If you are a cannabis user, you have probably come across or heard about Delta 8. It is a buzzword in the cannabis space and is available in most cannabis dispensaries. It is common among people looking to use cannabis for medicinal purposes and recreation in states that have yet to legalize marijuana. 

Compared to its Delta 9 counterpart, it is considered more stable and less potent. Due to these factors, in addition to its legal status at the federal level, it has quickly earned people's favor. While that is the case, there are two things people wonder about the product. How long does Delta-8 THC stay in your system, and does it show up on a drug test? 

 

What is Delta 8 THC? 

Delta 8 is a minor cannabinoid found in small traces in marijuana plants. Its chemical structure resembles that of Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol. Delta 9 is the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis, and Delta 8 is the byproduct of its degradation. 

The difference between the two compounds is in the location of the double bonds on the carbon atom chain. Delta 8 and 9 have the bonds on the eighth and ninth carbon atoms, respectively. Delta 8 is generally less intoxicating, and its high can be significantly lower than Delta 9. The product can be mildly elevating or energizing depending on the dosage; higher doses of the product are potentially sedating. The product's low psychoactive and hallucinating effects have made it popular among many consumers.  

This difference makes Delta 8 thc generally less potent and Delta 9 twice as potent as the former. You can find Delta 8 vapes, oil tinctures, and edibles in stores, dispensaries, and boutiques.

The Effects of Delta 8 THC 

How will you feel after using delta 8 thc? Proper doses of the product can bring a pleasant experience. A user may feel relaxed, calm, and comfortable; it can be uplifting. It can also increase concentration and focus and bring a feeling of clear-headed high, unlike Delta 9. People using it for medicinal purposes get pain relief. 

It is essential to mention that the effects may vary from one person to another. The time it takes effect also varies; it does not necessarily come immediately. The method of consumption also determines how long it takes before the product takes effect. For instance, edibles often take longer, up to 60 minutes, before you experience the effects; the effects also last longer with edibles. The quality of the product also matters. 

 

How Long Does Delta 8 THC Last?   

The onset and duration of the effects are highly influenced by the method of consumption.  

Oral consumption and inhalation - Delta 8 edibles and beverages can take 1-2 hours for the effects to kick in.

The duration of orally consuming Delta 8 lasts between 4 and 6 hours. The onset is relatively delayed, and the decline of the high is gradual, resulting in a long duration. It takes time before the edibles travel to the stomach for digestion. Absorption into the bloodstream, therefore, takes longer. 

Inhalation - The effects kick in faster when vaporized or smoked, usually within the first ten minutes of consumption. But then the effects decline more quickly; they often lose strength in one to two hours. The duration of the experience is shorter compared to other methods of consumption. 

When inhaled, the compound enters the brain and the bloodstream almost immediately; hence the buzz declines faster. 

Sublingual- Sublingual tinctures take about 20 to 40 minutes to take effect. The experience can last 2 to 4 hours. The compound is absorbed through the mouth and hence takes a shorter time. The decline and duration of strength are mid-range. An individual's tolerance level will also influence the duration of the strength of the effects. 

 

How Long Does Delta 8 Stay in Your Body  

Delta 8 effects vary with the method of consumption and can last from one to six hours. While the effects last a few hours, the compound generally stays longer in your body.  

When you consume Delta 8, it is broken down, and THC is stored in the organs and fat. The liver is then tasked with breaking the compound into metabolites.  

delta 8 thc and other cannabinoids take longer to leave the body compared to products like alcohol because they bind to fat. While the bigger percentage of the product is flushed out of the system in about five days, the remaining can stay a few extra days.  

delta 8 thc can stay in your body for 5 to 10 days, and in regular users, it can be found in detectable concentrations for up to 30 days. 

The duration the compound will stay in your system depends on other factors:

Age 

Younger users experience more potent psychoactive effects due to their fast metabolism. Consequently, delta 8 thc will generally stay for a shorter time in their body.  

Potency 

The administered dose will influence how long the compound remains traceable. The higher the dosage, the longer it will take before it is flushed out.  

Body Type 

The user's fat distribution will influence the strength of the effects and how long the compound stays in the body. Individuals with a high body fat percentage generally experience stronger effects because THC binds to the fat tissues at a slower pace. 

It also leads to a high concentration of THC in the user's system, taking longer to expel it. 

Frequency of consumption 

The more you use the compound, the higher its concentration and the longer it stays in your system. 

 

 

Delta 8 Pros and Cons  

While delta 8 thc popularity is soaring, the compound has both benefits and drawbacks. 

Pros 

Delta 8 is generally more legally acceptable; it is, therefore, potentially more accessible to medical and recreational users in most states where marijuana is illegal. Delta 8 thc can be derived from CBD. Industrial hemp and its derivatives are federally legal, provided the THC levels are below 0.3%. 

Due to its stability and low potency, Delta 8 has been shown to promote relaxation, an elevated feeling, a sense of calm, and improved focus when consumed in the right doses.  

Cons 

The product is still illegal in a few states; users should be aware of the legal loopholes. It may be challenging to determine safe dosages leading to undesired effects.  

Long-term consumption of the compound can also affect memory retention. 

Would Delta 8 Show Up on a Drug Test?    

Do you have a drug test coming? While most of the tests are not advanced enough to distinguish Delta 9 from Delta 8, the two compounds have many similarities, and Delta 8 can be detected on a drug test like Delta 9. The two compounds end up as the same products after THC metabolism; thus, drug tests can detect the THC metabolites.

The byproducts of metabolism, THC metabolites, leave residues in the blood, urine tests, and saliva.  

If you have consumed the product recently and the compounds are still in your system, you will most likely test positive for Delta 8 on a drug test. Most drug tests can be used to detect Delta 8 THC. 

Blood Tests 

A blood drug test can detect delta 8 thc in in your blood even two days after the last use. Blood tests can detect the compound in regular users even after a month. If a user inhales the product, the blood test can detect delta 8 thc a few seconds after consumption. 

Blood drug tests are generally used to detect recent consumption. 

Urine Tests

A urine drug tests will detect delta 8 thc, depending on the frequency of consumption. For instance, it will detect the compound three days after consumption in occasional users. It will detect THC metabolites in the urine test of daily users generally 10 to 15 days after the last consumption. 

For chronic users who consume the products multiple times daily, the urine tests have been known to detect over 30 days after the last use. 

 

 Saliva Tests

Depending on the frequency of use, saliva drug tests can detect the compound between 1 to 30 days after the last use. 

 

 

 

 

 

How To Clear Delta 8 THC From Your System 

To pass most drug tests, you should generally avoid consuming delta 8 thc at least two weeks before the scheduled drug tests. However, most drug tests can be announced on short notice. There are many ways to clear the compound from your system. 

Drinking a lot of water can potentially speed up metabolism and increase the rate at which THC is flushed out of your body through urination. Water can also help dilute the THC metabolites remaining in your system. 

Eating a balanced and healthy diet that includes proteins and fibers can potentially help clear your system of unwanted toxins through defecation and urination. Exercise boosts metabolism, potentially increasing the rate at which Delta 8 THC is flushed out of your system. 

The techniques above don't work immediately; generally they require at least a week to be effective. 

 

Conclusion 

How long does delta-8 THC stay in your system? The question does not have a forthright answer. For an impending drug test, other factors influence how the body reacts to delta 8 THC and how long it stays in your system after consumption. 

Consumption of large amounts of the compound in a short period results in high concentration in the body. Users with high metabolism flush out the product from their system faster. 

If you have a drug test coming, avoid consuming delta 8 thc not less than two weeks before the date of the test. You can potentially clear the compound from your system faster by drinking lots of water, eating healthy foods containing fiber, and exercising.