Marijuana has become more socially acceptable in the last few years, especially with several states legalizing medical use and decriminalizing possession. In most situations, it’s now generally acceptable to have traces of weed in your system. In others, such as when you’re driving, participating in sporting events, or applying for a job that requires drug testing, you might not get away scot-free.
Marijuana is highly detectable and can be found in your system through various means. The most common tests includes urinalysis and saliva tests. Another process is hair analysis or hair follicle testing, which is more accurate compared to other methods. In fact, it can detect traces of marijuana even in one-time users and has a detection window of as low as 1 pg/mg. Here are more details you need to know about hair follicle marijuana tests.
There are lots of reasons why you should get weed out of your system, like appearing for a Job Interview. If they detected weed in your system then it can turn down the new opportunity you got!
Hair Analysis Can Detect Drug Use Over 90 Days
How long does marijuana stay in your body? It depends on how much and how often you use the substance, but the longest is up to about 15 days. How long does marijuana stay in your hair? It can last up to 90 days, depending on the length of your hair. That’s why more and more employers, especially those that require high and special clearances, now opt for a hair analysis or hair follicle test. Moreover, this kind of testing is also harder to beat, as some methods like urinalysis can be tricked with synthetic samples. A downside of hair analysis is that it costs more. Still, there are a lot of parties that are willing to invest more money in exchange for accuracy.
Hair Analysis Doesn’t Look for THC
The thing with hair analysis is that it doesn’t specifically look for THC or ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol or other cannabinoids. Instead, the tests are designed to detect THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-THC) in concentrations of about 50 ng/mL. THC-COOH is a byproduct of THC when it gets processed by your body and it can get in your hair in two primary ways. First, your sweat glands can deposit THC-COOH onto the hair shaft. Second, your bloodstream can also deposit THC-COOH into the hair follicle.
Detox Drinks Won’t Work
Detox drinks claim that they can flush traces of marijuana out of your system or at least dilute body fluids so that the THC-COOH can be “hidden.” It’s all well and good if you’re undergoing a blood or urine test. However, the same mechanism of removing traces of cannabis in your body doesn’t work for your hair. Herbs and detox pills may work if used regularly, but you also have to remember that they can’t beat hair tests alone. You should also use another method, such as washing your hair with certain shampoos (see the next section), in tandem with a supplement.
Rinsing It Off Works Best
The hair on your body and head are “dead” cells and don’t “take care” of themselves. This is why you need to use shampoos and conditioners to keep your locks clean, smooth, and shiny. This is also why hair analysis works: your body can’t naturally remove deposits from your hair. Thankfully, there are products that have been proven to get rid of traces of marijuana from your hair. The most popular one is the old formula of Aloe Rid Shampoo. Another effective product is Zydot Ultra Clean. The key thing is to use them regularly and, of course, to not use or consume any form of marijuana.
There are also the Macujo Method and the Jerry G Method that you can try for quicker results. The former involves a combination of old formula of Aloe Toxin Rid shampoo, salicylic acid shampoo, liquid detergent, and vinegar. The latter uses peroxide bleach, SynergyDetox Toxin Wash shampoo, Zydot Ultra Clean shampoo, hair dye in your original hair color, and some baking soda.
You Can Shave But…
The logic is simple: if you don’t have any hair, they have nothing to test. However, shaving your hair when you’re up for a drug test can be suspicious. You need a really good excuse to convince the authorities why you had to shave all your hair off before the test. In addition, if the hair analysis pushes through, the testing labs can also make use of body hair, usually from the armpits or chest. This will extend the detection window longer than 90 days, since body hair grows slower than the hair on your head.
Drug testing is an important process, conducted to ensure the health and safety. It’s best to cooperate if you’re asked to undergo one. If you’re a recreational user of marijuana, make sure to do it responsibly. Marijuana is still considered a schedule I drug by the DEA, even if it has enjoyed wider acceptance through the years. As such, don’t use it if you know you’re going to be tested and a positive result can lead to negative consequences.
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