Cannabis enthusiasts swim in a sea of options when shopping for fun ways to consume their favorite cannabinoids. Perhaps one of the most popular methods is the use of a wax pen. These small vessels are similar to vape cartridges, but offer the user more control and variety in choice of concentrate. Add any kind of shatter, sugar wax, live resin, budder, or rosin you like into the heating chamber, and it vaporizes just like a small, personal dab rig.
Wax pens are convenient and discreet and can pack a punch. But, with so much THC available per puff, have you ever wondered how much THC you’re inhaling? How long does a wax pen stay in your system?
While this question may not arise unless you need to pass a drug test, read on to learn more about the body’s ability to detox from a wax pen and what determines the detection time.
Factors to Consider
Each person will metabolize THC a little differently. Although no two bodies are alike, some common factors play a role in how quickly the body can metabolize and flush THC.
High Concentration of Vape Oil or Wax
One of the primary draws of using wax pens is the ability to change oils frequently. Every time you smoke, you can try out a new kind of wax. Cannabis concentrates will likely have varying test results, with THC percentages ranging from 40% to over 80%. Smoking wax results in a more potent high with fewer hits in comparison to smoking flower in a bowl or a joint. This is the appeal of vaping wax, especially for those with a high tolerance or anyone who requires hefty doses for therapeutic purposes. However, the higher the THC, the more THC that the body will need to break down.
How Often You Vape or Use the Wax Pen
Above all, the frequency of use may play the most prominent role. With consistent and frequent use, the body builds up a concentration of cannabinoids that reside in layers of fat cells in the body. For first-time smokers, their bodies will break down the THC and flush it out pretty quickly. But, for the chronic smoker who seems to always have the pen handy, it may take several weeks to rid the body of THC fully. This formula is pretty simple — the more frequently you vape, the longer it will take to detox fully.
Your BMI and Health Factors
Weight plays a big role in detox time. For overweight and obese smokers, passing a THC drug test becomes more difficult. This is because the body stores THC metabolites in fat cells, and for a person with a higher Body Mass Index (BMI), there are more places for the THC to linger. These metabolites are harder to remove as they become embedded in layers of fat cells, and you must actively burn the fat to release the metabolites.
Additionally, overall health plays a role in detox and detection time. People with a high metabolism will likely detox faster, and those that are plenty hydrated. Since THC flushes out of the body via urine, drinking plenty of fluids and urinating frequently speeds up the detox process.
How Long Does a Wax Pen Stay in Your System
In addition to the above factors, the type of THC test used is an important consideration. Most standard THC tests are urinalysis, and as a general rule, THC is detectable in urine for up to 30 days for frequent users. This applies to regular users who moderately to heavily consume cannabis. However, again, remember that factors such as weight and overall health contribute to this timeline.
Blood tests, although uncommon, detect THC for a few hours up to 24 hours. Saliva testing will detect THC for up to 24 hours, although some advanced tests can extend that window to 72 hours. Of all the options, hair follicle testing has the longest detection time at 90 days.
If you take only a few hits off of a vape pen, expect to purge the THC from your system in as little as a few days up to one week. However, if vaping or dabbing is a part of your daily routine, it’s best to allow yourself at least 30 days off of cannabis if you need to have a THC-free drug test.
Final Thoughts
There are plenty of ways to help your body detox in case you might be facing a drug test. Several companies make detox products that help speed up the process. Some work within 24 hours in the unfortunate event that you find yourself up against a surprise drug test. Most importantly, remember that the more you use higher concentrations of THC, the longer it will take. Drink plenty of water, get some exercise to boost your metabolism, and stop use immediately if you believe a test is on the horizon.
