Delta-8 is another of the more than 100 chemical components of the cannabis plant. Most people are familiar with the psychoactive ingredient that brings a euphoric state, known as THC, but not everyone is familiar with the delta 8 variant of THC. Many people who use delta 8 THC items have the common questions of How long does delta 8 stay in your system? Will delta 8 make me fail a drug test?
Well, luck for you, we do a deep dive on Delta 8 THC, THC metabolites, drug tests, and how long you can expect forms of THC to stay in your body. There are different types of THC, but length of time it can linger in your system is generally the same.
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What is Delta 8 THC?
Delta-8 Tetrahydrocannabinol, or simply ‘delta 8’, is found in very small amounts in the marijuana plant. Most people are familiar with THC, but they don’t know there are many different forms of it. Delta 8 and Delta 9 are both the popular forms of THC people will find at dispensaries or CBD stores, depending on your state laws.
Related read: Delta 8 vs CBD
Please be advised, though, that the Food and Drug Administration warns that the chemicals used in making delta-8 could be harmful, as it is very similar to THC. Side effects occurring could include the following.
- Hallucinations
- Vomiting
- Memory loss
- Loss of consciousness
- Poor coordination
- Dry mouth
- Poor appetite
- Or ravenous hunger and weight gain
The legal status of delta-8 is still to be decided at the federal level, and at present, it is largely unregulated. Forms of delta 8 look exactly like what you may expect: flowers from the marijuana plant.
A lot of companies are trying to sell delta 8, since it is technically legal, still.
How Long Does Delta 8 Stay in Your System?
Delta 8 THC works just like other forms of THC you’ve tried. If you are trying it and need to take drug tests, you will (obviously) want to know exactly how long it stays in your system.
It can actually stay in the urine for up to 30 days for most people.
When it enters the body it takes about 30 minutes to metabolize half the compound, leaving some residual delta 8 within our system.
Related: How Long Does CBD Oil Stay in Your System?
Thirty minutes is a very short half-life. In fact, its short than delta 9 THC. This is why the high that delta 8 causes is infamously known for being very short.
Things to Consider About Length of Time Delta 8 Stays in Your Body
- If you use delta 8 regularly, it will remain in your body longer.
- If you are young your metabolism is faster, which means it can clear from your system quicker.
- The higher your body fat, the longer it can linger in detectable levels
- A higher dosage will take longer to leave the body
- Interactions with prescription drugs may affect the metabolism of delta-8
Metabolism Plays a Role in Delta 8 Blood Content
As we age the metabolic rate slows down. This is partly why we put on weight more easily with age. Doctors take this into account when prescribing our medications.
If you are older, allow a bit more time than 30 days to clear it from your body. One recent study showed that inhaled delta 8 was flushed from the body twice as fast as other forms, and injections were even faster.
Gummies seem to be the new efficient way to consume Delta-8 THC. Some heavily concentrated delta 8 THC gummies can last for several hours, and stay in your body for weeks – which will definitely cause you to fail most drug tests for THC metabolites.
When you consume delta 8 products, your body will produce what are known as metabolites. These are just a compound produced by the body after breaking down nutrients. The following are all metabolites of delta 8:
-
(−)-11-nor-9-
carboxy-Δ8-THC -
(−)-11-hydroxy-
Δ8-THC -
(−)-11-hydroxy-Δ8-THC (CRM)
-
(−)-11-nor-9-
carboxy-Δ8-THC (CRM)
Chemical Structure of Delta 8
The chemical formula of delta 8 is C21H30O2.
You can see the chemical structure of delta 8 THC in this image below:
Does Delta 8 Show On a Drug Test?
Yes, delta 8 THC will show up as a positive for THC on drug tests. Remember, this is just another form of THC. It was ultimately named ‘delta 8’ due to its double bond placement at carbon chain position 8 – which is very similar to the molecular structure of delta 9 THC.
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If you are drug tested and want to try this product, I would recommend against doing it. You will test positive on a drug test, more specifically, a urine test.
Different Forms of Drug Testing for Delta 8 THC
There are many different forms of a drug test for THC. Most people are familiar with the urine test. This is the cheapest way for an organization to test your drug history. Essentially, if there are metabolites of a particular drug in your urine, you will test positive. These metabolites can show up long after your body has consumed the drug, too.
For example, delta 8 THC metabolites can linger for weeks as your body continues to break down the compound long after you used it.
Here are some other forms of drug testing used:
- hair follicle screening
- blood test
- saliva tests
Chances are, if you are using delta 8 THC and are concerned about being tested, you will use a urine test or a form of saliva tests. Urine tests are the least accurate, but can still detect THC for weeks after use. A blood test and hair follicle analysis will be far more accurate, but also far more expensive.
How Do You Pass a Drug Test for Delta 8?
Unfortunately, you cannot really ‘remove’ delta 8 from your system. After you use it, it enters your bloodstream where your body will utilize the d8THC in different ways. For this reason, the only guaranteed way to pass a drug test for delta 8 is to just wait. Stop using delta 8 products for at least 4 weeks – to be sure.
Excess amounts of delta 8 are either discharged through urine, or stored in fat cells. The only thing you can really do in this regard is stay heavily hydrated and exercise frequently. Outside of that, you aren’t going to speed up the process of getting delta 8 out of your system.
Does Delta 8 Show on a Hair Follicle Drug Test?
Since a hair follicle test is exponentially more detailed than a urine drug test, yes, delta 8 will absolutely show on a hair follicle test.
Normally, tetrahydrocannabinol will linger for about 75-90 days in hair.
How Long Until Delta 8 Is Out of Your System?
As mentioned earlier, I would give it a solid 30 days, or even more, before delta 8 will be in non-detectable amounts within your system.
Related: How Long Do Delta 8 Gummies Last For?
There is no real way to speed up this process, other than staying very hydrated and maybe even exercising frequently to break down fat storage.
Summary – How Long Is Delta 8 Detectable In Your Body?
Delta 8 has the potential to be a very exciting therapeutic compound for many different symptoms. It is a cannabinoid that binds to the CB1 receptors in the central nervous system.
If you are concerned about an impending drug test, delta 8 tetrahydrocannabinol will remain in your system for about 30 days, depending on your age, metabolism, and overall body fat amount. It will also cause you to fail a drug test, should you be concerned.
If you rely on your job, or any other means of living that requires drug testing, I would avoid the use of this compound for now.
Future research is expected to expand on discoveries for delta 8 usage for chronic illnesses/conditions. You can order Delta-8 online from reputable companies, should you spend some time googling it.
References
Cayman Chemical – https://www.caymanchem.com/product/14042/
Pub Chem – https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/638026
