Key takeaways:
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CBD is extracted from the hemp plant, and unlike cannabis products, CBD products don’t cause a high and are non-addictive
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CBD use helps with chronic pain relief, eases anxiety, supports better sleep and promotes a sense of calm and relaxation
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CBD needs to enter the bloodstream to have an effect: CBD oil used under the tongue enters the bloodstream directly and has a quicker effect than CBD gummies, which need to pass through the digestive system first
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Factors such as body fat percentage, metabolic rate and whether or not you’ve had food will affect the absorption rate of CBD and how long it stays in the body
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CBD is legal in the UK, but it stays in the system and may be detectable for longer than the effects are felt
How does CBD move through your body?
CBD (cannabidiol) can be taken sublingually (CBD oil, used under the tongue), orally (CBD gummies, drinks and other edibles), through the skin (topical creams and balms) and inhaled (CBD vapes, although vaping isn’t recommended currently, as the effects of electronic smoking devices aren’t yet fully understood).
For CBD to work, it needs to enter the bloodstream. When taken under the tongue, it enters the bloodstream directly. Edible CBD products need to enter the stomach and be broken down (metabolised) by the digestive system before entering the bloodstream. Once in the bloodstream, CBD circulates throughout the body, interacting with the endocannabinoid system (ECS) to help relieve pain, reduce anxiety and promote a sense of calm.
Topical CBD products tend not to enter the bloodstream. Instead, they’re absorbed through the skin where they interact with pain receptors, helping to ease tired, aching, stiff joints. CBD creams and balms generally work within 10 to 20 minutes for localised pain relief, but don’t promote a sense of calm or relaxation.
How much CBD gets absorbed?
When CBD gummies and other edibles are ingested, they travel through the digestive system to the liver before entering the bloodstream. In the liver, CBD is metabolised (broken down) into CBD metabolites by liver enzymes called cytochrome P450 enzymes.
This so-called first-pass metabolism means that much of the CBD is broken down and eliminated from the body in the faeces and urine. Therefore, only some of the CBD contained within edibles actually reaches the bloodstream. The amount of CBD absorbed is called its bioavailability.
The bioavailability of CBD is increased when it's taken sublingually (under the tongue), as it bypasses first-pass metabolism and enters the bloodstream directly. Like other medicines and drugs, CBD oil taken under the tongue undergoes hepatic metabolism (liver metabolism) and excretion, but the effects are slower.
Absorption rates
CBD is a fat-soluble compound, meaning that it needs fat in order to be absorbed. Therefore, taking CBD at the same time as eating a high-fat meal (or soon after) helps with CBD absorption, and you may feel the effects sooner than when using it in a fasted state (with an empty stomach). Aim for foods that contain healthy fats, such as avocado, oily fish, nuts, and seeds.
How long does it take to feel the effects?
CBD is one of over 200 compounds called cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. Cannabis products contain another cannabinoid called THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the compound responsible for the psychoactive effects of using marijuana and other cannabis products. CBD is extracted from a close relative of the cannabis plant, called hemp. Hemp-derived CBD products don't cause a high, have no psychoactive effects and aren’t addictive.
How quickly you’ll feel the effects of CBD will depend on your method of consumption. CBD oil reaches peak plasma concentration (the highest concentration in the blood) and has an effect in as little as 15-30 minutes, while CBD gummies and drinks can take 30 minutes to two hours, as they need to be digested first.
CBD vapes have an almost instantaneous effect, but vaping isn’t a recommended way to take CBD.
How long do the effects last?
The effects of CBD are felt more quickly if you take CBD oil under the tongue than eating CBD gummies, and the effects last around 6-8 hours. CBD drinks and gummies have a lower onset time, but the effects tend to last longer, up to 12 hours.
How long does CBD stay in the body?
CBD is legal in the UK, but it’s worth noting that it’s detected at different rates in different bodily fluids and tissues, and that the detection window varies depending on the type of test.
- In the blood - Blood tests for CBD are rare, as they can detect it for only up to 6 hours after taking it.
- In the urine - Urine tests can detect CBD for up to five days.
- In the hair - Hair tests, including hair follicle tests are very rare and can detect CBD for up to 90 days.
- In the saliva - CBD can be detected in saliva tests for up to 72 hours.
- In breast milk - CBD can remain in the breast milk for up to six days.
Which factors affect how long CBD stays in your system?
Like most other drugs, CBD has a terminal elimination half-life; the time required for the concentration of a drug or substance in the bloodstream to decrease by 50%. For CBD, this is on average around 2-5 days. So even though the effects wear off, CBD remains detectable in the body for a lot longer than you can feel the effects for.
How long CBD stays in your system will depend on a number of factors, including:
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Dosage - Higher doses of CBD will stay in your system longer than lower doses.
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Frequency of use - With frequent use, CBD will stay in your system longer than with occasional use.
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Method of consumption - CBD oil is designed to be used under the tongue, where it enters your bloodstream directly, providing a quicker effect than other CBD products such as drinks, gummies and other edibles. CBD gummies and drinks need to enter the digestive system before being metabolised and entering the bloodstream, so they take longer to have an effect but tend to stay in the body longer than CBD oil.
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Product type and purity - Edible CBD products tend to stay in the body longer than CBD oil taken under the tongue.
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Body fat percentage - Your body composition will also have an effect. If you have a higher percentage of fat, CBD will remain in your body for longer as it attaches to the fat cells.
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Metabolic rate - Your individual metabolism also affects how long CBD stays in your system. A faster metabolism may mean it leaves your body sooner.
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Age - Metabolism tends to slow with age, so older adults may retain CBD in their systems longer.
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Liver function - CBD is broken down into CBD metabolites by the liver enzymes before being eliminated from the body. If you have a health condition that affects liver function, it may take longer for the liver to break down CBD, meaning it stays in the body for longer.
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Overall health - Younger, healthier adults with a faster metabolic rate tend to eliminate CBD faster than older or unhealthy individuals.
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Presence of THC - THC is broken down by the same liver enzymes as CBD, so if taken together, the metabolism of CBD may be slower, and it may stay in the body for longer.
Can you flush CBD out faster?
As yet, there are no fully tested ways to flush CBD from your system more quickly than factors such as your individual metabolism, body weight and overall health will allow. However, it is thought that there are a few factors that may help:
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Exercise increases your metabolic rate, which may help to speed up the excretion of CBD from your body.
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Staying well hydrated by drinking plenty of water may help excrete CBD more quickly through the urine.
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Eating a diet rich in high-fibre fruits, vegetables, beans and pulses supports a healthy gut, better digestion and regular bowel movements, helping to eliminate CBD in the faeces.
Will CBD show up on a drug test?
CBD does not show up on a drug test because drug tests are designed to detect THC, not CBD. CBD doesn’t cause a high or have any psychoactive effects, so you won’t fail a drug test if you’ve taken CBD.
However, it’s worth keeping in mind the type of CBD contained within your chosen CBD product. There are three different types of CBD: full spectrum, broad spectrum and isolate.
Full spectrum CBD products contain all of the cannabinoids found in hemp-derived CBD, including very low amounts of THC. THC is permitted in CBD products as long as it’s at a concentration of less than 0.2%, and a maximum of 1mg in the entire packet, a level that’s very unlikely to cause a high.
Broad spectrum CBD products contain most of the cannabinoids found in hemp, with the THC removed, and CBD isolate products contain CBD alone, in its purest form. Goodrays CBD products are made using CBD isolate, so there’s no risk of THC showing up on a drug test if you decide to use them.
Daily use of a CBD product that contains full spectrum CBD might mean you receive a positive drug test result for THC metabolites if you have a drug blood test or urine test, as even though the CBD product only contains trace levels of THC, it may build up in your system.
Taking CBD when breastfeeding
There’s a lack of published research on the safety of CBD use while breastfeeding. What is understood is that CBD is fat-soluble, and since breast milk contains healthy fats, CBD can accumulate in the breast milk and be passed onto your baby. While CBD is well-tolerated by most adults, the effects in infants aren’t well understood.
Therefore, it’s advised that you avoid using CBD while breastfeeding. Because of CBD's lipophilicity (affinity for fats), it’s also advised that you don’t ‘pump and dump’ like you could after drinking alcohol, as CBD lingers in the body for longer.
Studies and research
Studies on CBD show that it can benefit people with anxiety, chronic pain and poor sleep. One study in 2024 concluded that “CBD has potential therapeutic efficacy in the treatment of anxiety disorders” and that further study would be beneficial.
A 2022 study found that “CBD is an excellent alternative to an opioid in chronic pain”, while this 2023 paper found mixed results on the benefits of CBD for insomnia, but that it has potential and further research is required.
References
Wilde, J. (2026, April 9). How long does CBD stay in your system? Unspun. https://beunspun.co.uk/blogs/news/how-long-does-cbd-stay-in-your-system
MacKinnon, L. (2025, April 30). How long does CBD take to work, and how long does it stay in your system? Releaf. https://releaf.co.uk/education/cannabis-101/cbd/factors-that-affect-how-long-cbd-stays-in-your-system
Starrenburg, F. (2026b, June 17). How cannabinoids move through the body. Bedrocan. https://bedrocan.com/how-cannabinoids-move-through-the-body/
Chayasirisobhon, S. (2020). Mechanisms of action and pharmacokinetics of cannabis. The Permanente Journal, 25(1), 1–3. https://doi.org/10.7812/tpp/19.200
FAQs
Does CBD show up on a drug test in the UK?
Drug tests have been developed to detect THC, not CBD, so CBD will not show up on a regular drug test.
How long does CBD stay in your urine?
CBD can be detected in the urine for up to five days.
Does full spectrum CBD show up on a drug test more than isolate?
Drug tests are designed to detect THC rather than CBD, so no drug test will pick up CBD. However, if you use full spectrum CBD on a regular basis, you may receive a false positive result for THC, as full spectrum CBD contains very low levels of THC (not enough to make you high, but it may build up in your system). CBD isolate products contain no THC.
How long after taking CBD is it safe to take a drug test?
CBD does not show up on a drugs test as these tests detect THC, not CBD. However, see above for the potential risk of frequent use of full spectrum CBD.
Does CBD stay in your system longer if you take it every day?
Yes, daily use of CBD helps it build up in your system, and you may notice the benefits for longer.
Can you speed up how fast CBD leaves your system?
CBD leaves the body in the urine and faeces. Factors such as staying hydrated, eating a fibre-rich diet and exercising regularly help to increase the body’s elimination processes. However, the rate at which CBD leaves your body depends primarily on your individual metabolism.
Does body weight affect how long CBD stays in your system?
Your body weight may affect how much CBD you need to feel an effect (the higher your body weight, the higher your CBD dosage may need to be). However, it’s your body fat percentage that may affect how long CBD stays in your system. It’s thought that the higher your body fat percentage, the longer CBD may linger in your fat cells.
Is CBD detectable in a hair follicle test?
Technically, yes, a hair follicle test can detect CBD for up to 90 days after last taking it, but these tests are very rare.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Please consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement, especially if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or taking other medications.
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