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If you’re a cannabis user in the UK, it’s important to know how long the drug can stay in your system when driving. We break down the science so you can be informed.
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Introduction
Cannabis is the most widely used illegal drug in the UK. A 2017/18 Crime Survey for England and Wales found that 6.6% of people aged 16 to 59 had used cannabis in the last year1. This means that, of the estimated 31.2 million people in this age group, around 2 million had used cannabis in the last 12 months.
Cannabis use can result in a number of impairments that can affect driving ability, such as:
– decreased reaction time
– impaired ability to judge distance
– impaired ability to concentrate
– impaired coordination.
It is important to remember that it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs, including cannabis.Driving while impaired by any drug, including cannabis, can result in a driving ban and a criminal record.
The Science Behind Drug Testing
The science of drug testing is constantly evolving, and there is still much we don’t know about how long drugs stay in the body and how they affect driving.
Cannabis is the most commonly detected illegal drug in roadside drug tests, and it can stay in your system for a long time. THC, the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, is fat-soluble, meaning it is stored in your body’s fat cells. THC can be detected in urine, blood, and saliva tests, but it is most often detected in urine.
How long cannabis stays in your system depends on a number of factors, including how much you use, how often you use it, and your individual metabolism. For infrequent users, THC can be detectable in urine for up to 5 days after last use. However, for regular users, THC can be detectable for up to 3 weeks after last use.
If you are a regular cannabis user and you are worried about being tested for THC, there are a few things you can do to try to reduce the amount of THC in your system. First, if you have time before your test, stop using cannabis and exercise regularly to try to sweat out the THC. Second, drink plenty of fluids to try to flush your system. And finally, if you have access to a sauna or steam room, use it frequently as the heat will help to release THC from your fat cells.
Methods of Drug Testing
There are many different ways that employers or the criminal justice system can test for the presence of drugs in a person’s system. The most common method is urine testing, but hair, saliva, and blood tests are also used.
Urine testing is the most common type of drug test. It is relatively easy to administer and can be done quickly and cheaply. Urine tests can detect the presence of drugs in the body for up to a few days after the last time the person used the drug.
Hair tests are less common than urine tests, but they are more accurate. Hair tests can detect drug use for up to 90 days after the last time the person used the drug.
Saliva tests are sometimes used to test for the presence of drugs in a person’s system. They are not as accurate as urine or hair tests, but they are easier to administer and can be done quickly. Saliva tests can only detect drug use for a short period of time after the last time the person used the drug.
Blood tests are the most accurate way to test for the presence of drugs in a person’s system, but they are also the most invasive and expensive. Blood tests can only detect drug use for a short period of time after the last time the person used the drug.
Detection Times for Different Types of Tests
The amount of time that cannabis stays in your system fordriving in the UK can depend on a number of factors, including how much you smoked, how often you smoke, and the type of test that is used. The table below provides approximate detection times for different types of tests.
Test| Detection Time
-Urine| Up to 2 weeks
-Blood| Up to 24 hours
-Saliva| Up to 24 hours
-Hair|Up to 90 days
Factors That Affect How Long Cannabis Stays in Your System
How long cannabis stays in your system depends on a number of factors, including how much you smoke, how often you smoke, and your individual metabolism. If you’re a regular smoker, traces of THC can be detected in your body for up to 3 months after you stop smoking.
THC is the main psychoactive compound in cannabis, and it can stay in your system for a long time. In fact, THC can be detected in urine for up to 8 weeks after last use in regular smokers (1).
However, if you’re an infrequent smoker, THC may only be detectable in your body for a few days after last use. The amount of time that THC stays in your system also depends on how much you smoke. If you smoke large amounts of cannabis regularly, traces of THC can be detected for up to 3 months after you stop smoking (1).
Your individual metabolism also affects how long cannabis stays in your system. If you have a fast metabolism, THC may only be detectable for a few days after last use. However, if you have a slow metabolism, THC could be detectable for up to 8 weeks after last use (1).
Tips for Avoiding a Positive Drug Test
Unfortunately, there is no foolproof way to avoid a positive drug test, but there are some things you can do to minimize your chances of testing positive. If you know you will be drug tested, the best thing you can do is avoid using cannabis altogether. However, if you have used cannabis recently and are concerned about testing positive, there are a few things you can do to try to speed up the process of clearing cannabis from your system:
-Drink plenty of water: This will help dilute your urine and make it harder for THC to be detected.
-Exercise: This will help burn fat cells, which may contain THC.
-Avoid fatty foods: Fat cells can store THC, so avoiding fatty foods may help lower the amount of THC in your body.
-Give yourself time: If you have time before your drug test, wait as long as possible before taking it. The longer you wait, the more time your body will have to eliminate the THC from your system.
Conclusion
The science on how long cannabis stays in your system is still developing. However, we do know that it can stay in your system for several days or even weeks after you use it. This means that if you are pulled over and asked to take a roadside sobriety test, there is a chance that you could fail even if you haven’t used cannabis in a while.
If you are facing charges for driving under the influence of cannabis, it is important to speak with a solicitor who has experience in this area of the law. They will be able to look at the evidence against you and help you to understand your options.
