Cannabis and drug testing:
How long does cannabis stay in your system?
Have you ever wondered how long weed can stay in your system? Is it true that weed can stay in your system for up to six months?
The short answer is, there is actually no one good answer – weed affects everyone differently, so the length of time it stays in your system is also different. Weed is an illegal drug in Australia, and may cost you your job if it’s in your system, or more if you’re caught with it in your possession.
Workplace THC drug tests
Random drug testing, including THC drug tests (which test for the main ingredient in cannabis), are practiced in a lot of workplaces, especially those where people work with heavy machinery or in jobs where a mishap could cause serious safety issues. A THC drug test is usually carried out as a urine or saliva test you take at work, and results are sent to your workplace in the days following.
How long does cannabis stay in your system?
When you use weed, it is stored in your fatty tissue and released slowly into your bloodstream before you get rid of it from your body. The length of time it stays in your system depends on a lot of things, but in general it may be found in urine for one-to-five days after occasional use and up to six weeks if you’re a regular, long-term user.
Random roadside drug testing
Police are cracking down on people who use drugs and drive under the influence. When pulled over, police may request a saliva sample to do a THC drug test, and if it comes up positive, you can expect to receive fines and possibly lose your licence (the penalties are different in each Australian state and territory). Cannabis can affect your driving for up to five hours, causing slow reaction time and lack of focus. You’re also up to three times more likely to have a car crash if you smoke weed and drive. So it’s best to stay off the pot altogether if you’re going to be driving, then if you do undergo a THC drug test you’ll be in the clear!
If you’d like some more info on how cannabis can affect you, check out our other Marijuana Facts, our YouTube channel, follow us on Facebook, or take part in one of our competitions (with some good cash prizes up for grabs). If you think you or a friend might have a problem with cannabis and need help, check out our Get Help page or call the helpline on 1800 30 40 50. You can also get some more in-depth answers to all your cannabis questions on our factsheets page.
*Please note that the terms ‘marijuana’, ‘cannabis’, ‘weed’ and ‘pot’ are used interchangeably in these fast facts, and all refer to the illegal drug, cannabis, unless otherwise specified.
