THC’s euphoric effects are fun, but they fade. Usually, the high is gone after just a few short hours. Meanwhile, THC metabolites stay in your system for sometimes weeks after your most recent use. Can the same be said for delta 8 THC? Can delta 8 make you fail a drug test?
We want to explore the answers in-depth in this guide today. If you want to try delta 8 but want to make sure you won’t pop dirty on a drug test, this is the guide for you.
Afterward, be sure to browse through our delta 8 products to see which ones call out to you first.
What is Delta 8 THC?
There are over 100 different cannabinoids in the cannabis plant. You may even already be familiar with some of them. THC, CBD, CBN, and CBG are all cannabinoids, for example. The THC you may be most familiar with, however, is formally known as delta 9 THC.
And that’s because delta 9 THC isn’t the only form of THC in the plant.
A minor cannabinoid, delta 8 THC is a less-potent form of THC. Dr. Raphael Mechoulam, often touted as the “Father of Cannabis,” discovered the THC in 1965.
Of all the minor cannabinoids in the plant, delta 8 appears to be one of the most intoxicating. It has the ability to get you high and cause other effects similar to marijuana’s more abundant version of THC.
In fact, it’s just one reason we chose delta 8. It’s why we choose to grow our own hemp through aquaponics and then rosin press for our extracts. Our delta 8 extracts are powerful, still potent, and fully legal. Talk about a win-win-win.
So, delta 8 THC shares similarities with delta 9, but they are still different, too. After all, they’re distinctly varying forms of the THC molecule.
If they’re so different, then can delta 8 THC make you fail a drug test still? Let’s look at why and how they’re so different to explore the answer further.
What’s the Difference Between Delta 8 and Delta 9 THC?
Alright, delta 8 and delta 9 are different forms of the same THC molecule. What the heck does that even mean? Well, it means they have similar chemical structures, which is why they have similar effects on the body.
Because it’s a less potent form, though, users note significantly less intense effects. That means delta 8 can make you feel high, but at a lesser degree than pot. It may also have similar therapeutic effects, but, again, not as intensely as with weed.
The difference in the two types of THC’s chemical structure is what makes delta 9 more unstable.
A less stable THC means it’s more potent and likely to cause a reaction within the body. It may even explain why the body takes these THC molecules through the endocannabinoid system in two very different ways.
So, delta 9 makes you fail a drug test. But can delta 8 make you fail a drug test, too?
While it’s legal through hemp, yes, you might fail a drug test with delta 8 in your system.
However, it may not be for the reason that you think. Likewise, it depends on the type of drug test being used as well as other factors.
The frequency of delta 8 use, your metabolism and weight, gender, age, and more also play into it.
It’s important to understand how drug tests work when it comes to THC, though. Most people think the tests look for delta 9 THC metabolites. Currently, most drug tests aren’t quite that advanced enough yet. Instead, drug tests look for THC metabolites rather than any specific cannabinoid.
Urine tests, for example, work to detect delta 9 THC’s primary inactive metabolite, also known as THC-COOH.
These metabolites can be detected after use, especially in the urine, because they’re stored in our fat cells.
If you have no actual delta 9 THC in your system, this might be considered a false positive. Likewise, if you use a pure delta 8 product that contains 0.3% delta 9 THC or less, you may be able to explain.
While you’re likely to pop positive on a THC drug test, it may not be enough to rule you out. Make sure you communicate with whoever you must take a drug test for. Inform them of the delta 8 product you wish to take and try to get confirmation or approval that you can use it beforehand.
Hemp is still facing an uphill battle across much of the nation, but it’s making progress all the time. More people accept industrial hemp and its many uses every day.
What Can You Use Instead of Delta 8?
Don’t want to risk the possibility of failing a drug test? We understand that, too. The potential to fail a drug test for an important job, health appointment, or legal requirement is all too real for many people.
Fortunately, there are many hemp-based products with no THC in them. We even offer a variety of THC-free, broad-spectrum hemp products ourselves!
What can you use instead of delta 8? You’ve got options!
We might first recommend getting into a routine with CBD. You can do that through our Broad-Spectrum Natural CBD Oil or our Broad-Spectrum Mint CBD Oil for a different taste.
Alternatively, some people don’t like putting oil under their tongue to feel effects. That’s where our softgels come in handy. We have CBD softgels, as well as CBD + Melatonin and CBD + Curcumin. (Melatonin is great for the evenings, while curcumin can help you gear up for the day.)
How Long Does Delta 8 THC Stay in Your System?
While it’s a less-potent THC, delta 8 is still a THC, which means it lingers in the body just like any other THC would. Even for first-time users, THC has the potential to stay in your urine for 4 to 8 days.
Heavy delta 8 users, be prepared to pop a false positive on a drug test for 30 to 60 days – sometimes even longer. This varies from person to person, namely due to the other factors in play for how long THC stays in your system.
Again, though, delta 9 THC is what’s illegal. Delta 8 THC products derived from hemp are legal, just like CBD.
Since THC clings to fat cells, how active you are, and your current weight plays a role in how long it’ll last in your body. Other variables include your cannabis tolerance, length of use, and more.
How to Avoid Testing Positive on a Drug Test
Ideally, you don’t want to fail a drug test. You might not have legal access to cannabis, so delta 8 is a perfect alternative for you. Either way, if you’re a delta 8 user and have a drug test coming up, it’s not the end of the world. There’s no need to panic!
As we said earlier, delta 8 and delta 9 look almost molecularly identical. That means they’re likely to require about the same amount of time to clear out of your system. Fortunately, you can still pass depending on how much time you have before the test.
- For the occasional delta 8 users, you might be able to pass after one to five days of a tolerance break.
- If you’re more of a regular user, it ups the timeline by one to three weeks.
- For the everyday, heavy users, it could take you four to six weeks or longer before you come up clean on a test.
Further Reading: When to Take a Tolerance Break from Delta 8
Knowing how frequently you use delta 8, plan out when to start your tolerance break.
There are also a few other solutions that may help speed up the process.
Make sure your diet is healthy and nutritious, for example.
Start exercising to get a sweat on. Little ways you can help kickstart your metabolism can help burn through the THC metabolites faster in your body!
Maybe your employer wants a saliva test instead of a urinalysis. Delta 8 users can often test clean one to five days after their last consumption.
Can Delta 8 Make You Fail a Drug Test?
- So, will you fail a drug test if you take delta 8 THC? Well, yes – but only because it would read as a false positive.
The fact that you have THC in your system doesn’t mean you’ve consumed delta 9 THC, which is the form of THC actually illegal. As we said, drug tests are not finely tuned, and the room for error is far and wide. The chances of delta 8 THC showing up on any generic drug test is not zero, simply put.
In fact, if you’re taking an at-home test, the THC is even more likely to show up. This is because at-home testing is typically the least advanced of all drug tests. These types of tests are not able to differentiate from cannabinoids, which is why they’ll pop positive for CBD as well.
Whether you’re consuming delta 9 THC from marijuana or delta 8 THC from hemp, the cannabinoids metabolize into the same THC metabolites in your body.
That means consuming any amount of any THC can cause you to fail a drug test. However, the legal limit is 0.03% delta 9 THC in a CBD or hemp-derived product. That means our delta 8 THC products, which contain 0.3% delta 9 THC or less, are, in fact, legal to consume.
Communicate with whoever wishes to drug screen you and let them know about your delta 8 THC use. Show them that you’re not breaking any laws by using a legal product, and you may be able to avoid any hassle in the long run.
Quick Summary:
- Delta 8 THC is legal as a derivative of hemp thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill.
- While it’s legal federally, a handful of states have specifically banned either delta 8 or hemp entirely.
- The compound’s effects and its structure are similar to that of the THC found in marijuana, though it’s less potent.
- Its potency may help you have a shorter tolerance break if you opt to not partake before your drug test!
- While delta 8 can potentially make you fail a drug test, you may be able to demonstrate that you’re using a legal product.
- Let the parties involved know ahead of time that you use a hemp product.
Have You Tried Delta 8 THC Yet?
If you’re new to delta 8, you might still have some questions. Fortunately, we have the answers! The goal of our blog is to be as transparent and informative as possible.
Ease into delta 8 THC with our delta 8 products today. We try to accommodate as many needs as possible, so we offer quite a variety. Be sure to look through our line to see which delta 8 THC products call out to you the most!
