As with most other substances, the higher the dose, the longer CBD will stay in your system. CBD typically stays in your system for 2 to 5 days, but that range doesn’t apply to everyone. For some, CBD can stay in their system for longer. The frequency of use determines how long CBD stays in your body. CBD builds up in your body over time, if used routinely. This is why it’s recommended you use it for at least a week to see if it works for you.
While CBD does not produce the same intoxicating effects as THC, it does get stored in the body. Most cannabis drug tests only screen for THC, but some people may still want to know how long does CBD stay in your system?
A 2018 review of existing CBD studies found that the estimated half-life of CBD was two to five days for those who took a daily oral dose. Other delivery methods had varied half-lifes. The elimination half-life of a drug or compound is a common measurement in medicine to determine the time it takes for 50% of the starting dose of a compound to leave the body.
Here’s how the half-life works — assuming the half-life of 10 mg CBD is 3 hours: About an hour after taking, CBD reaches peak concentration of 10 mg; After the first half-life (3 hours) there’s only 5 mg of CBD left in the body.
Estimated CBD Concentrations After 10 mg Dose
| Time After Dose | Oral CBD (Single Dose) | Oral CBD (Long-Term Use) | Inhaled CBD |
| 3 Hours | 5 mg | 10 mg | 10 mg |
| 24 Hours | 0.3 mg | 8 mg | 6 mg |
| 3 Days | 0 mg | 5 mg | 2.3 mg |
| 1 Week | 0 mg | 2.3 mg | 0.3 mg |
According to several studies, CBD goes through the CYP450 enzyme system in the liver — the key pathway for drug metabolism. This is where CBD is inactivated and prepared to be eliminated from the body via the kidneys.
Studies show that when CBD compounds are metabolized by the liver, they undergo what is called the “first pass effect,” where enzymes in the liver reduce CBD concentration before the remainder is finally sent to the bloodstream and circulated throughout the body. While oral consumption of CBD has become popular for its ease of use, it's a rather inefficient method of consumption compared with inhalation or sublingual administration. This is because only about 5% of swallowed CBD ends up in the bloodstream, meaning this method provides low bioavailability.
CBD may take a week or more to completely clear the body. This is primarily due to the fact that CBD concentrations build up over time in the bloodstream and fat storage if it’s not completely cleared after each use.
The amount of CBD that stays in your system after a dose depends on several factors, including the method of consumption, dosage, and frequency of use, and the use of other medications.
The form used, dosage, and your body composition all play a role and make it hard to predict how quickly CBD will kick in or how it will affect you.
Generally, you can begin to feel the effects of CBD within 15 minutes of vaping or using it sublingually. Edibles and topical products can take as long as an hour or two to kick in.
We believe it is important to take CBD daily.