How Long Does THCa Stay in Your System? Tips to Pass a THCa Drug Test

Posted on August 16, 2023 by Munchies

THCa products have made it so anyone in the United States can enjoy legal cannabis, shipped straight to their doorstep. Because the raw material these vapes and dabs are made from contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight, they’re perfectly legal.

Although THCa as a cannabinoid has no psychoactive properties, it’s converted to delta 9 THC (the real deal) when exposed to heat – either through vaping, smoking, dabbing, or baking edibles. This is great! That is, until you have a drug test to worry about.

So, does THCa show up on a drug test? If so, how long does THCa stay in your system? You’ve come to the right place. Yes, THCa shows up on a drug test in the sense that you’re essentially consuming delta 9 THC, the main cannabinoid these tests look for.

As for how long it’ll take to get it out of your system, there’s unfortunately no one-size-fits-all answer. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few months to get clean. We’ll provide more context on what to expect below.

Overview of THCa

First things first, what is THCa? Known scientifically as tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, this is the acidic form of traditional THC – the cannabinoid responsible for creating the “high” you’ve come to know and love.

There’s tons of THCa in raw cannabis plants – in fact, it’s one of the most bountiful cannabinoids in the plant! Yet, it does nothing from a psychoactive perspective until it’s decarboxylated, a fancy word to say “heated.”
That’s why our THCa vape pens and THCa dabs are so popular. They’re a legal way to enjoy the genuine cannabis experience you crave no matter where you live.

Our blog has more resources on THCa vs delta 9 and THCa vs delta 8 if you want a closer look at how all these variations of THC differ from each other. In the meantime, does THCa show up on a drug test?

Does THCa Show Up On a Drug Test?

The short answer is yes – but not in the way you might assume. Whether it’s for your job or a court-ordered drug test, THCa itself is rarely looked for. Instead, it’s THC that these tests try to uncover in your urine, blood, or hair.

But here’s the kicker: you’re not technically consuming THCa when you use THCa vapes, dabs, or flower. The moment you heat the product, be it with a lighter, a torch, or the touch of a button, you’re transforming the THCa into THC.

In other words, you’re consuming THC just like you would if you were to buy legit delta 9 THC products. That’s why we always warn our customers about the possibility of failing a drug test when ordering our THCa products.

That being said, how long does THCa stay in your system?

How Long Does THCa Stay in Your System? Factors Influencing THCa Detection Rates

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer as it depends on how much (and how often) you consume, your metabolism, activity level, and other factors.

We’ll provide overview of all these moving pieces to help you better set your expectations for THCa detection. But if you just want the short answer, here’s a look at what you can expect for different types of THCa drug tests:

• Urine Tests – First-time or infrequent users usually take 3 to 5 days; moderate users (4 times per week) can take 5 to 7 days; and daily users 10 to 15 days. For chronic heavy users, detection time can be more than 30 days.
• Blood Tests – Generally detectable for only a few hours to 1-2 days.
• Saliva Tests – Typically detect use for 24 to 72 hours after consumption.
• Hair Tests – Can potentially detect use for up to 90 days.

Frequency of Use

This is what matters most in determining how long THCa will linger in your system. It will take chronic or heavy users much longer to eliminate Delta 9 THC metabolites from their systems compared to occasional users – sometimes longer than a month.

In contrast, first-time users should be able to get out of the detection window within 3 days to a week. This is because THC is fat-soluble and can continue to build up the more you use it.

Dosage and Potency

Higher doses and more potent products raise Delta 9 THC metabolite levels in the body just like more frequent usage does.

This goes back to the simple fact that THC is stored in the fat cells every time you consume it. A 5mg edible will vanish from your system much quicker than a 20mg edible.

Method of Consumption

Some say that how you consume cannabis plays a role in drug test detection as well. It makes sense when you think about it. Smoking or vaping cannabis leads to faster absorption and quicker onset of effects, so the metabolites should work their way out of your system quicker.

On the other hand, edibles take longer to process and as a result those metabolites might stick around a bit longer in your system. As with most things related to cannabis, though, this is purely anecdotal with no real research to support it.

Individual Metabolism and Body Composition

Some people are just fortunate enough to have a faster metabolism, meaning their body processes and excrete the THC metabolites faster than those with a slower metabolism.

Body composition plays a role here as well. As we’ve said many times so far, THC and its metabolites are stored in fat cells. So, people with higher body fat percentages retain these compounds for more extended periods.

This means that the only real way to speed up the process of removing THCa from your system is to burn fat from your body. More on that in a moment.

Hydration Levels

Be clear – drinking a ton of water doesn’t magically erase the THC metabolites from your system. What it does is dilute their presence in urine, sometimes to the point they’re undetectable by drug tests.

So if you are preparing for a drug test and are worried about passing, make sure you’re drinking plenty of water to the point you’re peeing crystal clear urine.

This of course can be a red flag and many testers actually will actually have you retake the test if they see this – but there are strategies you can use to offset it, like taking the right vitamins. More on that later.

How is THCA Metabolized in the Body?

With a better understanding of how long THCa stays in your system let’s take a step back and talk about how it’s actually metabolized, as there is a distinction between raw THCa consumption and decarbed THCa

THCA follows a metabolic pathway similar to Delta 9 THC, first forming an intermediate compound called 11-OH-THCA. Then, it’s further oxidized to produce the 11-carboxylic metabolite.

Just keep in mind THCa itself does not convert to Delta 9 THC within the body. The conversion of THCA to Delta 9 THC happens outside of the body through decarboxylation, or exposure to heat.

So the key takeaway is that if you’ve consumed raw THCa in the form of juices, capsules, tinctures, or some other oral consumption method, you may not have to worry about failing a drug test. That’s not the case for those who have smoked or vaped THCa, though.

How Long Do Certain Types of THCA Consumption Stay in Your System?

So, how long does THCa stay in your system? A lot of it is dependent on the consumption method. Remember, eating raw cannabis leaves or buds and consuming THCA-rich juices or smoothies won’t result in a positive THC drug test. What about smoking or vaping, though?

Smoking

Smoking THCa flower is the classic way to enjoy cannabis, and leads to the

• Urine – 3-30 days, depending on usage frequency.
• Blood – A few hours up to 1-2 days.
• Saliva – 24-72 hours.
• Hair –  Up to 90 days.

Vaping

Vaping heats THCA to convert it to Delta 9 THC without combustion. This method can be carried out using a vaporizer with THCA flower or concentrates. Its detection is similar to smoking, as the THCA is converted to Delta 9 THC. The metabolites can be detected through urine in 3-30 days and blood tests in a few hours to two days. Other tests, like saliva, take 1-3 days, while metabolites in hair follicles can remain detectable for up to 3 months.

Dabbing

Dabbing involves vaporizing concentrated forms of cannabis, including THCA crystals or diamonds. This method can be carried out using a dab rig to heat and inhale THCA concentrates. Due to the high concentration, dabbing may lead to longer detection times, potentially at the upper end of the ranges mentioned for smoking.

Edibles

THCa can be incorporated into edibles, but heating during preparation or consumption will immediately convert it to Delta 9 THC – and then you need to be worried about the THCa drug test.

Delta 9 THC metabolites from edibles may be detectable for longer periods due to slower absorption and metabolism. Here’s what you can expect:

• Urine – Potentially up to 1-5 days for occasional users and 1-3 weeks for regular users.
• Blood and Saliva – Similar to smoking, but with a delayed onset.
• Hair Follicle – Metabolites are present for up to 90 days.

Under the Tongue Consumption

THCA can be consumed by melting the concentrate under the tongue, typically through tinctures or oils. This method may lead to faster absorption than edibles but slower than inhalation. Detection times may fall between those of edibles and smoking.

Topical Application

THCA can be applied topically through THCA-infused creams, lotions, or balms. This method won’t result in detectable levels of THC in drug tests since absorption into the bloodstream is minimal. For what it’s worth, though, these products also don’t do anything and are a waste of money.

Looking at Different THCa Drug Test Types

The best way to get a sense of when you’ll pass a drug test is finding out what type of test you’re going to be taking. Let’s break it down based on the most common THCa drug test types below:

Urine Tests (Most Common) – Detection Window: 3 to 30+ Days

Urine tests are the standard for workplace and probation screenings, and they tend to fall in the middle ground for their detection window:

• Occasional Users (1-2 times per week): 3-7 days
• Moderate Users (3-4 times per week): 7-14 days
• Heavy Users (Daily or near-daily): 21-30+ days

Fortunately, these are also the easiest tests to pass if you have enough time to prepare or are willing to do some sketchy things (only when you know there is no chance of passing with your own pee). More on that below.

Blood Tests – Detection Window: Up to 48 Hours (Longer for Heavy Users)

Blood tests are unique in that they don’t test for THC metabolites like urine tests do. They look for active THC. Since THC exits the bloodstream fairly quickly these are used to find out if you’ve used cannabis very recently, like in accident investigations or roadside sobriety tests.

If you haven’t vaped or smoked in 24-48 hours, your levels may already be low enough to pass.

Saliva Tests – Detection Window: 1 to 72 Hours

These are similar to blood tests in that they look for recent THC and are often used in roadside drug screenings. They’re also pretty easy to pass if you have time to prepare:

• Brush your teeth and use mouthwash multiple times leading up to the test.
• Avoid smoking, vaping, or eating anything with THC at least 48 hours before the test.
• Some people use hydrogen peroxide-based mouthwashes, but results can be inconsistent

Hair Follicle Tests – Detection Window: Up to 90 Days

Now we have the hardest THCa drug test to try and pass: the hair test. These detect THC metabolites embedded in hair strands. Even one-time use can be detected months down the road.

Detox shampoos claim to reduce THC buildup, but the jury is still out there. Some try and game the system by shaving their head or bleaching the hair, but that’s a pretty obvious red flag.

Tips to Help Pass a THCa Drug Test

So what can you do to speed things up and get THC metabolites out of your system ASAP? Ultimately, there’s only so much you can do. Time is the only guaranteed way to remove these metabolites. The more time you have, though, the more you can do to set yourself up for success. Here are some tips:

• Stop Consuming Immediately – Obviously you’ll need to stop using THCa products that undergo decarboxylation (vaping, smoking). The more time you give your body to metabolize THC, the better.
• Stay Hydrated – Drinking plenty of water won’t “flush” THC out overnight, but staying hydrated helps your body process toxins more efficiently. As for the day of the test, hydrate as much as you can so that you’re peeing frequently. Your urine should be clear. Then, you’ll need to load up on the right vitamins (B12, Vitamin D, etc.) to avoid triggering red flags with the test for “dilution.”
• Exercise (But Not Right Before a Test) – We mentioned earlier how THC is stored in fat cells, so if you have a few weeks before the test do plenty of cardio and strength training to burn fat and with it, release stored THC. Stop exercising a day or two before testing to avoid releasing more THC metabolites in your bloodstream, though.
• Eat Clean – Lots of fiber, lean proteins, and healthy fats can help your body metabolize THC faster. Steer clear of processed foods and excess sugar. Remember, the goal is to burn as much fat as you can leading up to the test.
• Consider Detox Supplements – These can be really hit or miss, and there really aren’t any we endorse. Activated charcoal or diuretics may help support your body’s natural cleansing processes, but they’re not a guaranteed solution.
• Use an At-Home Test First – If you have time before the official test, take an at-home THC test to check your levels. If you’re still testing positive, you may need more time to detox.

If you’re still stressing about that THCa drug test, you may need to take more drastic measures to pass it. There are a few other strategies that work really well – but we’re not going to advocate for those. We’ll let you do your own research on the substitution method.

Final Thoughts on THCa Drug Test

So does THCa show up on drug tests? How long does THCa stay in your system, and what cna you do to boost your odds of passing that test with flying colors? We hope you feel confident in your current situation and next steps after reading through this guide.

While THCa itself won’t show up on a drug test, those who are smoking THCa flower or consuming concentrated forms like vapes or dabs are essentially consuming THC. That’s what these drug tests actually look for.

Give yourself plenty of time to get those metabolites out of your system before the test, knowing that Father Time really is the only surefire way to pass a THCa drug test. Follow our tips above and best of luck.

Before you go, pick up some goodies from Delta Munchies today and that way once you get the green light after passing your test, you can indulge in nature’s finest!