I’m Vaping CBD — How Long Will It Stay In My System?

With the increased popularity of CBD oil, mainly due to its many health benefits, people choose to consume it in several different ways, including vaporizing CBD. 

CBD is an excellent natural remedy for numerous health conditions; it is a non-psychoactive compound derived from the cannabis plant to treat chronic pain, inflammation, and nausea. 

While CBD use is becoming more common, it is normal to have questions about it still. If you find yourself wanting to learn more – you’re in the right place! 

This article addresses:

• What is CBD, exactly — and what does it mean to use a CBD vape pen?
• How does CBD differ from THC and why is that important for you?
• How long does it take CBD to leave your body when you’ve vaped it ?

But I’ll let you in on a secret right off the bat — normally, CBD stays in your system for about three to five days.

Of course, there are exceptions to this.

You see, CBD can affect each person slightly differently, and people use it in many different ways so answering these questions about CBD and how long it stays in your system can get a bit complicated.

Luckily, CBD is not psychoactive, and employers mostly don’t test for it. So you don’t have anything to worry about even if it does stay in your system for longer periods of time.

What is CBD?

Many people are unsure what CBD is and how it works. CBD is an active ingredient found in the cannabis plant (specifical hemp). It has shown unprecedented potential in recent years as natural medicine. In addition, it is non-intoxicating and non-psychoactive. 

This means – it doesn’t get you high. 

CBD doesn’t have any mind-altering effects on humans, but it helps reduce anxiety, stress, pain, and inflammation. Scientific research about the extent of these benefits is ongoing and expanding all the time! 

CBD has been used medicinally for several thousand years, and more recently, scientists have discovered that it is a potent anti-inflammatory compound. It can be ingested or applied topically, and it is one of many compounds found in cannabis that has shown promise for treating a wide range of diseases and disorders.

According to the World Health Organization, CBD oil and other cannabinoids may even have antidepressant and neuroprotective effects. CBD has also shown promise in preventing cancer and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

CBD oil is used as an alternative to medical treatments, such as opiates. It acts on the endocannabinoid system, which is the system that regulates a variety of bodily processes.

In this system, cells in the brain respond to certain chemicals, including CBD. These effects have seen positive outcomes for pain management, depression, and anxiety relief.

How Can You Consume CBD?

There are various ways to consume CBD. The most common methods are:

1. Vaping: this method of consumption is the most common. Typically, people choose personal vaporizer options that are easily portable, such as vape pens. 
2.  Edibles: edibles are food items with CBD cooked into it. This is another popular way to consume CBD, with various products available such as gummies, cookies, and endless other options.
3. Topicals: CBD can also be applied directly to the skin. This is a popular way to use CBD for pain relief or to treat certain skin conditions.
4. Inhalers: inhalers are used to deliver CBD directly to the lungs. The inhaler device heats the CBD oil so it can be consumed.

What Happens When You Vape CBD?

Vaping CBD oil helps the body absorb the entire compound and maximize the CBD oil’s anti-inflammatory and anti-anxiety properties. This method, also called CBD vaporization, heats the oil to an extremely high temperature to vaporize it, which allows the CBD to be inhaled and enter the bloodstream. 

What Happens When You Ingest CBD?

Ingesting CBD through food and drink is another popular method of consumption. Typically, it takes half an hour to reach peak absorption after ingestion. However, this may vary depending on the product. 

The two downsides to ingesting CBD are that its potency often varies and that it often has a delayed onset of effects. These two things can lead to people eating either too much or too little to achieve the desired effect, so make sure to remember that it can often take a while to feel the effects after consuming CBD through ingestion.

What Happens When You Absorb CBD?

The least common option is using topical CBD products to absorb CBD through the skin. Although this method works, it may prove to be the least effective method as people often report a smaller amount of relief from using topical products compared to the other two methods mentioned. However, if you’re looking to target a specific area on your body or want a more mild dosage, this may be an excellent option for you! 

How Does the Body Process CBD?

CBD breaks down in the body through a series of pathways. First, it enters your bloodstream through your liver. Then, it is absorbed through your gastrointestinal tract into your intestines. Finally, the endocannabinoid system metabolizes CBD as it moves through your system.

CBD enters your bloodstream via your liver first. The liver is responsible for approximately 40 percent of your metabolized functions. It breaks down the endocannabinoid molecules into their constituents, CBD, and an endocannabinoid called anandamide.

Because of the high concentration of endocannabinoids and CBD in the liver, these molecules quickly enter your bloodstream and are rapidly broken down into their components, CBD and anandamide. This process takes about one to two hours. In your liver, CBD is broken down into two separate chemical compounds, CBD and anandamide.

Why Does CBD Affect Everyone Differently?

The endocannabinoid system is complicated, and each person is unique. This is why each person’s reaction to CBD can vary, including how long it stays in each person’s system. 

One of the reasons for these differences is our metabolism (which occurs mainly in our liver). Our bodies are unique, and we each have different rates at which we absorb and metabolize food and compounds such as CBD. This is due primarily to the difference in liver health and function from person to person. The liver’s job is to absorb, store, and eliminate a wide range of compounds and chemicals. By metabolizing, the body can break down and destroy chemical combinations, such as CBD.

Secondly, your body is constantly changing and adapting. Your body cannot absorb CBD without altering some of its natural enzymes. That means, depending on your age, medication, and medical history, it could take anywhere from one to 24 hours for your body to absorb the full dosage. This delayed onset impacts how long CBD will stay in your system as well.

Liver function and each person’s unique enzyme balance helps explain why we experience the effects and longevity of CBD in our bodies differently. 

How Does Your Body Metabolize CBD?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of the most researched compounds in the cannabis plant. It is typically extracted from the plant in a decarboxylated form. This is because Decarboxylated CBD is the form the body can most easily absorb. That being said, the absorption of CBD in the body is still fairly slow. As we mentioned earlier, this absorption and digestion are slightly different from person to person. 

Due to people’s varying metabolic rates and liver functions, they also have different levels of tolerance. Higher tolerance means people may need to consume more CBD to feel the same effects as lower tolerance. Tolerance is also impacted by how often you utilize CBD, as your body might react less to CBD over time.  

How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

As with many medications, drugs, or other substances – your body has a range of enzymes that break down CBD in your liver and to then be excreted through your urine. 

There are two main enzymes that breakdown CBD:

• N-Acetyl-Cannabinol Acetate Ketone Deacetylase (NAC-KDAC) and
• Cannabinoid Deacetylase (CBDADAC).

For most people, these enzymes work fast, and they flush CBD out in about three to five days.

Just like with medications, it can be a bit of a trial and error effort to determine exactly what dose of CBD is most effective for you and your body. Luckily, it’s not a complete shot in the dark as there are several factors you can look at to determine how long CBD will remain in your body.  

Dosage Amount 

The higher the dosage, the longer CBD will stay in your system.

Dosage Frequency 

The more often you use CBD, the longer it stays in your system as it builds up over time. The more often you use it, the more likely you are to simultaneously increase dosage due to your increased tolerance (as discussed earlier). 

Body Composition and Liver Function

Body composition, age, and liver function may all impact your metabolism and, therefore, how long CBD stays in your system. Because CBD is fat-soluble, people with a higher concentration of body fat tend to hold CBD in their bodies longer than those with a lower concentration of body fat.  

Typically, people look for a “magic number” of how long CBD will stay in their system. They want an exact answer, such as one week or one month. However, someone else can’t tell you how long it will stay in YOUR particular system due to the factors above. It ranges from person to person – from weeks to months. Use the three items above to determine whether you would be on a high or low end of this range. These factors, including individual tolerance, all contribute to how fast CBD leaves your system.

How Long Does It Take Vaped CBD to Leave Your System?

Remember that cannabinoids impact everyone differently and that your usage pattern is what most accurately predicts how long it will take for them to leave your body.

Three to five days is the norm… but you shouldn’t count on it.

Also, different types of cannabinoids have different effects on your body. For example, ingesting THC into your body makes you feel high. CBD, on the other hand, can make you feel more relaxed and calmer.

CBD, in particular, has been shown to have many beneficial properties, including anti-inflammatory, anti-anxiety, and anti-convulsive properties.

Our bodies respond to the CBD compound; the efficacy and how long it stays in your system can vary greatly. Typically, high dosage and high-frequency use will keep the compound in your system longer, but those with liver issues may also have a hard time clearing their system out. 

Always consult a physician before taking CBD.

So, in short, the higher the dose and frequency of CBD you take, the longer it will stay in your system.