How to speed up THCA elimination

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes

Published on: 30 Sep 2025

It all started with a green cannabis smoothie and a very bad idea.

A while ago, my brother, our family's personal 'wellness explorer,' blended raw cannabis leaves into his morning drink. The reason is obvious: all around the internet, THCA (found in raw cannabis) is trending as a "natural anti-inflammatory." Unlike THC, it is harmless and isn't intoxicating.

It was all fine until he realized he had a routine health checkup at his office the next morning. What if they do a drug test or include a routine drug screening as part of the checkup?

Did you know that while consuming THCA won't produce a high, it will still show up in a medical drug test?

The rest of the night, we siblings spent googling, "How long does THCA stay in your system?" "How to speed up THCA elimination?"

Therefore, if you are in the same situation or need a solution to eliminate THCA from your body, we can explain the science behind it in detail.

THCA: The Raw Acidic Form of THC

For those who really don't know what THCA is, let's begin the blog with a quick introduction.

THCA is present in its raw form in cannabis and remains non-psychoactive until heated. Also called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, it is a compound found in raw cannabis (Marijuana and hemp). THCA is a raw, non-psychoactive, and acidic precursor to tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

When heated, THCA converts into THC, an intoxicating drug people use to get high.

The chosen consumption method can influence whether THCA is converted to THC, impacting its effects and detectability. Here are the different forms of THCA.

It is available in raw cannabis flowers, edible gummies, and skin patches.
People also add THCA in health recipes (just like my brother did), including raw forms like juicing or smoothies, as well as processed products.

Here's the interesting fact. Unlike THC, which is famous for recreational purposes, THCA is gaining popularity for its therapeutic effects.

It may carry anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, shielding against chronic diseases.
Additionally, THCA may also stimulate appetite, which is beneficial for people with eating disorders.

You might be surprised to find out that in the US, around 62 million people consume cannabis in different forms. Why?

THCA-rich products are often legal in certain regions due to their non-psychoactive nature.

Moreover, when derived from hemp plants or contains just 0.3% of THC, it doesn't have significant side effects.

THCA Inside Body: Why It’s a Problem

Here's the question: if THCA is beneficial, why is it necessary to eliminate it from the body? Well, there can be multiple reasons.

Eliminating THCA Faster to Pass a Drug Test

THCA isn't intoxicating, but it still can't pass the drug test, which raises significant concerns under different circumstances.

Though THCA is generally legal for therapeutic and recreational purposes, there are certain conditions. The legal status varies in different regions and institutions. In areas with legalized cannabis, laws and regulations around cannabis products and drug testing can differ significantly, affecting how THCA is treated. For instance:

Corporate offices and brands often have strict employee codes. They can conduct drug testing and drug screening of employees upon joining or later to detect cannabis or its metabolites. A failure in the test, such as a positive drug test, positive test result, or positive result, may affect your employment status.
Under certain conditions, even schools and colleges have legal permission to drug test their students. If THCA shows up, especially if it leads to a positive result, it may influence your student's records and final reports.
For athletes and sportspersons, drug tests can happen anywhere, anytime, without prior notice. Many popular athletes have illegally taken drugs to improve their sports performance. The presence of THCA, or a positive drug test, may lead to immediate disqualification.

Those are just a few of the multiple reasons why someone (including my brother) wants to eliminate THCA from their body immediately.

Also Read: MPV Blood Test - Purpose, Results, Range, More

To Overcome the Minor Side Effects

A few people may even want to get rid of THCA quicker to avoid its short-term side effects, such as:

Impaired cognitive functions
Increased heart rate
Bloodshot and extremely tired eyes
Dry mouth
Increased thirst
Paranoia

Let's see if it is scientifically possible to achieve faster THCA detoxification.

Also Read: 10 Signs of Low Potassium in Your Body

How Long Does THCA Stay in The System

Before learning how to speed up THCA elimination in the body, you must know how long your body retains THCA.

Generally, THCA may be detectable in the body for a few hours to several weeks, depending on the frequency and amount of THCA consumed.

The Results Vary Based on Detection Methods

The THCA detection windows for different testing methods vary:

Urine drug tests and urine testing can detect THCA metabolites and THC metabolites for up to 30 days.
Blood testing and saliva tests are more effective for detecting recent drug use, often within hours to a few days.
Hair tests analyze hair follicles and can detect cannabis metabolites, including THCA and THC, for up to 90 days, making long-term THCA remains detectable in the system.

Even Your Body's Composition Plays a Role

Body composition and overall health play a big role in how long THCA stays in your system. THCA, like other cannabis compounds, is stored in your body’s fat cells.

If you have a higher body fat percentage, your body may retain THC metabolites for a longer period, making it even harder to eliminate THCA quickly.

Occasional users may find that THCA passes through their system more quickly, but for frequent users, the detection window can be much longer.

Also Read: Guide to Safe and Effective Body Detox to Lose Weight

How to Speed Up THCA Elimination

Can you really speed up THCA elimination? The answer is neither complete yes or complete no.

The Truth Behind THCA Elimination

The science is not so appealing. You need to give yourself sufficient time to flush out THCA completely. Our body has its own natural detoxification to flush out toxins, drugs, and heavy metals. Therefore, it will eventually pass out THCA from the blood. However, the duration solely depends on your metabolism rate and the amount of drug consumed.

Adequate hydration and a clean diet may be useful in activating detox pathways, but they are not miracles.

Regular exercise can help boost metabolism naturally and speed up THCA elimination, but the results are limited and vary.

Further, methods like detox supplements and lemon juice can help you in the hangover stage. But there's no guarantee that they can pass the drug test as well.

Remember to Stay Away From 'Internet' Myths

The internet is full of 'not-so-useful' hacks and myths that promise to speed up THCA elimination. We, too saw and even tried. But, trust us they don't work at all, so it's best to stay away from myths like:

A drug detox supplement or product can remove the traces of THCA or any weed from the body in a single day.

Drinking a lot of cranberry-lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in warm water can help you pass your drug test.

Lean people get rid of consumed alcohol or THCA more easily and quickly than obese individuals.

Drinking a lot of water and soaking yourself for hours in a sauna can definitely help.

Also Read: How Long Does Nicotine Stay In Your System? Timeline, Tests

The Final Verdict

Seems, THCA doesn't like to be rushed or flushed out quickly. So, there's no magical shortcut to get over THCA in your body. It is a biological process that takes time. Water, exercise, and a healthy diet may help, but they won't shorten weeks for the days.

And, my brother? Well, he was lucky enough, as the drug test was just for the new joiners; the rest went through a routine medical checkup. So, no one in his workplace thought he was stoned (that's all he's concerned about).

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and does not provide medical advice. Always consult a healthcare professional before making changes to your diet or health routine. Individual results may vary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the health benefits of THCA?

THCA may have certain health benefits, like reducing inflammation and pain and treating nausea.

Q2. Is THCA similar to THC?

THCA is the raw acidic precursor of THC. THC is more potent and can even make you high.

Q3. Is weed legal?

The legality of weed depends on federal laws, state laws, and institutional legal considerations.

Q4. Does THCA turn into THC in your body?

Yes, there's a chance that a little THCA converts into THC in the body, leaving traces in the drug test.

Q5. What is the half-life of THCA?

When consumed orally, the half-life of THCA is about 25-36 hours.

Q6. Can I get high with THCA?

No, raw cannabis or THCA can get you high or stoned.

Q7. How to speed up THCA elimination?

Unfortunately, there is no single definitive method for speeding up THCA elimination in the human body. It depends on certain factors, such as metabolism, drug amount, and frequency of THCA consumption.