Table of Contents
- What Are THC Drinks and How Do They Work in the Body?
- How Drug Tests Detect THC from Drinks
- Factors Affecting THC Detection After Drinking
- Can THC Drinks Make You Fail a Drug Test?
- How to Reduce THC Levels Before a Drug Test
- Final Thoughts on THC Drinks and Drug Tests
Key Takeaways
- Low-dose THC drinks may mean mellow effects, but they’re still detectable on drug tests.
- Drug tests look for THC metabolites, so it really doesn’t matter how you consume.
- Detection windows vary depending on the type of test, personal factors like body composition and metabolism, and how frequently you consume.
- The only reliable detox is time, but you can support your body’s natural detox system while you wait.
THC drinks are taking the social scene by storm. These cannabis-infused beverages contain tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive cannabinoid in cannabis, and they’re typically fizzy and refreshing. While you can find all kinds of variations, THC seltzers in particular are becoming a popular alternative to alcohol (bonus: no hangover!). But it has people wondering, do THC drinks show up on drug tests? If you’re looking for the facts before you partake, you’re in the right place. And hey, way to be responsible!
What Are THC Drinks and How Do They Work in the Body?
Let’s start with the basics. THC drinks are simply beverages infused with THC. It’s one of some 100 identified cannabinoids ( 1 ) in the cannabis plant, but it’s probably the most famous—the one responsible for the “high” that’s long been associated with marijuana. In low doses, which is what you get with most THC beverages, THC has mild euphoric, relaxing, and stress-relieving effects for most people. But how, exactly, do they work? We’re so glad you asked!
How THC from Drinks Is Processed
Technically, THC drinks fall into the cannabis edibles category. But unlike traditional edibles, which are well-known for their potent, delayed, and long-lasting effects, THC drinks operate on a different timeline.
Liquids are absorbed faster than solids, and many cannabis-infused beverages are made with nanoemulsion technology. It breaks down THC into minuscule particles that dissolve into the liquid and begin absorbing sublingually as you sip. That means effects are noticeable far sooner.
In the case of Cornbread Hemp THC Seltzers , effects kick in roughly 10 to 15 minutes after you start sipping. Compare that to traditional edibles, which take their sweet time meandering through your digestive system before the THC is ultimately metabolized in the liver. There, it’s converted to 11-hydroxy-THC. It’s a stronger compound that leads to stronger, longer-lasting effects. But the whole process can take upwards of two hours.
THC beverages don’t generally hit as hard, partly because less THC makes it to the liver for this conversion process. It makes for a milder, more controlled experience.
THC Content in Popular Cannabis Beverages
THC beverages are designed to be enjoyable and pretty mellow overall, so dosing is usually on the lower end. Most cannabis-infused beverages have between 2.5 and 5 milligrams of THC, which is considered a microdose or “sessionable” amount. It’s an appropriate dose for THC beginners and those who plan to stack servings over the course of an evening.
Cornbread Hemp THC Seltzers, for instance, have 5 milligrams of THC per can, so you can tailor effects to your personal tolerance level and the experience you’re going for. A single can takes the edge off for a mellow state of mind, while two cans give you a little extra lift if you want to be sociable. Three cans, intended for more experienced cannabis consumers, will leave you feeling fully relaxed.
How Drug Tests Detect THC from Drinks
The effects of a THC drink may wear off in a few hours, but THC metabolites remain—at least for a little while. These byproducts, primarily THC-COOH, are made when your body breaks down the THC itself.
THC Metabolites and Detection Methods
Metabolites are inactive, so they don’t make you feel high, but they linger in fat cells, the bloodstream, and even your urine long after THC’s effects have worn off. If you’re given a drug test, it’s usually checking for the presence of these metabolites through urine, blood, saliva, or hair follicles.
Quick note here: however you consume THC, whether it’s a beverage or a gummy or smoking, it’s eventually processed into the same metabolites–and THC-COOH is the big one. So drug tests don’t distinguish between how you consume. They only confirm that you did, somehow, consume THC.
How Long Do THC Drinks Stay in Your System?
Good question! We’ll preface this by noting these are all approximations ( 2 ), so actual timeframes can and do vary. Consider this a useful guideline, not an absolute.
Urine test
This is the most common screening test. Sip a cannabis-infused beverage, and THC metabolites can be found in your urine between three and seven days. If you’re regularly consuming cannabis in any form, that timeframe can extend up to four weeks or even longer.
Blood test
In your blood, THC can be detected in a test just a few hours after consuming, so they’re often used to confirm active THC. Depending on your metabolism and how much you consumed, they can also flag positive for up to about two days.
Saliva test
This type of test is common on roadside checks (remember, no sipping and driving!). After enjoying a THC drink, THC is detectable in your saliva up to 24 to 72 hours later. But the amount of THC you ingested, and the speed of your metabolism, play a role here.
Hair follicle test
This is where THC can be detected for the longest period, up to about 90 days. That’s because trace amounts of THC actually become embedded in the follicle, so it’s there as hair grows.
Factors Affecting THC Detection After Drinking
So, what’s going on behind the scenes that means THC detection windows vary so widely? As with cannabis consumption in general, there are a few things in play.
Dosage and THC Concentration in the Drink
The more THC you consume, the more metabolites you make, and the longer it takes for your body to fully clear. If you limit your consumption to a low-dose THC beverage now and then, you’re probably going to be able to break down relatively quickly, especially compared to someone who knocks back a few high-dose gummies, for instance. It makes sense—smaller dose, less THC to manage.
Frequency of Use
The same goes for people who only consume cannabis occasionally. THC metabolites accumulate in fat cells over time with daily or heavy use, resulting in much longer detection windows. If you sip on a THC seltzer now and then, that window shrinks pretty considerably.
Body Weight, Metabolism, and Hydration
Body weight (and specifically body composition) and metabolism are the wild cards here—they’re why everyone processes THC a little differently. If you have a speedy metabolism and low body fat, you’re more efficient at clearing metabolites.
The reverse is also true—a slower metabolism and a higher body fat percentage mean those metabolites hang out longer, which means a longer detection window on tests.
It surprises people, but hydration level can also play a role here. Despite popular opinion, guzzling a bunch of water won’t magically flush away THC metabolites. But the body runs best when it’s optimally hydrated, including its elimination processes. In other words, drink that water!
Can THC Drinks Make You Fail a Drug Test?
Well, yes. Any amount of THC, however you consume it, can lead to a positive drug test. And that’s the case even with federally compliant THC drinks, which must be derived from hemp and contain no more than 0.3% THC. Even that small percentage amounts to measurable THC that your body will metabolize.
Risk of Testing Positive After Drinking THC Beverages
If you drink a THC seltzer or any cannabis-infused beverage, you could definitely test positive. How big is the risk? It depends on the potency of the drink—how much THC it contains—how often you consume THC, and those wild cards—your metabolism and body composition.
Are There THC Drinks That Won’t Show Up on a Drug Test?
Actually, yes. Well, technically. THC-free beverages, made with broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate, shouldn’t trigger a positive test result. But even some THC-free products can contain trace amounts of THC, so be warned!
Can THC Drinks Cause a False Positive?
No. If you drink a THC drink and then get a positive test result, it’s not a false positive—it’s accurately flagging the THC in your system. A false positive would occur if you hadn’t consumed any THC at all, in any way, and still managed to test positive. That might be due to a lab error or a medication. It’s rare, but it’s not impossible.
How to Reduce THC Levels Before a Drug Test
There’s really no immediate fix here—you can't cheat drug tests. But you can do your best to support your body’s natural detox system. That basically comes down to staying hydrated, getting a little exercise, eating foods high in fiber and antioxidants, and prioritizing high-quality sleep.
Don’t drink gallons of water—remember, you can’t successfully flush your system—and don’t fall for “detox drinks,” which don’t have strong scientific evidence. The same is true if you’re trying to sweat it out in a sauna. Really, the best approach here is to stop consuming THC in any form and give your body time to do its thing.
Time Needed to Fully Clear THC from the Body
Again, it varies. For occasional users, THC metabolites could be gone in just a few days or up to a week. For heavy or frequent consumers, it could be up to a month. The big exception here is the hair follicle test, which can detect THC for up to 90 days.
Final Thoughts on THC Drinks and Drug Tests
THC drinks are designed to offer a milder experience, but don’t assume they won’t show up on a drug test. Your body breaks them down into the same metabolites, and they linger long after the buzz has faded. Be mindful of typical detection windows for different drug tests, and if in doubt, skip the THC altogether.