Can You Speed Up THCA Elimination?
Estimated Reading Time: 6 minutes
|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?
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, called tetrahydrocannabinolic acid, is a compound found in raw cannabis (Marijuana and hemp). It 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.
You might be surprised to find out that in the US, around 62 million people consume cannabis in different forms. Particularly, THCA is available in cannabis flowers, edible gummies, and skin patches. 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.
Why Would Anyone Want THCA Gone?
You might wonder if it is that beneficial. Why is it necessary to eliminate THCA from the body? Well, there can be multiple reasons.
THCA isn't intoxicating, but still can't pass the drug test, which raises major concerns under different circumstances.
In the US, THCA is generally legal for therapeutic and recreational purposes. When derived from hemp plants or contains just 0.3% of THC, it doesn't have significant side effects. However, the legal status varies in different regions and institutions. For instance:
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Corporate offices and brands may have a strict employee code. They can conduct drug tests of employees upon joining or later to check if they consume any banned drugs, like cocaine, opiates, etc. A failure in the test may affect your employment status.
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Under certain conditions, even schools and colleges have legal permission to drug test their students. If THCA shows up, it may influence your student's records and final reports.
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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 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. A few people may even want to get rid of THCA quicker to avoid its short-term side effects, such as:
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Impaired cognitive functions
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Increased heart rate
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Bloodshot and extremely tired eyes
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Dry mouth
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Increased thirst
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Paranoia
Let's see if it is scientifically possible to achieve faster THCA detoxification.
How to Speed Up THCA Elimination
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 how frequently and how much THCA is consumed. On average, the natural detox duration of THCA can be up to 14 days. However, some tests, like urine and hair assessments, can potentially detect the chemical presence for up to 90 days.
Speeding Up THCA Elimination: Myths You May Hear
The first step to speeding up THCA elimination is to stay away from the 'not-so-useful' myths on the internet. You will find plenty of worthless and unproven ideas claiming to speed up THCA elimination. (We, too saw and even tried.) Here are a few myths that you must stay away from:
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A drug detox supplement or product can remove the traces of THCA or any weed from the body in a single day.
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Drinking a lot of cranberry-lemon juice or apple cider vinegar in warm water can help you pass your drug test.
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Lean people get rid of consumed alcohol or THCA more easily and quickly than obese individuals.
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Drinking a lot of water and soaking yourself for hours in a sauna can definitely help.
The Science Behind THCA Elimination
The science is quite different. 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.
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Adequate hydration and a clean diet may be useful in activating detox pathways, but they are not miracles.
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Regular exercise can help boost metabolism naturally and speed up THCA elimination, but the results are limited and vary.
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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.
The Truth
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.
My brother? 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).
But you can be more informed. Stay away from hyped trends, be cautious about what you are eating, and instead choose healthier anti-inflammatory supplements.
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.
