Originally Posted by
DrBill100
There are multiple factors that relate to elimination time for any drug or substance. Population averages are just that and can be applied individually only at great risk of error.
That cleared, a one time user will usually be THC clear within a few hours to maybe 3 days. A consideration in rapid clearance is the amount of THC inhaled. Inexperienced smokers have not yet developed a personal method for titrating the dose, inhaling and holding the smoke. So between the experienced and inexperienced smoker there is a wide variance in amount of THC absorbed.
Second, most of an absorbed dose is eliminated in both groups but a small amount may secret in fatty tissue. That is a small portion of total dose...most is eliminated. The small amount of THC not metabolized attaches to the fatty tissue and releases slowly...therefore accumulates. There has to be a rather significant amount of stored THC in order for it to release in sufficient quantity to rise above the 50ng or even 20ng level. That also explains how one can test negative one day and positive the next.
Finally you use the term "joint of marijuana" as though it is a standardized unit of measurement. In fact the THC content in street-bought product may vary by 2000%. Of special note is that most of the timed elimination studies in the US used only 1.5 and 3.75% controlled growth cannabis. As a comparison seized marijuana now averages 9% THC.
It's necessary to compare a lot of different studies from different countries over a long period of time to even begin to get a picture of THC timing.
When I cite a few hours to 3 days it is wise to rely on the longest period of time. All of the factors mentioned above are unknown in relation to a given individual. At least to some extent this also relates to the mixed bag of information you run across not only on-line but in professional literature as well.
