How Long Do Dabs Stay in Your System?

Whether you’re a long-time or first-time cannabis user, dabs are a fantastic way to enjoy a truly potent cannabis experience. Normal marijuana flower contains up to 30% THC, but concentrates will often contain over 70% (if not more.)

Many dab users will wonder: “how long do dabs stay in your system?”

That’s an important question—especially if your profession requires drug tests, etc. However, the answer will depend on the type of concentrate that you use, your metabolism, and the frequency you use concentrates. 

Due to the sheer strength of concentrates and how much THC they contain, many people miscalculate their usage and test positive for cannabis. We don’t want this to happen to you, so we’ll break it down. 

Let’s look at dabbing and how long it stays in your system:

How Long Does a Dab High Last?

There is no clear answer to how long a dab high from dab pens can last. However, despite the higher THC levels, there typically isn’t a strong difference between the length of the high when using dabs and flowers. 

The big difference between smoking a bong and a rig is the intensity. Dabs offer a powerful high that can last between one and two hours (or longer for inexperienced users.)

How Long Can Drug Tests Detect Dabs?

There’s no definite answer to how long THC stays in your system when using dabs. Sex, metabolism, dosage, frequency of use, and type of dabs can determine how long dabs remain in your system. 

If you’re a frequent user, you may find detectable metabolites months after consuming dabs. 

The Drug Test Detection Times: Saliva, Urine, Blood, and Hair

You can detect THC and its metabolite in many ways—including hair, saliva, blood, and urine. For many employers, urine tests are the go-to. In addition, probation officers and parents prefer urine tests because they’re affordable and easy to use. 

Let’s look at all possible drug tests and how long dabs may show in the tests:

1. Urine 

There’s no simple answer to how long dabs from dan pens can show in your urine; many variables determine the duration. In most cases, you can detect dabs on a urine test for around 3 to 30 days. However, drug tests often detect single dab usage up to 3 days after consumption. 

However, a drug test may catch moderate drug usage around 5 to 7 days after your previous usage. If you dab regularly, a urine test can detect THC up to 15 days after your last consumption. Furthermore, chronic and heavy usage may be detectable for up to 30 days after dabbing. 

In addition, people with higher body fat percentages may have longer wait times until the cannabis is removed from their urine. 

2. Saliva

Local authorities or your employee may require a saliva test. However, they often prefer other testing methods because saliva testing—although accurate—has a shorter detection window. A review from 2020 found that saliva tests detect cannabis in regular smokers 72 hours after the last usage. 

Unfortunately, although sensitive and often accurate, saliva tests can be wrong. That’s because cannabis can enter your saliva, even if you’re not smoking it. In the United States, however, local authorities regularly ask for saliva tests. Therefore,  stop dabbing at least seven days before a saliva test. 

3. Blood 

Although blood tests for cannabis aren’t common in the West, they aren’t unheard of either. Dabs, depending on how much you smoke, stay detectable in your blood for up to 30 days. Blood tests can detect dabs consumed 2 to 12 hours before the test. However, that can stretch to 30 days if you regularly dab. 

To avoid a positive blood test, you should remove all cannabis from your system at least a month before your test. 

4. Hair 

Hair tests are uncommon when testing for cannabis. However, it’s also one of the worst because hair tests can detect cannabis for up to 90 days—which will scare many cannabis users. Still, hair tests are rare. 

After you dab, cannabinoids reach the hair follicles through your small blood vessels. Hair grows an average of half an inch per month, and a 1.5-inch strand of hair can provide a positive cannabis test.

What Factors Affect How Long Cannabis Is Detectable?

Unfortunately, a cannabis test won’t tell you how much or when you last smoked; it merely suggests you have cannabis in your system. That can be incredibly annoying for many cannabis smokers who haven’t smoked for weeks. 

However, many variables determine how long a test can detect cannabis:

1. Dosage 

How much cannabis do you consume when you dab? It can be challenging to tell. However, your dosage impacts how long cannabis is traceable in your body. A study suggests that your body releases 20% of THC through your bladder. 

With all that, there’s a simple lesson here: the longer your smoker and how much you smoke determines how long your body takes to remove it. So plan for your test accordingly. 

2. Metabolism 

Everyone has different metabolisms, so it can be tricky to understand yours. To pass the cannabis test, the metabolic by-products of the cannabis test must be completely out of your system. So, the faster your metabolism, the faster you’ll pass a drug test. 

3. Exercise 

This may come as a shock to many cannabis users, but working out before a cannabis test can boost the amount of THC in your urine. One study of 14 cannabis smokers found that 35 minutes of moderate exercise increased the THC metabolites in their urine. So perhaps forget your daily workout if you have a drug test on that day. 

4. Stress Levels 

It’s always essential to avoid getting stressed. However, it’s even more important if you have an upcoming drug test for cannabis. Your stress can severely impact how long it takes for your THC metabolites to exit your body. The more stress you feel, the longer your body takes to remove carboxy-THC. 

5. Age 

Age can have a significant impact on your body’s ability to remove THC. The older you are, the longer it will take your body to remove dabs. Again, you can still increase the time taken by maintaining a healthy lifestyle, working out, and eating healthily. 

6. Consumption Levels 

Do you use dab pens regularly? If so, it will take longer—sometimes far longer—for the cannabis to exit your body. If you only dab from time to time, it may only take days for your body to remove traces of THC. However, this depends on your body and metabolic rate. 

7. Medical Conditions 

Do you suffer from any medical conditions? These could impact how long it takes your body to remove THC if you’ve dabbed. For example, kidney and liver medical conditions can prolong the process. If you have any medical conditions that may affect this, quit dabbing earlier. 

8. Other Drugs

Other drugs are a problem if you’re trying to remove THC from your body faster. Our bodies have a limited capacity for metabolizing drugs out of our system. As a result, taking multiple drugs can and will probably prolong the drug detection time. 

Can You Remove THC From Your System Faster?

After reading this article and learning how long dabs can stay in your system, you may be wondering if you can remove THC faster. You can attempt to remove THC faster from your system, but there’s no guarantee. 

Here are some methods cannabis fans use to remove THC faster:

1. Detox kits 

You might have heard about detox kits, but do they work? First, they’re more reliable than some other options—such as detox drinks. The main aim of detox kits is to strip your body of cannabis. If you’re a regular dab consumer, your best option is to use detox kits every day. 

However, although detox kits provide a time frame, they’re more suitable as a long-term option. A detox kit typically lasts between five and ten days, but that varies depending on the brand. But that’s why you should buy reputable detox kits (there are plenty of useless ones on the market).

2. Detox Drinks 

Detox drinks can be excellent for purging cannabis from your system. Detox drinks operate by removing cannabis from your system faster through drinking, thus speeding up the metabolic response. 

But do they work? It’s hit-and-miss. Reports on the efficacy of these drinks in an unregulated market suggest they often don’t deliver the results promised. Companies can—and do—exaggerate their claims. Ensure you conduct research, read reviews, and buy the best drinks. Never rely on detox drinks, though. Try them and see if they work. 

3. Activated Charcoal Products 

You can purchase activated charcoal products in many places in 2022. You can find it in soaps, creams, and toothpaste. As a result, it’s an excellent option for passing a drug test. 

Then again, you should use activated charcoal products as a short-term resolution. You’ll probably require a large charcoal dose to achieve good results, which could have damaging effects on your body—including changing your bowel habits. 

In addition, you only achieve the peak effect after 36 hours of taking the charcoal. After that, your results will begin to decrease. There’s also limited evidence to suggest that activated charcoal increases the chances of passing a drug test after 48 hours. 

4. Drink Plenty 

Drinking tons of water is an excellent way to remove THC from your body, but there’s one problem: it can be risky because it can make your drug test appear suspicious. If you seem over-hydrated, they may require you to do another drug test. 

To avoid being over-hydrated, decrease your water intake 48 hours before your drug test. Before that, you can drink plenty of water to flush out the THC. Try drinking up to 6 liters of water daily for a week. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Do Dabs Stay in Your System Longer Than Cannabis Flowers?

Sometimes. It depends. In most cases, whether you test positive for cannabis on a drug test depends on the level of THC in your system.

Considering dabs have far more THC than cannabis flower, there’s a strong chance that dabs will remain in your system for longer than cannabis flower. But it all depends on your lifestyle, metabolism, diet, age, etc. 

How Long Does THC From a Wax Pen Remain In Urine?

You may find THC in your urine from your wax pens several days after you smoke. How often you smoke, the speed of your metabolism, and how much you smoke all determine how long it takes to remove THC from your body. 

If you’re a big smoker, it might take around three days for the THC to leave your body. However, it might only take 24 hours if you don’t use your wax pen regularly. 

How Long Do Carts Stay In Your System?

The time it takes for your body to remove THC from carts depends on your body fat, metabolism, and lifestyle. However, it will last between 2 and 30 days for most people. 

Do Dabs Show Up As Concentrates Specifically?

It doesn’t matter whether you smoke cannabis flowers or concentrates, it will show up as cannabis in a test. There is no drug test available for dabs specifically. 

How Long Does a Dab Pen Last?

The effect from a dab pen often lasts between 1 to 3 hours—depending on how much you consume. With that said, the effects of dabbing can be extremely powerful, even though it’s not a prolonged high. 

What Are The Best Wax Dab Pens?

The normal way of dabbing can be pretty boring, but dab pens or wax pens make it more convenient. You need wax dab pens that are robust, durable, aren’t harsh on your lungs, and are simple to use.

We’ve put together a list of the best wax dab pens for you. 

How Long Do Cannabis Flowers Stay In Your System?

Cannabis flower is the same as concentrates; the time it stays in your system depends on how much you use, the type of concentrates, your body fat, your metabolism, and your lifestyle.

We have a detailed article on how long cannabis flowers stay in your system. 

How Long Does Delta-8 THC Stay In Your System?

Delta-8 THC, despite being the most powerful variety of THC, still leaves traces of cannabis in your body for up to a week. You can use some of the methods in this article to remove THC faster. 

Find out more about Delta-8 THC in this article. 

Final Thoughts 

Unfortunately, it’s very challenging to tell how long THC from dab pens will stay in your system. You can gauge it, but you can never be entirely certain. You can use various techniques—including detox kits and heavy hydration—but these aren’t guaranteed to remove all the THC. 

If you have regular drug tests, using dab pens will always be risky. The best way to avoid problems is to know when your test is and stop dabbing at least a month in advance.

Sure, we understand; that’s not always possible. Nevertheless, it’s the best way to prevent a failed drug test.