With concentrates containing at least 40% THC more than marijuana flowers, it is unsurprising that most users who prioritize a more potent cannabinoid experience choose dabbing over smoking pot.
However, one uncertainty associated with this choice is the question of how long dabs stay in the body system. Interestingly, there is no specific answer to this question. Instead, it depends on factors like the concentrate type, usage frequency, and the user’s metabolism.
Read on to learn the long-term effects of dabs and how long they can remain detectable in your body through a drug test.
Table of Contents
How long does a dab high last?
Despite containing high amounts of psychoactive cannabinoids, the high from concentrates does not outlast what you get from smoking flowers. What differentiates ripping a bong from a rig are the onset and the intensity. For instance, users get a more intense high and immediate effect with dabbing, with the high lasting up to two hours.
How long do dabs remain detected in your body?
This is another question without a definite answer. The answer to the question “How long does THC stay in your system?” depends on age, sex, body mass, dosage, usage frequency, metabolism, and other factors. For example, detectable metabolites may persist in the body for months after usage for frequent users.
What drug tests can be used to detect dabs?
There are many ways to detect the presence of THC and its metabolite THC-COOH in the body. The common samples used include blood, saliva, and urine. People in the corporate world prefer urine tests because it is affordable and easy to use.
Infrequent users (less than thrice a week) may have cannabis remains in their urine for 14 days after use. The duration is 30 days for moderate users (four times a week) and over 30 days for daily users.
For blood testing, THC-COOH can be detected in the bloodstream one to two days after dabbing. The duration could be as long as a month for heavy and frequent users.
Regarding saliva testing, THC can remain detectable in occasional users one to three days after the last use and can stay for up to a month in chronic users.
With hair testing, cannabis use can be detected for up to 90 days after the last use, but this usually depends on the hair length.
NB: THC goes directly into the bloodstream on entering the body. The effects take about a minute to kick in after inhalation, with the THC broken down into metabolites. These metabolites are stored in the organs, body fat, and the bloodstream. Therefore, users with rapid metabolism and lower body fat can expel THC from their bodies faster than users with a slower metabolism.
In addition, the drug test detection times in the previous section are estimates. The exact time it will take for THC from dabs to become undetectable in the body depends on many factors listed below;
- Consumption levels—the frequency and quantity of consumption
- Stress levels—the more stress a user experiences, the longer the expulsion of THC-COOH takes
- Metabolic rate—users with a faster metabolism will purge dabs from their bodies faster
- Body mass or body fat content—body fat, hair, and nails all store excess THC metabolites that leak back into the system over time. The more you have, the longer these metabolites will remain in the body
- Age—young people have a faster metabolism and will purge THC metabolites faster than older people
- General health—liver, kidney, or other organ problems can slow down the expulsion of THC metabolites from the body
- Genetics—some users have genes that allow them to process drug metabolites faster than others. The enzyme responsible for this is the drug-metabolizing enzyme CYP2D6 (American Association for Clinical Chemistry)
- Medications—if you are on other medications, your body may experience metabolic overload, extending the drug-detection period
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some of the most common questions asked on dabs and their respective answers;
Are dabs detectable in drug tests as concentrates specifically?
No. Concentrates are seen as cannabis instead of appearing specifically as dabs.
Cannabis flower or dabs—which is more persistent in the body?
It all depends on the amount of THC in the body. The more THC in the body, the longer the period required for purging. Dabs are known to contain more THC than cannabis flower and will leave higher amounts of THC in the body. The amount consumed and duration of use are also contributory factors.
Can users speed up the expulsion of THC from their bodies?
The breakdown of THC starts immediately after you inhale the dab. Although it is not scientifically backed, it is a widespread belief that activities like intensive exercise and excess hydration can help purge THC faster. Several detox kits out there claim to purge THC, but they are expensive and unreliable. Not dabbing is the most effective way to keep dabs out of the body system.
How long does the THC from a wax pen persist in the user’s urine?
The THC in wax pens is like other concentrates—it remains in the user’s urine for several days after the last use. The duration of persistence will depend on the frequency of smoking, amount consumed, and metabolism speed. For instance, it may take three days for heavy smokers and 24 hours for light smokers. The rule of thumb here is that THC may remain detectable in urine for about three days for first-time vapers. The duration is about a week for regular or weekly smokers and thirty days or more for daily and extreme long-term users.
Is a dap pen detectable in a drug test?
Yes, the dab pen will be detectable in a drug test. This depends on the amount consumed and similar factors.
What is the duration of a dab pen high?
An average dab pen high lasts between one to three hours, depending on the amount the user consumes.
For how long does a cart remain in the system?
A THC cart may remain detectable in the body for two to 30 days in most cases. However, the duration often depends on the amount consumed, the body fat, and other factors.