Want to know if Delta-8 shows up on a drug test? If so read on. The availability of hemp-derived cannabinoids has been tremendous for cannabis fans in states without legal weed. Now, you can get your buzz on without visiting a dispensary or requiring a medical marijuana card. Plus, you can shop online from dozens of retailers selling Delta-8, Delta-10, HHC, THC-O, and other psychoactive cannabinoid products. But it begs the question: does Delta-8 THC show up on a drug test and will it cause you to fail it? Is there even such a thing as a delta-8 drug test? If so, how can you pass it?
Delta-8 THC Overview
You are probably familiar with Delta-9 THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid responsible for getting you high when smoking weed. It’s the dominant cannabinoid in marijuana, alongside many others. Delta-8 THC is like D9’s kid sister. It’s naturally occurring, but in such small amounts that most products on the market are made in a lab.
It’s a simple extraction that requires hemp-derived CBD and a special isomerization process. Okay, maybe it’s not that simple, and you shouldn’t try it at home. However, the result is a cannabinoid that mirrors D9, but with slightly different effects and legal status.
Effects
Delta-8 THC is often referred to as “weed lite” because it feels similar to Delta-9, but much less intense. It is still psychoactive, and offers many therapeutic benefits. For example, consumers tout the pain and inflammation relieving effects and its ability to reduce stress and anxiety. And, it gets you high.
The mellower high is one of the best things about Delta-8, making it a great entry point for anyone wanting to try weed but have a softer first experience. Moreover, some people just like getting only a little bit stoned. However, don’t be fooled. You can get uncomfortably high on Delta-8, so it’s best to start small and see how you feel before increasing your dosage.
Legality
The legal status of Delta-8 THC exists in a gray area. Yet, as of now, it’s perfectly legal for use, and here’s why. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp and all of its byproducts. However, there is one catch – the final product must contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC. If a Delta-8 product is made from marijuana, it must adhere to all state guidelines and can only be sold in a licensed dispensary. However, if the Delta-8 product is hemp-derived, it is protected under the Farm Bill as long as it stays within legal limits for Delta-9.
This is why so many people love Delta-8. When you live in a state where you can’t purchase legal weed, Delta-8 is the next best thing.
Consumption Methods
Delta-8 has been around for a while now, so it’s made its way into just about every common cannabis form factor. The most popular products include pre-rolls, vape pens, gummies, other edibles, tinctures, and dabbable extracts.
Intro to Delta-8 Drug Test
Is there such a thing as a delta-8 drug test? Not exactly. Most standard drug panels test for THC, but they are not sophisticated enough to tell where the THC came from. So, if you have to submit a urine sample and you’ve only been smoking Delta-8, it will most likely test positive for THC.
The same goes for Delta-10 THC. All variants are still members of the THC family, no matter the origin. Even if the Delta-8 comes from hemp, you won’t get very far trying to explain that to a future employer when you fail your drug test.
How Long Does Delta-8 Stay In Your System?
Unfortunately, many variables affect how long Delta-8 stays in your system. For starters, how much are you using? Occasionally smoking here and there won’t have long-term consequences.
For example, if you took a few hits off a Delta-8 vape pen, you can probably pass a drug test in under a week. If you are eating hundreds of milligrams of Delta-8 edibles every week, you might need up to a month to get clean. Smoking Delta-8 pre-rolls a couple of times a week can take two to three weeks to purge.
It’s also important to find out what kind of test you are facing. Urinalysis can detect drug use up to 30 days after last use. Saliva and blood testing have shorter windows, typically within 72 hours. In rare cases, THC metabolites have been found in blood up to two weeks after last use. If you find yourself taking a hair follicle drug test, you’ll need 90 days to detox if you are a regular user.
Best Way to Pass a Delta-8 Drug Test
The bottom line is that consuming Delta-8 can cause you to fail a drug test. So, what’s the plan? There are plenty of things you can do to beat a drug test. If you have several weeks’ notice, natural detox is a great idea. Stop using cannabis products, clean up your diet, and get extra sleep and exercise. Staying hydrated helps flush out toxins, and within 30 days, you should be good to go.
