delta 9 · delta 9 gummies · delta 9 thc · how long do delta 9 gummies last · how long does delta 9 stay in your system · Feb 10, 2026

How Long Does Delta-9 THC Stay In Your System?

Wondering how long your Delta-9 THC will stick around in your body, and whether it will trigger a positive drug test result? That depends on many factors. We break them down to help you estimate how long your Delta-9 THC will stay in your body.

Key Takeaways

Delta-9 THC causes a high that can last for a few hours, but THC itself can stay in the body for months on end.
That's because THC is absorbed by fat in your body, from which it's slowly released and metabolized over time.
How long this takes varies widely based on many factors, including age, body fat percentage, frequency of Delta-9 THC consumption, and metabolism.
Drug tests also have a wide range of detection windows.
Some tests can only detect THC use in the last few hours, while others can detect THC use from months ago.

See More: Delta 8 vs Delta 9 For Sleep: What's the Difference?

Delta-9 THC and Your Body

Meredith Farrow, founder of Clean Remedies, says:

"The length of time Delta-9 THC stays in your system varies widely, from a few days for infrequent users to over a month for regular users. Drug tests also have different detection windows: Blood and saliva tests can only detect Delta-9 THC from the last 24 hours, while urine and hair tests can detect Delta-9 use from months ago."

Delta-9 THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is the main psychoactive compound produced by cannabis plants. It's also produced in very small quantities by hemp plants.

Most likely, if you've ever tried cannabis, you've tried Delta-9 THC. Its psychoactive effects are what cause marijuana's iconic high. And it has plenty of potential health benefits, too, including relaxation and aiding sleep.¹

While the high from THC generally lasts a few hours, THC actually stays in your body for longer. How long exactly can vary from person to person. To estimate how long Delta-9 THC might stay in your system, we first need to explain how your body processes this powerful molecule.

How Your Body Processes Delta-9 THC

Delta-9 THC causes its psychoactive effects by interacting with cannabinoid receptors in the body's endocannabinoid system. This extensive system of receptors and signals is linked to many other parts of your body, from the digestive system to the brain and beyond.

But that's not the only way THC interacts with your body.

Delta-9 THC is a fat-soluble molecule. That means it can be absorbed by your body's fat cells. Parts of your body with more fat, like the brain, are therefore more likely to absorb Delta-9 THC.

Your body also metabolizes Delta-9 THC. This happens in the liver, where enzymes break it down.²

This process doesn't always break down the THC completely. Some of it is transformed into molecules called THC metabolites.

After being processed, about 85% of the THC you consume is expelled from the body in feces or urine. The rest is stored in the body, slowly being released, metabolized, and excreted over time.

This process is quite slow. It's therefore possible to consume THC at a faster rate than your body can process it. This is why Delta-9 THC can stay in your system for weeks, and show up in certain THC drug tests for months.

What Factors Affect How Long Delta-9 Stays In Your System

THC doesn't affect everyone the same way. Similarly, it doesn't stick around in every body for the same period of time.

Many factors affect how long Delta-9 THC stays in your system. Some, like age or metabolism, are out of your control. Others, like frequency of consumption, are in your control.

Cannabis Use

As we explained, the process of eliminating THC from the body is quite slow. Frequent, heavy use of THC can therefore cause it to build up in bodily tissues faster than the body can eliminate it.

That means THC can remain in the body for weeks, even months, after you stop consuming it.

For example, one study took daily cannabis smokers and placed them in a secure research unit for a month, testing them every day. After 26 days, 10 out of the 11 participants still recorded a positive drug test.³

Another study from 2023 examined an individual who frequently used cannabis. Researchers recorded a positive test result over 100 days after the individual stopped using cannabis.⁴

Of course, this doesn't mean THC is floating around your bloodstream for months. Instead, it's gradually being released from storage in fat and metabolized. In the 2023 study, for example, the researchers used urine tests that looked for THC metabolites.

Another way of quantifying how long Delta-9 THC stays in your system is by examining its half-life. The half-life of THC refers to the time it takes your body to reduce the amount of THC present by half.

Research has found that THC's half-life varies depending on frequency of use. In infrequent users, the half-life of THC is just 1.3 days, on average. For frequent users, it rises and becomes more variable, ranging between 5 and 13 days.⁵

This means that infrequent users might completely eliminate THC within a week or so.

Body Fat

THC is stored in fat. Therefore, people with a higher body fat percentage may be able to store more THC.⁶

Think of it like a sort of THC storage capacity. More fat means more space to store THC. More stored THC means a longer period of time for your body to eliminate it.

Equally, less fat means less space to store THC.

You might think, then, that eliminating body fat would help eliminate THC. But that might not be the case. Research is mixed, but doesn't conclusively support this idea.

For example, one study in rats found that fat breakdown increased levels of THC (and THC metabolites) in the blood.⁷ But another study in humans found that neither physical exercise nor food deprivation affected the levels of fat-stored cannabinoids, including THC, measured in urine tests.⁸

Metabolism

You likely know of metabolism as the process by which your body converts food and drink into energy.⁹ In fact, metabolism refers to all the chemical processes happening in your body to keep you alive.

In other words, metabolism includes the processes that break down and eliminate Delta-9 THC.

Research shows that different people can have different individual metabolisms. In fact, people who might seem identical — with the same weight, age, activity levels, sex, and so on — can have up to a threefold difference in resting metabolism.¹⁰

That means different people may metabolize Delta-9 THC at different rates, independent of other factors.

Bonus: Is THCa Stronger Than THC?

older man smoking cannabis drug and alcohol review mental health substance abuse mayo clinic proceedings how long weed detect cannabis

Age

As we age, our body's metabolism naturally slows down. Research suggests that our metabolism peaks at just 0.7 years old, when adjusted for body size.¹¹

That applies to THC, too. In general, the older we get, the slower we process THC. That means a potentially longer high, and a longer detection window for drug tests.¹²

Delta-9 THC's Detection Window

The detection window refers to how far back a drug test can detect THC. For example, a test with a window of 24 hours would theoretically be able to detect THC use within the last 24 hours, but no further than that.

These time frames are often closer to estimates than concrete figures. And test results aren't always 100% positive. False positive results are possible, as are negative results in people who have actually consumed THC.

How Drug Tests Work

Different drug tests work in different ways. In general, most drug tests don't actually look for THC.

In part, that's because it's extremely difficult to test for THC impairment. Because so many factors affect how we experience THC, it's not really possible to determine how impaired an individual is based only on the level of THC in their body.

Still, some places do conduct roadside testing.¹³ This may involve a breath test, which can detect THC use from up to three hours before.¹⁴

Still, testing positive on a breath test doesn't necessarily mean someone is actually impaired by THC.

Instead, most standard drug tests detect THC metabolites. Many detect THC-COOH, one of those metabolites.

A positive result therefore doesn't mean you are currently intoxicated, or high. It just means you consumed THC at some point in the hours, days, or weeks leading up to the test.

Urine Tests

The most commonly used, standard drug test is the urine test.¹⁵

This test requires a urine sample. That sample will be tested for Delta-9 THC and its metabolites.¹⁶

Urine drug tests have a detection window of up to 30 days. That means they can generally detect THC use within the last month of the test being taken.

Blood Tests

Blood tests are one of the more invasive drug tests. Unlike other drug tests, blood tests actually detect THC in the bloodstream, rather than THC metabolites.

Blood tests are also among the most accurate drug test. That's why they are often used in legal investigations.¹⁷

To submit a blood test, you'll have to provide a blood sample. A professional will draw this sample, and others will analyze it using various scientific techniques.

Because blood tests look for THC specifically, they have a shorter detection window. They are generally able to detect THC use in the 12 hours before the blood was drawn.

Saliva Tests

Oral drug tests look for THC metabolites. They're one of the easiest tests to carry out.

To conduct a saliva test, you (or a professional) will use a cotton swab to take a saliva sample from inside your mouth. That sample can be tested immediately or sent for laboratory analysis. You can even conduct this test at home using a specialized kit.¹⁸

The downside of saliva tests is their relatively short detection window. Unlike urine tests, oral tests can only detect THC use within the last 24 hours or so.

person swabbing their mouth body tissues long does delta negative consequences drug use how long does weed medical professional clinical interpretation masking agents usage frequency chronic users balanced diet test type over the counter oral fluid

Hair Tests

Hair tests, or hair follicle tests, are the drug tests with the longest detection window.

Each hair follicle in your body is connected to your bloodstream. Therefore, traces of Delta-9 THC in your blood can reach and be absorbed by your hair follicles.¹⁹

If you're asked to do a hair test, you can't just pull some hair out of your hairbrush. You need to pull the hair from your head, face, or armpit. The hair has to be at least a half-inch long, though some tests might require it be even longer.²⁰

THC products can remain in hair for a long time. Hair tests have a detection window of up to 90 days. That means you could test positive three months after using Delta-9 THC.

Is Delta-9 THC Legal?

All this discussion of testing leads to an obvious question. Isn't Delta-9 THC legal?

That depends. At the federal level, cannabis remains illegal. Products derived from cannabis plants are also generally considered illegal.

However, the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp, which was defined as plants containing less than 0.3% THC by dry weight. Therefore, hemp-derived THC products are considered legal, at least at the federal level.

Local laws may vary. Some places are stricter than others. As of 2026, 24 states have fully legalized recreational marijuana.

Still, you can be asked to submit a drug test regardless of whether Delta-9 THC is fully legal. For example, your employer may test for THC as a matter of workplace safety. Some states have passed laws to protect lawful THC consumption outside of work, but others haven't.²¹

Where to Buy Delta-9 THC

It's never been easier to buy legal Delta-9 THC. Clean Remedies delivers to all 50 states, and offers a variety of high-quality, hemp-derived Delta-9 THC products.

All of these products are made from US-grown, hemp, and each is sent to a third-party laboratory for independent testing. Clean Remedies blends natural ingredients with cutting-edge research.

One of the most popular consumption methods when it comes to Delta-9 THC is gummies. We offer a few.

Our natural grape flavor Delta-9 gummies each contain 5mg of Delta-9 THC and 25 mg of CBD. For something a little stronger, try our natural watermelon flavored Delta-9 THC gummies, which each contain 10mg of Delta-9 THC.

If you like the idea of THC-infused edibles or sweets, you might like our Delta-9 THC Chocolate Delight. It blends THC and CBD with smooth, creamy milk chocolate for an indulgent, restorative snack. Alternatively, grab our Delta-9 THC Sugar to make your own THC treats.

THC-infused drinks are quickly becoming one of the most popular cannabis products out there. In fact, the global cannabis beverages market is projected to grow from $3 billion in 2024 to a massive $117 billion by 2032.22

So many people are turning to THC drinks for a reason. One option is our Delta-9 THC natural blue raspberry flavored drink mix. This mocktail mix blends CBD and THC in a precise ratio to help you unwind your body and mind.

"This unique 5:1 ratio of CBD to THC delivers a nice cushion," explains Clean Remedies founder Meredith Farrow, "allowing the THC to work with a softer feeling.… I scoop it into my drink, mix it up, and drink it throughout the day. This provides me an overall calming sensation."

Conclusion

Delta-9 THC can stay in your body for a wide range of time. Infrequent users might completely eliminate THC in days, while frequent users might test positive for months after their last use.

Many factors influence how long THC remains in your body. Age, size, body fat percentage, frequency of consumption, and even your individual metabolism can all affect how long your body takes to process and eliminate THC.

Drug tests also have a wide range of detection windows. Breath, blood, and saliva tests generally only detect THC use up to 24 hours previously. Meanwhile, urine and hair tests can detect THC use from weeks and even months before.

Keep Reading: Can You Fly With THCa?

hemp plants avoid failing weed stay various factors complete abstinence detox drinks three to seven days long does delta 9 thc cooh

Frequently Asked Questions

How Long Is Delta-9 Detectable In Urine?

In general, urine tests can detect THC usage up to 30 days before the sample is collected.

Will Delta-9 Make You Fail a Drug Test?

Yes, Delta-9 THC will generally cause a positive test result. Drug tests look for one of two things: THC itself, or cannabis products that your body produces when it metabolizes THC.

Delta-9 THC applies in both of these cases. It's THC, and your body breaks it down into the metabolites that are detected in most drug tests.

That doesn't necessarily mean you'll get a positive test result. For example, if you consumed Delta-9 THC a week ago and then are asked to submit a blood test, you may well test negative, because blood tests have a detection window of just 12 hours.

Does CBD Show Up on a 9-Panel Drug Screen?

A 9-panel drug screen is a general drug test that detects multiple substances. Typically, these tests do screen for THC.

Theoretically, CBD shouldn't show up on 9-panel drug screens.

However, CBD products often contain trace amounts of THC. For many people, that's desirable; research suggests the presence of THC can help make CBD more effective.

But those trace amounts of THC can trigger a positive test result. If you're worried about that, consider sticking to CBD products with absolutely no THC.

One option is broad-spectrum CBD. These products should include most of the cannabinoids naturally found in hemp plants, but with all the THC removed. Examples include CBD oil and CBD gummies.

Alternatively, you might want CBD isolate. That's when all other compounds from the hemp plant are removed, leaving only CBD. For example, you might like our 99%+ Pure CBD Isolate Powder.

Sources

Clean Remedies is a woman-owned, independent family business that uses clean and natural hemp extract to create products that are free from harmful chemicals, cruelty-free, and made in the USA, meant to benefit your well-being and meet our own high standards of efficacy. For CBD facts, product discounts, and more, follow us on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, LinkedIn, and Pinterest.