What is a weed detox and should I try it?

The calendar says it’s spring, which means it’s as good a time as any to clean out that cluttered custom of chaos you call a kitchen cabinet. And while spring-cleaning a long-avoided physical space can seem as healing as a $120/hour therapy session, cleansing your insides from THC might be the real secret to feeling fully restored and refreshed this season.

If hoping to reset your system, consider what a THC detox is and what will—and won’t—work.

 

Huh? Why would I “detox” from weed in the first place?

Everyone will have a different reason and a different take, of course. But a tolerance break—abstaining from using cannabis anywhere from a few days to several weeks—could add a spark to your future relationship with weed. Starting anew can reset tolerance, improving future highs should you choose to start using again.

Some people may view it as recharging a relationship. Think of it like surprising your lover with tickets to a choice concert, having an amazing time enjoying live music together and rekindling that spark, which reminds you both how much you enjoy each other’s terrible dance moves (and company). Some might have upcoming travel to a country where cannabis is illegal. Others could be facing a work- or court-ordered drug test. And others still might simply be curious to know what their system feels like completely THC-free.

What are the most effective ways to detox?

There are several at-home remedies that appear obligingly after Googling, “how to detox from weed quickly.” This list often includes common household items such as apple cider vinegar, lemon water, cranberry juice and excessive water consumption to “flush out” the THC. Of course, there’s a catch: no science to back up any of the claims being made.

If hoping to reset your system, consider what a THC detox is and what will and won’t work.

The most effective way to detox from cannabis—as it happens, also the most time-consuming and least sexy—is to abstain. That’s it: ditch the pipe or vape or whatever the preferred method is and let your body replenish itself naturally, by simply not indulging.

THC can be detected in the system from three to 30-plus days, depending on how often a person consumes. Moderate use (say, four times a week) can take five to seven days for THC to leave the body, while chronic heavy use (more than once daily) can take a month or more, reports the Mayo Clinic.

Because the body stores THC in fat cells, exercise is thought to positively impact the process, but research in 2014 found no correlation between exercise and a decrease in THC levels. Keeping hydrated is good for overall health, but it won’t magically rid the body of all evidence of cannabis use.

What about weed detox drinks and pills?

There’s a whole market for weed detox kits. Most commonly, these kits are sold as a liquid that a person drinks or a pill that’s swallowed, and include ingredients like psyllium husk (a known natural laxative) and bentonite clay or activated charcoal to absorb toxins. Again, however, the efficacy of these products hasn’t been proven by any reputable science…at least not yet. Some companies selling detox products have done independent research to support their claims, but those should be taken with a grain of salt.

What is known is that there is some risk in using any over-the-counter product without consulting a medical practitioner first. In a 2011 report published in Primary Care Companion for Central Nervous System Disorders, it was reported a 19-year-old man suffered from psychosis after using a detox kit for cannabis. And health authorities such as the Johns Hopkins Hospital and its research facility in Maryland caution against detox products, period.

So, buyer beware. If a product is promising quick results, proceed with caution and absolutely chat with your doctor before starting any new program.

If serious about a detox, but struggle to stay sober on your own, a medical clinic that specializes in detoxing from cannabis may be helpful. These places create safe spaces and can be effective, especially if relapse has occurred in the past.

If unsure where to start, the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction has a comprehensive list of helplines in Canada.

 

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