Although most cannabis advocates and professionals don’t know much about workplace drug testing science, they are often asked how to pass a drug test.
And while the idea of having a job that doesn’t allow you to make your own adult decisions seems just silly. Here are some tips, tricks, and recommendations on the world of THC detox in case you ever come across such an unfortunate friend.
How to Prepare for a Drug Test
Whether it’s detox kits, detox drinks, or detox home-remedies, it’s good to know a bit about how the body detoxes in general. Prior to the recent mass cooptation, the term “detox” mainly applied to a medical procedure that removes dangerous or potentially life-threatening levels of alcohol or other toxins from the body.
Yet for centuries, human beings have attempted to purge toxins from their bodies with various forms. Ritual cleansing and purification have long been employed by Native Americans. And, until the 20th century, bloodletting, enemas, and abstention from food were widely accepted as medical therapies.
The renewed interest in self-administered detoxification reflects the body’s natural methods of detox of which none are new to the consumer. The body detoxes the following ways: The skin. The respiratory system. The immune system. The intestines. The liver. The kidneys.
Know What Type of Test
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s 5-panel drug test, or SAMHSA-5, is commonly used as a workplace drug test. Amphetamines, THC (cannabis), phencyclidine, and cocaine are traditionally tested on this panel. They also often test for alcohol, benzodiazepine, and Ecstasy (MDMA), as well as other types of opiates. It is important to note that this panel does not screen for CBD, so if your consumption is light on the THC and more CBD heavy you should be in the clear.
Infographic compliments of Clinical Lab Manager
Gauge Your Usage Levels
A current study in Canada identifies several main concepts to consider when evaluating ones’ cannabis usage. Besides the frequency of use, buying sources, consumption levels, and various types of cannabis, consumption methods should also be considered. For example, in a population-based study, it is especially important to decide “medical” vs. “nonmedical” due to the variance of intoxicating effects amongst patients. So when the time comes to evaluate ones’ own usage, it’s best to ask some honest questions to ensure proper preparation for detox.
How to Detox from THC
Stop Consuming
If the idea of quitting cannabis cold turkey gives you the chills, why not try a temporary switch to CBD. CBD can be consumed in all the same fashions as THC: smokes, tinctures, edibles and other products. Providing many similar benefits without the THC, or intoxication.
Drink Tons of Fluids
Most likely, you are part of the seventy-five percent of the world that is dehydrated. So, if you need to detox, it’s time to start chug-a-luggin. Recommended water consumption is at least half of your body weight in ounces. Many people prefer using cranberry juice or other “cleansing” concoctions, but if detox is your target, water is really your best friend. And, you don’t need to stop at drinking, hop in a bath and give your largest detoxing organ, aka the skin, a little love too.
Eat Lean (THC Stays in Fat Cells)
Is cannabis more likely to linger in your system if you’re overweight? Yes, indeed. But bear in mind that if you’re slim and eat regularly, or if you have a sluggish metabolism, or if you consume high-potency products, it will remain in your system longer. So, whatever you do, think about what you’re eating.
Rest & Recover
Fasting and juice cleanses are great for detox because they give the digestive system a big break. This rest allows the body to go into recovery mode where the body can begin to do some spring cleaning and metaphorically clear out the closets of cells that are lingering around damaged or out of style.
Photo compliments of “Girl with red hat”
How to Detox with Short Timeline
Detox Kits
The use of a detox kit can help ease the mind of those who become overwhelmed with options. They use herbal supplements to assist your body’s natural detoxification process. Even better when they come with a Detailed Detox Guide & Meal Plan, 2 FREE Home Testing Kits, and a Cleansing Coach to make sure you pass. These high quality detox kits ensure that THC is absent from your urine sample without stripping it of other indicators.
As opposed to same-day detox drinks that will ensure your urine is clean for a few hours, a detox kit will permanently flush your system of traceable THC levels. If you don’t know if you may or may not be getting a hair test, you will want a kit that includes a detox shampoo. Once your detox regimen is complete and you pass the at-home test kit you will be permanently free of any traceable THC levels until consumption commences.
Detox Drinks
Same-day detox drinks like those that can be found on PassYorTest.com help enhance the body’s natural detoxification mechanism. But more importantly, they help you frame a window of opportunity to test clean. Follow the directions precisely, as clean results can last for only up to six hours. It is important to still drink lots of water when you take your cleanser.
Methods to Avoid
Exercise & Sweat
Surprisingly, going to the gym before a drug screening would not actually help you get THC out of your system faster. Yes, routine exercise would undoubtedly result in the elimination of certain THC-holding fat cells. But burning fat, on the pre-test side, just releases THC metabolite into the bloodstream.
Bleach
Bleach is not something you want to use on or in your body. Not sure who out there needs to read this, but no, just no. Yet, you will find recommendations online from the past to use bleach as a dilutant to pass a urine drug test. Unfortunately, using bleach and other household cleansers like ammonia and vinegar to alter the PH of a urine drug test is not a viable method. They are on to this one guys, move along.
Niacin
Niacin alone is not effective for passing a drug test. Basically what niacin is is a diet pill. It helps the body burns fat without you really doing anything. This is good because THC is fat-soluble but again not a reliable method alone.
Fake Pee
While it may make you chuckle, fake pee is a real thing and no joke. In the US, eighteen states have outlawed the selling of fake urine, and four states have made it a crime. Nobody knows if those repercussions will be applied to you as a private employee and person, so don’t try this if you can’t afford to risk your job and hire a lawyer.
Straight-edge Pee
In high school, it may have been easy to find a straight-edge friend to help you out with a clean urine sample. Yet today, the idea of finding the best way to smuggle another human’s pee into your drug test seems like it would probably be easier just to find a better job. Hopefully, one that doesn’t drug test for cannabis.
Have you passed a drug test? Tell us your THC detox tips and how you passed your test in the comments below!
