Drug Testing

Do THC Detox Drinks Work?

October 19, 2016

You’ve been invited for a job interview. You suspect that a urine test will be taken. Yet, you use cannabis on a regular basis or have imbibed in it within the last few days.

How can you erase or “cleanse” any traces of marijuana in your system in time to pass the drug test?

Table of Contents

Drug Tests: A Quick Rundown

Drug tests are more common than you think: According to the American Management Association (AMA),

Over 61% of companies surveyed use or plan to use urine tests.
Over 52% of all businesses use workplace drug tests to make decisions regarding an applicant.

THC Detox Drinks

The popular hoopla over “THC detox drinks” stems from a larger, public fascination with products that “cleanse” your system. These substances are promoted by

Hollywood stars
Health food stores and
Alternative medicine practitioners

Having celebrities support the substance gave them credibility and legitimacy. But are “detox drinks” (particularly THC detox drinks) for real?

The Detox Myth

Unfortunately, the cannabis community is rife with myths and misunderstandings regarding “detoxification.” Be aware of the following:

When you “detox” from cannabis, the best you can do is treat symptoms of withdrawal, but you cannot increase the rate at which the body eliminates traces of marijuana.
Any supplement, cannabis detox kit, or THC detox drink promising to “cleanse” your system is making a false claim.
Read: “Detoxing” is not supported by any scientific literature. In fact, the scientific community views “cleansing” and “detoxing” as silly, unsupported fads with no clinical basis.
- The same applies to popular urban legends about lemon juice, cranberry juice, pickle juice, and wheatgrass. All of these substances may help the body in a variety of different ways, but not with “detoxing.”
THC stays in your system longer than many other substances because THC is fat soluble, i.e. it will be stored — in the fatty tissues of your body — for an extended period of time. Once settled, the THC is only slowly released into your urine. It can take anywhere from 3-12 months for your body to discharge it.
In fact, the body detoxes itself — constantly: The liver, the kidneys, the spleen, the immune system, and the gastro-intestinal tract are forever at work. Your body is constantly bombarded by toxins in your food and your environment. The notion that you can somehow purify yourself of all toxins by simply drinking some lemon water or a bottled “THC detox drink” is nothing more than marketing chic (and no, this is NOT an endorsement of “Big Pharma!”).
The best “detox” method is two-fold: Avoid marijuana and stay hydrated. Your body will do the rest — over time.

THC Detox Drinks: A Reality Check

Do detox drinks work? Yes — and no. Such products “work” only by contributing — along with supplemental amounts of water — to the overall dilution of any substance in your kidneys to an acceptable, low-enough threshold to pass the drug test.

Again, THC detox drinks do NOT rid the body of THC.

Oftentimes THC detox drinks (Which can cost $30-$70 a serving) are nothing more than bottled water with added B-vitamins. Tap water and Gatorade will have the same, exact effect: ALL liquids contribute to the dilution process. . .
Permanent Cleansers – Unlike detox drinks you ACTUALLY CAN rid your body of THC for real using permanent detox products that completely flush your urine and blood of drugs permanently. Sites like PassYourTest.com off a range of programs depending on your toxins level and include THC home testing kits with your order so you can test yourself when you are done with their program.
Drinking water — while the best, possible means of flushing’your system — is not an end in itself: Too much water may lead to diluted levels of naturally-occurring chemicals in your pee, such as creatinine, which can raise a yellow flag (no pun intended) in any urine test.
Detox drinks contain Niacin and other B vitamins which, indeed, your body uses to help rid itself of toxins. However, too much is a bad thing: Excessive amounts of these nutrients can cause peptic ulcers, hyperglycemia, gout, numbness, memory problems, and headaches.
Many THC detox drinks also contain large amounts of caffeine, nitrates, and gluterahyde — all of which can be detected.
Remember: Urine tests are considerably more sophisticated today than they were 30-40 years ago, when many “detox myths” were born. . .

Want to “Detox?” Here’s What to Do

Drink plenty of liquids and get enough fiber to keep your digestive system regular. The only thing so-called “lemon detox” or “master cleanse” products (or diets) do is deprive your body of necessary nutrients.
Exercise — on a regular basis — will help eliminate THC, because sweating breaks down fat cells where THC is stored. But keep in mind that exercise should be considered but one part of a multi-faceted approach.

Remember: When it comes to THC levels — and the amount of time they remain in the body — there is a BIG difference between a chronic user and a person who smoked a joint on a single occasion.

Conclusion

Unfortunately, the cannabis community is struggling with its own brand of urban legend — the “Myth of the THC Detox Drink.” Don’t be taken in by slick marketing schemes or fancy labels. Do your homework. . .

Be smart. Be safe. And enjoy!

NOTE: This article does not constitute, or in any way offer or advocate, medical advice. Leafbuyer, LLC, its employees, and its agents assume no responsibility or liability for the information contained herein. The content of this article is meant for informational purposes only. Readers in need of medical advice should consult with a physician.