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How Long Does Marijuana Stay In Body?

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Posted on Tue, 18 Nov 2014
Question: If a person had 3-4 puffs off a join5 5 days ago - never smoked prior, will it show up in urine test?
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (11 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
iffy

Detailed Answer:
for one exposure of marijuana, then that is about as long as it stays in the system. So, about 50/50 and increased oral fluids might clear it.
BUT
if someone is/has been a chronic heavy smoker, the marijuana stays in the fat deposits and it frequently can be detected 1 or more MONTHS after the last use.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Yogesh D
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (2 hours later)
I am in medical profession (FNP) 21 yrs. I will die if I test positive. I am so against the stuff - had to be stupid.
Testing with my organization is called GC/MS Methodology. Can you tell me more about how it works
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (11 hours later)
Brief Answer:
GC/ MS

Detailed Answer:
wow, they are going to run out of employees if they get rid of everyone who's ever had any marijuana.

GC/MS is an accurate test at least. Fast answer, you take a semi purified sample and run it through a particle accelerator onto a dart board, the size, ionic charge and pattern of where the pieces land are matched to knowns and show what is there.
http://www.scientific.org/tutorials/articles/gcms.html
semi-defeatable by mucking up the sample (bleach in urine;iodine; maybe soaps)
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000

Hair follicle testing uses mass spect. It is sensitive, very very accurate and limited by the hair --hair grows at 1 cm /month. catches drug use in the time period the hair is there.
so, one joint... probably shows on the mass spec. of hair and the amount is also shown; they may set the limit above that.
one joint (ever) will show in 3-5 days.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/0000

Over 1 week is getting toward the unlikely. If it was one joint this week but continual use 2 months ago, that's likely to show on all tests but absolutely guaranteed to show on the hair test.
They might have a cut off above that.
Note: For further guidance on mental health, Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Ashwin Bhandari
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Answered by
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Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman

Addiction Medicine Specialist

Practicing since :1985

Answered : 4214 Questions

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How Long Does Marijuana Stay In Body?

Brief Answer: iffy Detailed Answer: for one exposure of marijuana, then that is about as long as it stays in the system. So, about 50/50 and increased oral fluids might clear it. BUT if someone is/has been a chronic heavy smoker, the marijuana stays in the fat deposits and it frequently can be detected 1 or more MONTHS after the last use.