Marijuana-Drug Test Detection Times

If you are wondering how long does a drug test detects marijuana use, please be prepared to read on carefully because it is no simple question. Drug tests detection time for marijuana mainly depends on which type of test will be employed, the status of your metabolism and in most cases your digestive and excretory systems will also effect the result. Other factors includes are your marijuana usage patterns such as the frequency, the last time of marijuana use, dosage. One more thing to notice is that your genetic makeup also plays a role in it, let alone some other random factors that remains unknown.

However, as for the basic drug test types are concerned, there are still some reliable data you can refer as shown below:

Marijuana (Single Use)

• Urine – 1-7+ Days
• Blood – 12-24 hours
• Hair – Doubtufl
• Saliva – Not validated or 0-24 hours

Marijuana (Regular Use)

• Urine 7-100 days
• Blood – 2-7 days
• Hair – Months
• Saliva – Not validated or 0-24 hours

Things to note about Urine drug test for marijuana:

Bear in mind that the most used type of drug test for marijuana is urine test, since it could detect marijuana use after days or weeks. That said, the urine tests can not detect THC which is the psychoactive component in marijuana, instead, the tests can detect the non-psychoactive marijuana metabolite, often referred as THC-COOH and it stays in human body for days or even weeks. Also, urine tests are tend to be more sensitive to Marijuana than other drugs.

Things to note about Blood test for marijuana:

Since blood tests calculate the actual presence of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), hence they are considered a more effective detector recently. However, blood tests are often used only in certain circumstances such as accidents or DUIs since they can provide investigators with instant indication of whether the person involved indeed used Marijuana.

Things to note about Hair test for marijuana:

Hair test is considered to be a highly objective type of drug testing, because it doesn’t detect current marijuana use, instead, it detects residues that remain in subject’s hair for months after using marijuana. Since these residues are formed internally and will not present in the subject’s hair until approx. 7-10 days after first marijuana use. After that, the residues can’t be washed off with shampoos, therefore, hair test is usually used to detect regular use instead of occasionally use of marijuana.

Things to note about Saliva test for marijuana:

Saliva test for marijuana,  on the other hand, is a rather new testing method and with lesser proven technology. Hence, this type of marijuana testing is not widely used when it comes to marijuana. However, it is still established in term of sensitivity to detect recent use of marijuana use ranging from a few hours to over 24 hours. The process involved is to take out the oral tissues from the test subject’s month that can’t be washed out with mouthwash and see if there are secretions. Since it is still not proven to be a reliable testing method, it has yet been accepted by the United States.