary, but your dosage amount and metabolic rate may influence how long it remains in your salivary glands.
Curious to know how to get weed out of your system? Read our guide for practical tips to help flush it out faster!
What factors affect the detection window of THCa?
Several factors affect how long THCA stays in the body. Understanding these factors helps you better predict how long THCA might remain detectable.
Type of test:
Not all drug tests have the same detection window. For instance, saliva tests have a longer detection time than blood tests, but a shorter detection time than urine tests.
Frequency of use:
How often you consume cannabinoids play an important role as regular users accumulate more cannabinoids in their systems than occasional users.
Metabolism:
People with a faster metabolic rate may process THCA more quickly, which means it could leave their system sooner and be detectable for a shorter period on drug tests.
Body Fat Percentage:
Individuals with high body fat can store THCA longer as it is fat-soluble.
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