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Marijuana Detection Time Shorter Than Previously Assumed

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http://www.norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6821

Marijuana Detection Time Shorter Than Previously Assumed

February 23, 2006 - Columbia, MO, USA

Columbia, MO: The length of time cannabis metabolites may be detected, on average, on a standard urine screen is typically no longer than ten days for chronic users and between 3-4 days for infrequent users, according to a literature review published in the current issue of the journal Drug Court Review.

"Recent scientific literature indicates that it is uncommon for occasional marijuana smokers to test positive for cannabinoid [metabolites] in urine for longer than seven days" at 20 ng/ml or above on the EMIT (Enzyme Multiplied Immunoassay Technique) test, the author concludes. "Following smoking cessation, chronic smokers would not be expected to remain positive for longer than 21 days, even when using the 20 ng/ml cannabinoid cutoff."

When tested at the 50 ng/ml cutoff threshold, infrequent users typically test negative for the presence of marijuana metabolites within 3-4 days, while heavy users typically test negative by ten days after ceasing use, the study found.

While several clinical trials from the 1980's found cannabis metabolites to be identifiable in the urine at low concentrations for longer periods of time, particularly in heavy users, the author suggests that more advanced drug-testing technology has narrowed this window of detection.

"As cannabinoid screening tests evolved, these improved assays became more selective in the manner in which they detected marijuana metabolites," the author writes. "As detection specificity increased, the length of time cannabinoids were being detected in urine decreased. ... Therefore, the results of cannabinoid elimination investigations performed in the 1980's may no longer be applicable to estimating the detection window for marijuana in urine using today¹s testing methodologies."


After reviewing data from more recent clinical investigations of chronic marijuana smokers, the author reports that the "average detection window for cannabinoids in urine at the lowest cutoff concentration of 20 ng/ml was just 14 days." However, the author also notes that a minority of subjects continue to test positive for cannabis metabolites after 28 days, even when tested by more advanced drug-testing technology.

Approximately 55 million drug screens are performed annually in the United States. The majority of these are workplace urinalysis tests, which detect the presence of drug metabolites (inert byproducts produced after a substance is metabolized by the body), but not the substance itself. Consequently, the US Department of Justice affirms that a positive drug test result for the presence of a drug metabolite "does not indicate ... recency, frequency, or amount of use; or impairment."

For more information, please contact Paul Armentano, NORML Senior Policy Analyst, at (202) 483-5500. Full text of the study, "The marijuana detection window: Determining the length of time cannabinoids will remain detectable in urine following smoking," is available online at: http://www.ncdi.org/ndcirpub.html

updated: Feb 23, 2006
 
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G

Guest

what if your a fat ass like me over 250 and some everyday i got fat cells still stoned from 10 yrs ago .. :wave:
 

PureSativa420

Active member
well a 1 time smoker can be clean in a few days as it states but not a chronic user that smokes eveyday will pass after 10 days, ive been down this road 3 times ive stopped smoking altogether the longest was 57 days and still did not pass the test :(, heres what i found

It is important to know how much of the THC metabolites are in your
urine. The chart below will give you an approximation; however, it varies
depending on whether you're a regular marijuana user, or just starting. If
you use marijuana for the first time, your urine may be clean of
metabolites in less than a week. 100 nanograms per milliliter of THC
metabolites defines a "positive." Even second hand [marijuana] smoke will
raise someone to this level.

% 100% *(0 days, 100%) Halflife THC concentration = 7 days
T %THC means delta % THC metabolites in bloodstream
H 90% 21 - 28 days'll do-ya
C
80%

70%

60%

50% * (7days,50%)

40%

30%
* (14days, 25%)
20%
* (21days,12.5%)
10%
* (6.75%)
0% * 3.375 * 1.687%
0 days 7days 14days 21days 28days 35days 42days
(time)
 
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Buzzsmirk!

Active member
hi folks!!!
"pure" wow!!! 57 days and u still pissed hot!!!!!
u must have "thc" in ur "DNA" then LOL!!!
they must have used the "chromatagraph" (CG/MS) on ur "sample" for that result!!

i would tend to agree "generally" with the percentage table u posted but there r many variables involved witht the body's ability to dipose/flush the cannibiniod metabolites for which the test r designd to detect.

ur overall metabolism , ur body percent/fat profile, and some foks just don't "clean out" as fast as others i am a bit overweight myself so i would probablt test "hot" for weed well after thirty days but close to sixty!!! NAHHHH! but thats my opinion only!

also if a person who has some "extra fat" were to burn some of that fat off just prior to the "test" would run increased risk of detection way out past 30 days especially a heavy smoker like me/us :)

BUZZ!
 

polygonwindow

New member
I smoked pretty regularly, few times a day, for a long time, but had to quit due to legal problems. I stopped for a month, but, i found out that i won't test for another 2 weeks, is it safe for me to smoke, just once today?
 
I think PureSativa and Ganoderma pretty much put the ten days for heavy users to bed.
and polygon: Not if it's an important test i wouldn't smoke.... want to throw the last month away for nothing?
I had tried to pass a test recently using Extra Clean, and it didn't work!
If fat is a factor, I am the skinniest motherfucker you'll ever see. I metabolize like i'm on diet pills, and of course, smoke all day every day... (the problem)
I quit smoking for a week and tried the "detox" drink hoping i might be able to get an offered job. I kept failing a pack of at home test strips, and had to decline the offer.
Anyone else have good experience with detox drinks? According to most opinion i had heard on Extra clean I should have been good to go.
But on the topic again... Ten days? lol, I wish!
 
G

Guest

imho, infusion therapy (Ringer solution or glucoze, combined with solution of NaCl) may clean urine much quicker than any detox drinks....
 
THC stores in your fat cells for 90 days,,,, it slowly burns out ,, most of the time the levels are to low to detect,,, unless u suddenly start to burn fat,,,
 

polygonwindow

New member
I took a home test and passed it, so i assumed i was good, i smoked. I got 15 days to be clean. maybe a few days longer. Even if i fail its my first test for probation, they are never surprised when you fail.
 

OXOSSI

Member
Mass spectal technology is advancing and is being able to detect smaller and smaller amounts of metabolites and the we have to find new ways of beating the system
 

ultranoob

Member
I don't understand why if you burn fat, THC is more detectable. If you burn fat and release the THC into your system, wouldn't it then clear out naturally in ten days? So it would be better to be fiendishly working out and drinking tons of water wouldn't it?you'd release the THC and then clear it out of your system. This is all speculative anecdote but if someone could explain the flaw in my thinking I'm curious to know how it all really works.
 

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