What are THC Metabolites in a Drug Test

THC metabolites are narcs

If there’s one thing that stoners hate the most, it’s drug tests. Why? Because a drug test is commonly what stands in the way of landing a new job or keeping the one you have. What’s worse is that a drug test could even stand in the way of your freedom.

Guess what—the people testing you for drugs like THC aren’t even looking for drugs like THC in your system. What they’re looking for are metabolites. So what are they? Well aside from being narcs a metabolite is a substance made or used when the body breaks down food, drugs or chemicals, or its own tissue (for example, fat or muscle tissue). This process, called metabolism, makes energy and the materials needed for growth, reproduction, and maintaining health.

The presence of a drug metabolite is a reliable indicator that a person used the “parent” drug of that metabolite. In the case of drug testing for weed, drug testers are looking for THC metabolites in your system—not the presence of actual THC.

THC is the active substance in weed, but you probably already knew that. It stands for The High Causer. No we’re kidding, it actually stands for -tetrahydrocannabinol. Anyhow your body quickly metabolizes the THC molecule into several metabolites with long chemical names. Urine drug tests typically detect the THC-COOH (nor-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) metabolite to identify marijuana users because it stays in the body much longer than the parent THC drug. For heavy users it’ll stay in there for more than a month!

The presence of THC-COOH in urine greater than 100.0 ng/mL indicates relatively recent use, probably within the past 7 days. Levels greater than 500.0 ng/mL suggest chronic and recent use.

At least 80 different metabolites are formed from THC and may have their own effects on the body’s endocannabinoid system. These metabolites are stored in body fat and are gradually eliminated from the body through feces and urine.

The process of metabolizing a drug is predictable and certain; everyone metabolizes drugs the same way. That’s why testing for them is so reliable. Some metabolites stay in the body much longer than the parent drug.  When that is the case, a drug test has a higher probability of identifying a drug user by looking for the metabolites of the drug, rather than the parent drug.

Green Gone Detox

Best way to eliminate THC metabolites
Your best bet is to use a THC detox product to clean out your system, ridding your body of THC and the metabolites that they create. We always recommend Green Gone Detox. It’s an all-natural permanent THC cleanse unlike THC detox drinks which are typically “masking” agents—meaning they don’t physically pull THC metabolites out of your system permanently. Instead they decrease the concentration of metabolites found in your urine for a brief period through dilution.

Sometimes the dilution method is enough to work. But if you’re a heavy user don’t count on it. A permanent THC detox is what you need. It’s really the only way to increase your body’s output and elimination of the THC metabolites that’ll cause you to fail.



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