How Long Does Hash Stay in Your System

How Long Does Hash Stay in Your System Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Print How Long Does Hash Stay in Your System? Hash in Your Blood, Urine, Hair, Saliva By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Updated on January 21, 2020 Verywell / Cindy Chung More in Addiction Drug Use Marijuana Cocaine Heroin Meth Ecstasy/MDMA Hallucinogens Opioids Prescription Medications Alcohol Use Addictive Behaviors Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery In This Article Table of Contents Expand Effects Duration Detection Times Elimination Symptoms of Overdose Getting Help View All Back To Top Hash, which is short for hashish,  is a preparation of marijuana made from the resin of the buds of the  cannabis  plant. Hashish oil, or hash oil, is the strongest form of marijuana since its so concentrated, with a pound of marijuana yielding just an ounce or two of hash or hash oil. It can be used in preparing edibles, smoked, or ingested orally. The psychoactive ingredient  in hash and marijuana  is  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Since the processing of marijuana into hash oil isnt standardized, even in legal production, its difficult to know just how much of the active ingredients are present in the hash oil. It can contain anywhere from 15% to 60% THC. While marijuana is still considered a Schedule I drug at the federal level (meaning that its still considered to be a drug with no currently accepted medical use), several states  and Washington, DC have legalized marijuana for recreational use for people over the age of 21. As of the 2018 midterm elections,  30 states have laws legalizing marijuana for medical use and others have legalized cannabis-based oils with low-THC content. Hash or hash oil may be used as a form of medical marijuana and may be allowed in states where marijuana has been legalized. How Long Does Hash Stay in Your System? Blood: Up to 4 hoursUrine: Up to 30 daysSaliva: Up to 72 hoursHair: Up to 90 days What to Know About Marijuana Use How Long Does It Take to Feel Effects? THC  enters your bodys bloodstream rapidly after smoking hash oil. You feel the effects within minutes and they peak in about 30 minutes. If hashish is ingested, such as in baked goods or edibles, it takes longer to be absorbed into the blood, usually from 20 minutes to an hour and a half.?? Once in your system, you may feel like the effects have passed after two to three hours, although there can be some impairment for as long as 24 hours. The timeframe is extremely variable. Duration depends on the concentration of THC, which, as noted before, is not standardized with hash oil, even where it can be produced and purchased legally. If youre a light user, the effects of THC on attention, concentration, and working memory generally pass six hours after ingesting or smoking THC-containing products. During this period, your psychomotor skills are affected, so you shouldnt drive or operate machinery. In a traffic stop, you could be charged with DUI, even if you have a prescription for medical marijuana. If youre a heavy user, there can be residual effects for as long as 28 days after you stop using THC-containing products. The physical side effects of hash oil include: Increased heart rateRed eyesDry mouthIncreased appetiteVasodilatation (widening of blood vessels, which decreases blood pressure) Due to the uncertain concentration of THC in hash oil, you should be cautious about the amount you take for medical purposes. Taking a large dose may result in the following: HallucinationsParanoiaAltered moodMemory problemsAnxietyAltered sensation?? Fortunately, these effects will wear off over the course of a few hours. How Long Does Hash Last? The half-life of hash is how long it takes for half of the drug to be metabolized and eliminated from the bloodstream. Some THC metabolites have an elimination half-life of 20 hours. The half-life of fat-stored THC is about 10 to 13 days, meaning there is half of the original amount left at this time.?? Some of the THC in your bloodstream is rapidly metabolized into more than 80 different chemicals, known as metabolites. A portion of these metabolites is then excreted in your urine.?? But THC and its various metabolites are also stored in body fat and remain in your system for much longer. These metabolites accumulate, so if you use hash or hash oil every day, you will have more stores of THC in your body and it may take much longer to eliminate them from your system.?? Some of the THC is stored unchanged, so when its released from fat into your body, it can again exert its psychoactive properties as well as be metabolized and excreted in your urine. Blood Blood tests are rarely used to detect THC since it can only be detected in the bloodstream for about three to four hours after use. Urine In general, the detection windows for THC in a urine test can range from three to 30 days, depending on how often you use the drug. One use: 3 daysModerate use (4 times a week): 5 daysDaily use: 10 daysDaily use over an extended period of time: 30 days Saliva THC typically remains in saliva for one to three days, or until its fully swallowed. Drinking water, brushing your teeth, and using mouthwash may speed up this process. Hair THC can also be stored in your hair follicles, where it may be detected for up to 90 days.?? This long elimination period can be of concern for someone who uses medical marijuana and who may need to take a drug screen. False Positives Previously, over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications like Advil, Motrin, and Nuprin caused false positives on tests used to detect THC. The tests have been adjusted, however, and this is no longer a problem. Factors That Affect Detection Time How long THC stays in your system depends on a variety of factors, including age, amount of body fat, hydration, physical activity, and how frequently and how much hash you use. Body Mass Index Although not perfect, body mass index (BMI) is a method of estimating body fat levels based on a persons weight and height measurement. Since THC tends to accumulate in fatty tissues, people with a higher BMI of body fat percentage may metabolize THC more slowly, causing longer detection times than a person with a lower index. Sex Since women tend to have higher levels of body fat than men, they may metabolize THC at a slightly slower rate. Metabolic Rate If you have a higher metabolic rate, the shorter the time a drug can be detected in the body. Metabolic rates can be affected by your age, physical activity level, and certain health conditions. Hydration If you’re dehydrated, you’re likely to have higher concentrations of THC in the body after use. That said, drinking lots of water will only dilute a urine drug test, which in most cases, will mean you’ll be asked to retake it.   Frequency of Use If you use hash one time, it might be detectable for only a short period of time, whereas heavy or very frequent use can cause concentrations in the system that can be detected for longer periods of time. Smoking vs. Ingesting Whether you smoke or vape hash, ingest an edible, or take it orally will also influence how long the drug stays in your body. For example, when you  ingest the drug or eat it in the form of an edible, hash takes longer to enter the bloodstream. It has to first go through the entire digestion process. This means it will stay in your body longer. If you smoke or vape hash, it will enter and leave your body more quickly How to Get Hash Out of Your System There is no reliable, quick way to remove THC from your body, despite what people and products claim. Certainly, drinking a lot of water and liquids or exercising vigorously may help, but you’ll still need time for your body to break down and eliminate THC metabolites from your body.  The only reliable way to get hash out of your system is to discontinue use and wait. Various companies sell drinks and herbal supplements like creatinine or vitamin B12 that claim to dilute your urine or “clean” the body’s system, but these drug screening agents may take time and are not always reliable.   Symptoms of Overdose Medical professionals dont yet know how much THC it takes to overdose. That said, THC toxicity has been found to result in psychotic episodes, uncontrollable vomiting, and heart arrhythmias. THC overdose can occur more easily with edibles, as it takes longer for your body to absorb the THC and feel the effects, which can prompt people to ingest more. Can You Overdose on Marijuana? Drug Interactions THC can interact with other drugs, including alcohol, as well as a number of medications like blood thinners and anti-anxiety medications. If youre on any medications, discuss your use of hash oil and other THC-containing products with your doctor as it may influence your dosages.?? Getting Help While marijuana, and by extension hash, isnt considered a highly addictive substance, you can become psychologically addicted to THC and experience symptoms of cannabis withdrawal  if you stop suddenly. While these symptoms are milder than many other drugs, they still exist and may include cravings, mood swings, sleep disruptions, headaches, and digestive troubles. The frequency and amount of hash used prior to stopping will affect the severity and length of the withdrawal. If these symptoms become intense enough to drive you to relapse to find relief, youll want to seek guidance from a healthcare professional who can offer coping strategies for the physical side effects. Its also smart to get help if you find you cant get through your day without hash; this may be a sign of a substance use disorder. Setting up an appointment with a mental health professional or visiting an online or in-person support group can help you deal with the psychological symptoms of hash withdrawal. An Overview of Addiction Treatment