There’s so much confusion and uncertainty on the topic of cannabis and drug testing in 2025. 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. So does THCA show up on a drug test? Yes, but not in the way you might think. THCA converts to Delta-9 THC through decarboxylation (heat), so you’re basically consuming real THC anytime you use our THCA products for sale online. That means you will need to be really careful about navigating the drug testing landscape. 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.
THCA Overview
So what is THCA in the first place? This is basically the acidic precursor to Delta-9 THC, which is the cannabinoid responsible for the “high” associated with cannabis. THCA is found naturally (and abundantly) in both hemp and marijuana, which is why it’s so accessible. Here’s the thing, though. THCA does nothing on its own from a psychoactive perspective. But when you heat it up through smoking, vaping, or baking, you’re doing something called decarboxylation. This process transforms the THCA into good ol’ Delta-9 THC. At that point, you’re enjoying the authentic cannabis experience with euphoria and other psychoactive effects, along with all the potential therapeutic benefits that come with it. However, you’re also going to need to know: Does THCA show up on a drug test?
Does THCA Show on a Drug Test?
The short answer is yes, unfortunately. 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. It’s THC-COOH 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.
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. That being said, there is another wrinkle at play: 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. 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 THCA drug test. Save it for after you’ve passed the test with flying colors! But, how long does THCA stay in your system exactly?
When Will You Be Able to Pass a THCA 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.
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.
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Urine Test
- 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
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Blood Test
- Typically detectable for 1 to 2 days
- Heavy users: up to 1 week
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Saliva Test
- Detectable for 1 to 3 days
- Highest concentrations in first 24 hours
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Hair Follicle Test
- Up to 90 days or longer
How to Pass the Dreaded 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
So does THCA show up on a drug test? In closing, yes. Even if you’re consuming a completely legal hemp-derived product, that won’t save you from failing a drug test. 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. That doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy Delta-9 gummies or THC vape pens for sale from our THC shop. You just need to be careful about when you do so. Our blog has additional resources on topics like THCA vs Delta-9, THCA vs Delta-8, and THCA vs THCO if you’d like to see how it compares to other cannabinoids. Otherwise, treat yourself to the finest lab-tested, hemp-derived cannabis products online at MUNCHIES!
