Marijuana (THC) is a naturally occurring plant grown and harvested in humid geographical regions. Marijuana buds, which contain the plant’s psychoactive THC and CBD compounds, are dull green or brown in color.
Marijuana can be administered in many forms:
Prolonged use of marijuana can negatively impact every aspect of a user’s life.
Long-term side effects of marijuana include:
Marijuana withdrawal symptoms will vary from person to person. If marijuana withdrawal symptoms do occur, they can be overcome within a few days or weeks.
Symptoms of marijuana withdrawal may not be limited to:
Although there are no reported cases of marijuana overdose, the methods by which the drug is administered can lead to illnesses which cause death. Some marijuana related deaths arise due to cardiac and respiratory ailments from inhaling combustible rolling paper. Adulterated or “laced” marijuana poses more risk, as the user may unknowingly expose themselves to lethal substances.
Despite the purported health benefits of marijuana, side effects of the drug can be detrimental, as experience varies from user to user. Registered physicians may prescribe marijuana for terminally ill patients with chronic pain symptoms. However, people with genetic precursors for addiction, cardiac or respiratory disorders should avoid marijuana use. Emerging science suggests young people 21 and under should not experiment with marijuana because their brains are not fully matured. Chronic marijuana use prior to full cognitive development may compromise reasoning skills and memory function into adulthood.
Marijuana saliva test detection time can vary from donor to donor. Different variables like fluid intake, metabolism, age, body composition and overall health can alter the range of detection from 6 hours to 3 days post abuse. Other factors to consider are the amount and concentration of used marijuana. Marijuana is usually detectable in saliva samples 6-24 hours after use. Despite variability in drug test detection time, a saliva marijuana test is highly accurate.
Many factors affect how long marijuana will stay in the body:
Depending on the selected marijuana drug test, marijuana is detectable in a person’s system hours, days, or months after use. There are many variables determining how long marijuana will stay in your system, but this table below offers a simple guideline.
SUBSTANCE
|
SALIVA | URINE | HAIR |
MARIJUANA (light use) | 6-12 hours | 2-4 days | up to 90 days |
MARIJUANA (heavy use) | 1-2 days | 5-7 days | up to 90 days |
Marijuana is usually detectable in urine samples up to 72 hours after the substance is smoked or ingested. However, several factors can affect marijuana urine test detection time, including health, metabolism and drug concentration. Marijuana urine tests should contain specimen validity strips to prevent the risk of urine sample adulteration when performing a drug test for marijuana use.
When it comes to fertility, marijuana might affect the cycle of reproduction for both men and women. Exposure to marijuana smoke not only decreases the volume of sperm produced. Certain compounds in marijuana can damage sperm quality and makes prospective offspring more susceptible to genetic mutations. Frequent marijuana use can also lead to lower testosterone levels in men and underdeveloped egg maturation, creating stress for couples wishing to conceive.
Substances containing ibuprofen, e.g. Advil and Motrin, may trigger false positives for marijuana on a drug test. However, cross-reactivity is unlikely because high doses of Ibuprofen must be present in one’s body to yield a marijuana false positive result. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) confirmation testing is used to verify preliminary drug screen results. This method of confirmation serves to verify initial drug test findings. Saliva drug testing, urine drug testing and hair follicle drug testing each offer reliable results through GC/MS confirmation. Results from a GC/MS test are interpreted by a certified Medical Review Officer to survey and approve legitimate drug use.
Medical marijuana use is legal in 43 United States, while recreational marijuana use is permitted in 8 United States. These numbers continue to grow as new applications of marijuana emerge. However, despite statewide legislation in favor of United States marijuana legalization, possession of marijuana remains a federal offense.