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Will A Hair Follicle Test Detect Marijuana?

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Posted on Thu, 27 Apr 2017
Question: The end of September is the last time I smoke marijuana. I've never been a heavy user, but I was on vacation for a week and a half and smoked a couple of times during that time. Before that, it was 2 yrs since I smoked. I have a hair follicle test on April 24th. I've done research that suggest I should be good, but I'm 5'6 obese, 264lbs and XXXXXXX XXXXXXX with curly hair. Should I be concerned? Is there anything I shoukd do? Also, how do they collect samples if you have in braids or dreadlocks? There is not much information on collecting ethnic hair for testing.
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Answered by Dr. Dr. Matt Wachsman (1 hour later)
Brief Answer:
let us see.....

Detailed Answer:
First how much marijuana use does there have to be to show up in the hair? I suspect moderate (2 cigarettes smoked entirely) would go into the hair.

Then how long does it stay in the system? Unless one is a HEAVY user, it is in the blood for maybe 2 days and in the urine for maybe 1 week. Probably less for both. With heavy continual use there is deposition in the fat. This is not that.
BUT the length of time it stays in the hair depends on the length of the hair. It grows at different rates in different people. I doubt there is no data on
http://blackgirllonghair.com/2015/11/3-ways-to-troubleshoot-natural-hair-that-wont-grow/
There is very high diversity in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX hair.
In general (white folk) hair growth is 1/2 an inch a month.

That is 7 months or about 3 to 4 inches. If the hair is longer, it will contain September if it is shorter it perhaps won't. You know your hair growth, literally you can judge better than I can.

The braids or dreadlocks is not a big issue on marijuana.
https://drugtestingnetwork.com/hair-testing
The false positive rate in hair is quite low and cross reaction with other drugs is overrated in hair (but not in dip stick testing which is far less accurate).
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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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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Will A Hair Follicle Test Detect Marijuana?

Brief Answer: let us see..... Detailed Answer: First how much marijuana use does there have to be to show up in the hair? I suspect moderate (2 cigarettes smoked entirely) would go into the hair. Then how long does it stay in the system? Unless one is a HEAVY user, it is in the blood for maybe 2 days and in the urine for maybe 1 week. Probably less for both. With heavy continual use there is deposition in the fat. This is not that. BUT the length of time it stays in the hair depends on the length of the hair. It grows at different rates in different people. I doubt there is no data on http://blackgirllonghair.com/2015/11/3-ways-to-troubleshoot-natural-hair-that-wont-grow/ There is very high diversity in XXXXXXX XXXXXXX hair. In general (white folk) hair growth is 1/2 an inch a month. That is 7 months or about 3 to 4 inches. If the hair is longer, it will contain September if it is shorter it perhaps won't. You know your hair growth, literally you can judge better than I can. The braids or dreadlocks is not a big issue on marijuana. https://drugtestingnetwork.com/hair-testing The false positive rate in hair is quite low and cross reaction with other drugs is overrated in hair (but not in dip stick testing which is far less accurate).