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Both medical and recreational marijuana are now legal in Missouri, and thousands of residents are already reaping the benefits. It is extremely beneficial to have your medical card in a recreational state. If you don’t already have yours, give us a call!
You probably already know that THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana and that it is responsible for the feeling of being “high”. If you are using cannabis for medicinal or recreational purposes, you should understand how it works.
So how and where is THC metabolized? How does it run through our bodies? In this blog, we will discuss the half life and metabolization of marijuana.
What Is a Half Life?
The half life of any given substance is a measure of how long it takes for the active ingredients in the drug to be reduced in your body by half. In the case of cannabis, we’re talking about THC.
The half life of cannabis can be affected by many factors including how frequent you use marijuana and your percentage of body fat. Half lives are helpful in that they can help us understand withdrawal symptoms and accurately prescribe medications.
The half life of THC for those who use cannabis infrequently is about 1.3 days, but heavy users experience a half life of 5-13 days. People with high metabolisms can process THC much faster than others as well.
How Is THC Metabolized?
THC can be metabolized in different ways depending on factors such as the delivery methods and when you last ate. When you smoke, the THC in your cannabis enters your bloodstream through your lungs which is why smoking has such an early onset of effects.
It is estimated that around 65% of cannabinoids are typically excreted in bowel movements and 20% is excreted in urine.
When smoked, THC is metabolized mainly by enzymes in our liver. However, genetic markers in people can cause liver enzymes to function differently, which is part of the reason why cannabis affects everyone differently.
When a person takes an edible, the metabolization process happens a bit differently. Instead of the THC going directly into the bloodstream, it must first pass through our digestive system.
The Bottom Line
If you are using marijuana, it is very important to understand how THC affects your body. Educating yourself on all things marijuana is highly beneficial so you know what to expect if you use it frequently.
Get Your Medical Marijuana Card in Missouri
Although marijuana is now legal recreationally in Missouri, you should still get your medical card.
There are so many benefits to having your medical marijuana card in a recreational state, including being responsible for less in taxes, saving at dispensaries, and higher possession laws.
If you don’t already have your medical marijuana card, we can help! Our doctors are standing by to take you through a quick and easy evaluation to see if you qualify. During your evaluation, they will be happy to answer all your questions about how cannabis may be able to help with your anxiety or any other medical conditions.
Schedule an appointment with a marijuana professional online or by giving us a call at
(877) 303-3117 to talk to a patient support representative.
Doctors Who Care.
Relief You Can Trust.
At Missouri Marijuana Card, our mission is to help everyone achieve wellness safely and conveniently through increased access to medical marijuana. Our focus on education, inclusion, and acceptance will reduce the stigma for our patients by providing equal access to timely information and compassionate care.
Call us at (877) 303-3117, or simply book a medical marijuana evaluation to start getting the relief you can trust today!
Check out Missouri Marijuana Card’s Blog to keep up to date on the latest medical marijuana news, tips, and information.
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