Exact Answer: Up to Thirty-Six Hours
THC stands for Tetrahydrocannabinol, and its chemical formula contains twenty-one carbons and two oxygen and hydrogen that fill up the remaining valences. The molecular mass of THC is 314.469 grams per mole. The name of Marinol or Syndros trades THC. THC is one of the principal psychoactive that constitutes cannabis.
THC is highly insoluble in water, and after entering the body, it metabolizes to 11-OH-THC. Afterward, the enzymes present in the body oxidizes it to 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC. However, THC is reasonably soluble in most organic solvents, especially alcohols and hydrocarbons. THC was first synthesized and isolated in Isreal by the Bulgarian chemist Raphael Mechoulam in 1964.
How Long Does THC Stay In Blood?
THC is used to treat neuropathic pain, overactive bladder, spasticity, and a few other symptoms. It is one of the most active ingredients in Nabiximols, which is a specific form of cannabis. THC binds to various body and brain entities, like fatty tissue, being lipophilic molecules. THC also possesses mild antioxidant activity, which is necessary to protect neurons against different oxidative stress, which is produced by glutamate-induced excitotoxicity.
THC has a very low cannabinoid receptor affinity that leads it to target receptors in a less selective manner than the endocannabinoid molecules. Due to partial agonistic activity, it is limited in efficacy while other cannabinoids are highly effective. Endocannabinoids have a lower downregulation of cannabinoids as compared to THC. It has multiple side effects such as impaired reaction time, mental slowness and may lead a person to anxiety. It may even cause pain, fear, or depression in a few people. It also affects the coordination, memory, and judgment of an individual.
| Constituents Of Body | Lifeline of THC |
| Blood | Up to thirty-six hours |
| Saliva | Up to forty-eight hours |
| Urine | Up to one month |
| Hair | Up to three months |
THC stays in the various parts of the body for different duration of time. THC stays in the blood for approximately thirty-six hours. However, it may last in the saliva for up to forty-eight hours. THC is found in urine for a period of up to one month. THC lasts the longest in hair for a maximum time of up to three months.
Why Does THC Stay In The Blood For That Long?
A drug use testing program identifies THC. However, THC can also be detected in breath by the breath sampling method. THC is broken down in the liver and contains more than 80 metabolites which takes a lot of time to synthesize. As mentioned earlier, THC binds to the fatty tissues in the body and stays up there for quite a long time. A person who has a high amount of body fat won’t remove THC that easily.
However, multiple physical exercises help a person reduce fat and decrease THC’s level in the body; it mostly gets dissolved in the blood and goes with the primary bloodstream. THC falls under the category of Schedule 1 drug, and as a result, not every medical practitioner can prescribe a person to use THC. Although with a legal prescription, THC can be purchased from a medical marijuana dispensary. Legal actions can be taken against a person if THC is taken without a proper prescription.
THC alters regular brain communication, and thus it stays for a more extended period. It is advised not to do works that require a lot of concentration after taking THC, such as driving, playing adventure sport, and many more. THC might stay for a long time if it is taken in higher amounts than recommended. Overdose of THC might be fatal and can lead to death. Consuming THC regularly is considered a bad practice.
Conclusion
Overall, it can be concluded that THC is one of the most widely used cannabinoids and is insoluble in water but soluble in hydrocarbons and alcohol. THC has various symptoms and disrupts brain functioning and alters the decision-making of an individual. THC is stored in fatty parts of the body.
On average, THC stays in the blood for up to thirty-six hours but may last longer if taken in higher quantities. THC can only be purchased with a valid prescription from a doctor. Unadvised intake of THC is considered illegal and strict actions can be taken against such an individual.