There’s so much confusion and uncertainty on the topic of cannabis and drug testing.
These products are legal just about everywhere in some way or another, be it medical/recreational marijuana or Farm Bill-compliant hemp-derived cannabis products. That doesn’t mean your employer can’t drug test you, or that you won’t be subject to drug testing if you’re on parole or in a car crash.
Because of this, it’s best to be careful and informed when it comes to drug testing. We’ll cover everything you need to know about the dreaded THCA drug test below, including detection windows and strategies for passing different types of tests, from urine to blood and saliva.
Does THCA Show up on a Drug Test?
The short answer is yes. But like we said, it’s not going to be THCA itself showing up on the test. It’ll be Delta-9 THC, or more accurately, the metabolites of Delta-9 THC that these tests can screen for.
Think back to how decarbing THCA transforms it into Delta-9 THC. When you smoke, vape, or dab THCA, you’re consuming something that’s chemically indistinguishable from real cannabis. According to the Mayo Clinic, it’s THC-COOH that these tests scan for, which is the metabolite your body produces after breaking down THC. The metabolite doesn’t care whether the THC came from marijuana, hemp, or THCA. It’s going to trigger a positive test result regardless of its origin.
What Happens If You Don’t Heat THCA?
That means even if you’re using legal THCA products, you’re at risk of failing a drug test just like you would if you used illegal marijuana products. If you don’t decarb THCA, it may not show up on the drug test. This is something some users do with raw flower: juicing it for the health benefits. You’re not going to get any sort of psychoactive effects, but you’re also not going to have to stress about drug testing. At least, most of the time you’ll be fine.
Natural Decarboxylation Still Happens
The problem is, decarboxylation can occur naturally on its own. So even if you don’t apply heat yourself, there’s still a chance some of it will convert to Delta-9 THC naturally. This is why our rule of thumb is to avoid cannabis altogether if you’re expecting a drug test.
How Long Can THCA Be Detected in Urine?
Urine testing is the most common method used by employers and probation programs. Research shows the detection window depends on a few factors, including:
- Frequency of use
- Metabolism
- Body composition
Estimated Urine Detection Times:
- Infrequent users: 3 to 5 days
- Moderate users (4x per week): 5 to 7 days
- Chronic users (daily): 10 to 15 days
- Heavy users (multiple times per day): 30+ days
These ranges reflect THC detection because once THCA is heated, it becomes chemically indistinguishable from THC during metabolism.
What Drug Tests Can Detect THCA?
The drug test itself plays a huge role in whether you’ll pass or fail. The most common approach to THCA drug testing is urinalysis, but there are many others as well. So, how long does THCA show up on a drug test for? Let’s take a look. (Source)
- Urine Test
- Typically detectable for 3 to 30+ days
- Blood Test
- Typically detectable for 1 to 2 days
- Heavy users: up to 1 week
- Saliva Test
- Detectable for 1 to 3 days
- Highest concentrations in the first 24 hours
- Hair Follicle Test
- Detectable for up to 90 days or longer
When Will You Be Able to Pass aTHCA Drug Test?
As with any cannabinoid, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer. Someone who just tried THCA for the first time might be able to pass a THCA drug test in as few as several days. On the other hand, regular users might need a few weeks or over a month to get clean.
Aside from consistency of use, your metabolism influences your THCA detection window, too. A faster metabolism will break down those THC metabolites and get them out of the body faster. Think about it: THC is fat-soluble. The more fat you have on your body, the harder it’ll be to get those metabolites out of your system.
Do Employers Check for THCA?
Most employers don’t test for THCA specifically. Instead, they test for THC metabolites using standard 5-panel or 10-panel drug screens. Most workplaces rely on these broad screening panels because they’re designed to detect the most commonly misused substances, including THC. Since THCA converts into THC metabolites once heated, any form of use that results in metabolite production will be treated the same on these tests.
Key points:
- These panels detect THC-COOH, not THCA.
- Heated THCA creates THC metabolites.
- Employers typically can’t distinguish between THC metabolites that are derived from hemp or marijuana.
Can You Be Fired for Smoking THCA?
It depends entirely on state laws and employer policies.
General rules:
- Many employers treat any positive THC drug test as a policy violation.
- Some states have protections for off-duty cannabis use, but federal workers, DOT-regulated employees, and safety-sensitive jobs remain strict.
- Hemp compliance doesn’t prevent disciplinary action when a workplace prohibits THC metabolites.
Strategies That May Improve Your Odds of Passing a THCA Drug Test
We want to be clear in saying there is only one guaranteed way to pass a THCA drug test: stopping use as early as possible and giving your metabolism plenty of time to work its magic.
That being said, there are some strategies you can try to increase your odds of success.
- Stop using THCA immediately.
- Hydration helps, but don’t overdo it.
- Exercise (but not right before your test).
- Consider detox kits, but be skeptical.
- Use at-home test kits to track progress.
Parting Thoughts on THCA Drug Tests
It is obvious that THCA can show up on a drug test. Even if you’re consuming a completely legal hemp-derived product, that won’t save you from failing one. Most tests don’t distinguish between legal and illegal sources of THC. They just detect the metabolite, and if it’s there, you’re flagged.
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