MARIJUANA: HOW LONG DOES IT STAY IN MY SYSTEM?

Marijuana is one of the most popular herbal supplements to in America. What is it about this plant that has everybody hungry, happy, and relaxed? More importantly, how long does it linger in your system?

There are many different ways to “consume” marijuana. You can smoke it out of a water-bong, pipe, gas mask, vaporizer, or the old fashion way with a rolled joint/blunt. You can also cook it into food by way of butter or oil or you can use what is commonly referred to as dabs, which is oil that contains THC that is smokeable.

What is actually lingering in my body?

No matter what your preferred method of obtaining THC is, once it is in your system, your body goes to work. Even if you inhale the THC chemical, your body still has to “digest” it. It breaks it down in the liver from THC to its inactive metabolite, which is THC-COOH. That is what shows up on a drug test days after you have used marijuana. Even though you are not feeling the effects of the THC, it is still in your system as its inactive metabolite THC-COOH.

How long will it stay?

The only honest answer that anybody can have for this question is: It depends on a few different factors. There are many different factors that play into how long marijuana can be detected in your system.

What are the factors?

The factors pertaining to how long traces of marijuana will be found in your system depend on the following factors:

  • How much marijuana do you consume?
  • How much do you weigh?
  • Body fat. What is your body fat content?
  • Frequency of use. How often do you use marijuana?

What kind of time frame am I looking at for it to be out of my system?

There is no definite answer to that. Marijuana is not like alcohol where you can sleep off the effects and its out of your system completely within the next 24 hours. Marijuana is intricate and works with everybody’s body differently, but there has been a chart created that can help.

  • One Time User may show positive for 1-6 days
  • Moderate User may show positive for 7-13 days
  • Frequent User may show positive for 15 or more days
  • Heavy User may show positive for 10 or more days

How did I get a DUI if the metabolites were inactive?

That is the 64,000 dollar question. If you live in a state where marijuana is illegal, they will automatically arrest you for a DUI. Furthermore, there has not been a test created that can tell an officer if the metabolites in your system are active THC or inactive THC-COOH and there has not been a test created that can “measure how high you are”. With alcohol tests have been developed that can tell you how much alcohol per volume is in your body and how that amount is supposed to affect a person. For example, In Georgia we have a statute that says at .05 or less you are not considered to be under the influence of alcohol, but at .08 or more you are. This is the point where alcohol begins to effect someone to the point where they are not safe to drive. Remember everyone is different and there are 1,000 of factors that would change whether or not you are safe to drive. As of today, with weed there is no statue in Georgia that sets a level that would render someone DUI.

Who do I call?

Sam Sliger with McDonald & Cody. Sam is the criminal defense attorney in the office and he will work diligently for you and your case. Sam understands that a DUI is hard enough, but to not even be under the influence of anything and still get a DUI is completely unfair. Granted marijuana in the state of Georgia is illegal, but that ticket is for a DUI when there is not even a test out there that can produce the readings that a breathalyzer or blood test could determine. If you get in a bind with marijuana related DUI, there’s only one man to call and that man is Sam Sliger.