How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

Understanding Bioavailability

So, how long does CBD stay in your system? Besides body composition, age and other factors, bioavailability plays perhaps the largest role in how long you’ll feel the effects of CBD after you take it. But what is CBD bioavailability?

Bioavailability measures the amount of a substance, CBD in this case, that is absorbed into the bloodstream when introduced to your system and its ability to provide active effects. For example, if a substance has a bioavailability of 30% and you take 100mg, only 30mg (or 30%) will be absorbed into the bloodstream and provide your desired effects.

Here’s another way to think about bioavailability and how it relates to the delivery method of a substance: If you were to take any substance through an IV, the bioavailability would be 100% because it’s going directly into your bloodstream. However, no Hemp Bombs^® products are available intravenously (through IV). Instead, Hemp Bombs relies on delivery methods like edibles, oils and topicals to bring you all the benefits of our lab-tested, premium CBD. Gaining a better understanding of the bioavailability of each form of CBD we offer can help you decide which product is the best way to take CBD for you and help answer the question: “how long does cannabidiol stay in your system?”

The Bioavailability of Different CBD Products

CBD Vape

Of all the CBD delivery methods, nothing has a higher bioavailability or quicker results than inhaling it. Vaping CBD allows it to enter through the lungs and directly into the bloodstream. This decreases the breakdown that typically happens during other delivery methods and can provide relief in as little as 10 minutes.

It’s believed that the bioavailability of CBD Vape products ranges from 34% to 46%, with rates as high as 56%! Why the variation in ranges? That all has to do with how long and how deeply a user inhales a CBD Vape product. Regardless of the length of strength of each inhale, the more you puff, the higher the dose of CBD and its benefits you’ll receive.

However, while CBD Vape products have a high bioavailability and deliver faster results than other methods, the effects of vaping can be short-lived and dissipate in as little as an hour. Something to consider when asking, “how long does CBD stay in your system?” Is it worth it to sacrifice the duration of CBD benefits to experience them faster?

CBD Oils

Perhaps the most well-known CBD delivery method, sublingual CBD Oil drops provide relatively quick results thanks to their somewhat moderate level of CBD bioavailability. Research indicates that when CBD Oil is taken sublingually, it has a bioavailability of 10% to 35%. Sublingually means “under the tongue,” and to properly deliver the CBD to your body, drops of CBD Oil are typically held under the tongue so the sublingual gland can transport the CBD directly into your bloodstream. Holding the CBD Oil for at least 60 seconds can increase its bioavailability. The significant difference in bioavailability range, 10% to 35%, is a result of holding the oil under your tongue for long enough (increasing the bioavailability) or simply swallowing the oil (decreasing the bioavailability). CBD Oil is also broken down by the enzymes in the saliva, which also contributes to the difference in the substance’s bioavailability.

By taking CBD Oil sublingually, bypassing the digestive tract and allowing it to enter directly into the bloodstream, you could feel its effects in as little as 20 to 30 minutes and experience them for a few hours.

CBD Edibles

CBD Edibles like Hemp CBD Gummies, CBD Capsules and more are easy to take, can taste incredible, travel effortlessly with you and offer a convenient pre-measured serving of CBD. But if you’re asking “how long does cannabidiol stay in your system” when taking edibles, the answer changes with each product. On one hand: edibles provide some of the longest-lasting effects of any CBD delivery method. On the other hand: edibles typically offer some of the lowest CBD bioavailability rates of any CBD products. In fact, only about 6% to 20% of the ingested CBD serving makes it into the bloodstream after the digestion process. Because CBD Edibles are eaten and are metabolized, passing through the liver, a significant amount of CBD is broken down by liver enzymes before reaching the bloodstream. However, this CBD delivery method can benefit your body for hours.

CBD Topicals

CBD Topicals like patches, gels and lotions can provide targeted relief for specific areas of discomfort rather than overall, total body relief. While research surrounding the bioavailability of CBD Topicals is still ongoing, it’s generally believed that topical products cannot deliver CBD into the bloodstream. However, because of the number of receptors in the skin, muscles and tissues capable of interacting with cannabinoids like CBD, it is believed that CBD can provide comfort to isolated areas.

Depending on how much product you use, and where you apply it, the effects of CBD Topicals can last for hours. It’s best to reapply CBD Topicals like our Pain Freeze multiple times a day for continuous joint and muscle comfort.

How Long Does CBD Stay In Your Urine?

Like bioavailability, there is no one answer to how long CBD will stay in your system. Depending on how frequently you use CBD products and other factors, CBD generally stays in your system for two to five days. The serving size you take can also impact how long CBD stays in your urine. Additionally, the metabolites can show up on urine tests anywhere between three days to two weeks after you’ve taken CBD. Most drug tests screen for THC metabolites, but if you plan to take and pass a urine test, we advise limiting your CBD use just to be safe.

Increasing CBD Bioavailability

Unfortunately, there is no way to increase the bioavailability of specific CBD products. However, you can always increase your intake of CBD to ensure you’re receiving a higher dose and more of its calming effects.

For example, two high potency capsules have a serving size of 60mg of CBD, but because of the low CBD bioavailability of edibles, you’ll only get 3.6mg to 12mg of CBD. With that in mind, you can take more capsules (or gummies or drops of CBD Oil) to support your needs.

You can also combine multiple CBD products to achieve higher doses of CBD and create a full body routine. Start with a few CBD Oil drops under the tongue and then follow that a little later with CBD Edibles for long-lasting results

So, how long does CBD stay in your system? It all depends on what you’re taking, how you’re taking it, how much you’re taking, how you feel at the time, your age, your body composition and so much more. We recommend trying all our CBD products to find which ones suit your lifestyle the best. Discover what you like, what works best for you and what lasts the longest.