How Long Does HHC Stay in Your System?

Those of you that have discovered the wonderful effects of HHC may be wondering: how long does HHC stay in your system?  Will it show up on a drug test?  Despite hemp and cannabis being more socially acceptable and legal than ever, there are still plenty of situations that require a drug test.  Depending on where you live and what the test is for, testing positive for hemp or cannabis, regardless of their legal status, can still have unfavorable consequences.  Read on to separate fact from fiction and be prepared the next time you need to pass a test.  For those of you who don’t have any upcoming tests to worry about, check out our stellar collection of HHC disposable vapes, gummies, and prerolls.  

What does a drug test look for?

Unlike delta 8, HHC is not a variant of THC.  This is worth noting because most drug tests don’t test specifically for THC, but for its metabolites.  One of the most commonly tested for metabolites is 11-nor-9-carboxy-delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC-COOH.  After you consume THC, it breaks down into THC-COOH.  HHC will not break down into this compound.  Unfortunately, that still doesn’t mean you can smoke as much HHC as you want and expect to pass your drug test.

HHC breaks down into a very similar compound, so there is a chance that the drug test may not be able to detect the difference.  Aside from that risk, if your product contains even a little bit of delta 8 or THC, it could trigger a failed result.  While you may think you’re only indulging in HHC, there are two reasons that may not be the case.  The first reason, is that the market is vastly unregulated.  No one is necessarily checking to make sure that HHC goods contain 100% HHC with absolutely nothing else in there.  The second reason, is that these other cannabinoids can be present during the process of making HHC.  By the time it gets to you, these other cannabinoids may still be present in trace amounts.  Sadly, those trace amounts could lead to a failed drug test if you indulge on a regular basis.

Timing

With all of these factors to consider, it’s best to treat HHC the same as you would THC when it comes to passing a drug test.  This means that there is still no set answer that applies indiscriminately to everyone when it comes to how long the cannabinoid stays in your system.  How long does HHC stay in your system?  Variables include your metabolism and your body fat.  Unfortunately, you can’t possibly know the exact rate that your specific metabolism will flush HHC from your body.  Like THC, HHC is stored in fat cells.  If you have a higher amount of body fat, it can take longer for HHC to pass through your system.  However, neither of these points will contribute as much to your test results as frequency of use.

Just like with THC, HHC will stay in your body longer the more you use it.  Someone who has tried HHC for the first time will likely be able to pass a drug test within the week if they don’t continue using.  A person who smokes every day, on the other hand, will probably need thirty days or even longer to pass a drug test.

Type of test

The type of drug test really makes a difference in terms of how long you need to abstain from HHC before taking the test.  Currently, there is no specific test for HHC. For the sake of the argument, we’re going to assume that the test will either pick up on other cannabinoids in your HHC products, or confuse HHC metabolites for THC metabolites. 

How long does HHC stay in your system? Once again depending on frequency of use, a urine test can detect THC metabolites from anywhere between 3 days, or even up to six weeks after use.  Saliva tests will pick up cannabis use up to 72 hours post use.  Blood tests will only identify THC metabolites for hours after use.  If you have a hair test coming up, you may need to shave your head!  This no nonsense test will rat you out for as long as three months after you quit using.  Luckily, hair tests are more expensive than other methods and are not as common.

So there you have it.  HHC is unfortunately not a free pass to enjoy cannabis-like effects while still being able to pass a drug test.  It is possible, but you won’t know until your results come back.  For best results, apply the same methodology that you would to THC.  Stop enjoying HHC at least thirty days before a urine test if you’re a frequent smoker.  In the meantime, stock up on your favorite HHC products here at DVNT.  HHC has a longer shelf life than THC, so you can shop ahead for your post-drug test treats without the worry of them going bad.