NP Addiction Clinic Logo

How To Detox From Marijuana

Whatever your reason for detoxing from marijuana, there are a variety of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) detox methods to choose from.

Whether you are detoxing for health benefits, to pass a drug test, or as the first step to addiction recovery, understanding the best THC detox methods for you is essential.

What Is a Marijuana Detox?

A marijuana or THC detox is the process of the body clearing itself of toxic substances. To detox successfully, you must abstain from using marijuana until it is flushed from your system or unrecognizable in a drug test. Depending on your body and how heavily you’ve been consuming the substance, you may find the process of detoxing easier or harder than others.

If you heavily or frequently use marijuana, detoxing could result in some undesirable withdrawal symptoms, such as:

  • Headaches
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Decreased appetite

Natural Detoxification

The cheapest detox option is to stop taking marijuana and let your body naturally cleanse itself of THC, which is produced by the cannabis plant and is the chemical responsible for the ‘high’ felt after marijuana consumption.

For some people, a natural detox is an effective form of drug detox, especially as there are many home remedies for assisting your body in eliminating THC. If you have time and are looking for a low-cost option, then these are the best THC detox solutions for you:

  • Drinking water – The oldest and simplest of all home remedies, drinking water and keeping hydrated will help your body flush THC from its system. It will also assist you in maintaining good health. However, drinking excessive amounts of water does not enable the body to eliminate THC any faster.
  • Healthy diet – Eating a nutritious diet high in vegetables, lean meat, and vitamin-rich fruits can support the body in detoxing naturally. If you opt for a natural THC detox, avoid eating greasy foods, high-sodium meals, sugar, or fat. These food groups can increase water retention, which slows down the detox process and makes it more difficult for your body to remove THC metabolites.
  • Exercise – THC is stored in the body’s fat cells, so regular exercise is important for natural detox. Any fat-burning exercise can help to speed up the detox process. Exercise is also a great way to experience a similar feeling of joy that you may experience upon consuming marijuana as it releases endorphins.
  • Cranberry juice – While it may not work as quickly as other THC detox methods, drinking cranberry juice will make you urinate more frequently as it is a natural diuretic. This helps to flush toxins out of your body faster. If you choose this method, be aware that store-bought cranberry juice is often filled with sugar and other additives which should not be consumed in large quantities. For best results, drink about two liters of cranberry juice per day alongside about eight glasses of water, drinking the juice at equal intervals throughout the day. Fresh cranberry juice is also filled with antioxidants that are great for the skin and other organs.
  • Apple cider vinegar – Adding two spoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of water has excellent all-around health benefits and is often used as a natural THC detox method. Apple cider vinegar has antibacterial properties, which can remove THC traces from saliva and urine when drunk regularly with water in the week before a drug test. Apple cider vinegar can even remove THC traces from hair follicles when used to wash hair.
  • Lemon juice – Another low-cost and straightforward THC detox method is adding two spoons of lemon juice to a glass of water. Lemon juice has many vitamins and antioxidants, including vitamin C, making it good for flushing the body of toxins. Lemon juice is only effective for passing a urine test and usually just for casual marijuana use.

THC Detox Kits

In addition to the natural THC detox options noted above, there are a number of alternative detox methods that are popular among those who have an impending drug test and not enough time to do a natural cleanse. Detox drinks, detox pills, and detox shampoo are three popular THC detox kit options.

Detox Drinks

THC detox drinks are specially designed detox methods to help you pass a drug test. Although detox drinks do not always result in complete toxin removal, they usually cover the traces of THC in urine tests. However, they are not always beneficial if a saliva or hair follicle drug test is used.

Mega Clean detox drinks claim to help you pass a urine sample test within an hour of consumption, with effectiveness peaking at three hours. If you choose this THC detox method, you must not have consumed marijuana for forty-eight hours before starting the set of six pre-cleanse detox drink tablets and are encouraged to drink plenty of water in addition.

Detox Pills

Detox pills are another effective way of passing a drug test. Toxin Rid, for example, is a popular detox method designed for people who have consumed large amounts of marijuana.

Toxin Rid’s five-day program suggests taking fifteen detox pills that contain a powerful formula daily. These detox pills work by eliminating the toxins of drugs from the body.

It is important to stop consuming any THC and refrain from heavy exercise if using detox pills, as doing so can slow detoxification. Toxin Rid offers a money-back guarantee on their detox kits for urine, saliva, and blood drug tests.

Detox Shampoo

Hair follicle drug tests can be the most difficult to pass as THC remains in hair follicles for the longest time. Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo is a popular detox shampoo for removing THC compounds from the hair. You should begin using the shampoo regularly at least ten days before the drug test for best results.

Whatever THC detox methods you choose, talk to a health care professional before starting a detox program, especially if using detox kits.

THC Drug Tests

THC stays in the body for a prolonged period compared to the chemicals in other drugs. The length of time marijuana can be detected in a drug test depends on the regularity and dose of consumption and testing method.

Even though marijuana is becoming more accepted for medical and recreational use in the US, it is still looked for in specific drug tests. Knowing how much time you need to detox completely is essential if you are detoxing to pass a drug test for work.

Below are some standard drug test methods.

Urine Drug Tests

A urine test will be taken for testing when a urine drug test is carried out. As well as highlighting whether marijuana has been used, a urine sample can test for drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines.

If you have an upcoming urine test, the length of time to detox depends on your consumption of marijuana. THC will show up in the urine test after one and three days on average when casually consumed. For moderate use, THC can be detected seven to twenty-one days after use. Meanwhile, heavy users can fail a urine test up to forty-five days after consuming marijuana.

Saliva Tests

Saliva tests are cheap, and the results are almost immediate. A mouth swab can show if you have used drugs in the previous three to twenty-four hours. However, this window could be more significant if you frequently take marijuana and have done so for a long time.

Blood Tests

A blood test is the most accurate way of detecting whether a person has taken marijuana one to two days after consumption. However, THC levels have been detected beyond twenty-five days in rare cases.

As with the other tests, regular substantial doses of marijuana increase the time it can be detected in the blood.

Hair Follicle Drug Test

Hair follicle drug tests have the largest detection window provided by any drug test. As a result, THC remains detectable for up to ninety days after consumption. During testing, hair follicles are removed and taken to a lab. However, a hair test requires a person to have at least an inch of hair and takes much longer than the other tests to show results.

To Conclude

There are many ways to detox from marijuana. However, the best THC detox methods for you will depend on how much of the drug you use and how often.

If you wonder how to detox from marijuana, it may be in your best interest to contact a detox provider or complete a detox program.

Begin the first day of the rest of your life

To find out more contact our team

RELATED ARTICLES

Samantha Kelly​

Director of National Business Development & Admissions Coordinator

I am a dedicated and passionate professional with extensive experience in business development Admissions and marketing. I have an incredible passion for showing others that there is a light at the end of this dark tunnel if someone truly wants it.
Being in recovery myself I understand the struggles of addiction and alcoholism. I Started this Career path in 2009. With multiple years of experience, I bring a multi-faceted approach and am always seeking new ways to make a difference in the lives of those I work with.

Kim L. Buckner

Facilitator

As a Substance Abuse Motivational Speaker, Pastor, Peer Advocate, and Facilitator. Kim helps clients avoid relapse by understanding their triggers. Those people, places and things that can cause craving, as well as internal triggers like feelings, thoughts, or emotions. Kim also clients with identifying and building healthy relationships now that they’re clean and sober.

Kim’s background includes extensive experience as a motivational speaker and work in faith-based organizations helping youth and adults alike. He says he is motivated by giving back to the community, understanding, and not judging who she comes into contact with. Kim’s favorite quote is by Dr. Raymond Johnson: “The respect given to others rebounds to the giver to deny the scared in the Other is to deny it in oneself.”

Caty Burns

Clinician

Caty graduated from Indiana University Bloomington in 2015 with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and minors in Counseling and History. Throughout her undergrad, she worked at the local CASA program, supporting volunteers advocating for children who had experienced abuse and neglect. Caty worked for seven years at a community mental health center (CMHC), partnering with children, adults, and families.

During those seven years, she taught life and coping skills as well as behavior management, provided case management and peer recovery services, and facilitated treatment teams that included the client, family, providers, and community members. I have also worked at an IOP providing group therapy services. She is currently working towards my Master of Social Work.

In her free time, Caty enjoys reading, especially historical fiction, spending time outdoors and having movie nights with her family. Disney World is her happy place, and she dreams of living among the elephants.

Madison Knowles

Mental Health Therapist

My name is Madison Knowles, I am a Mental health therapist at NPAC. I am a single-mother of two and I have a daughter who is globally delayed and has been diagnosed with autism. I have been in this industry since I was 16 years old, as I was fascinated with human behavior. I obtained my masters in applied behavioral analysis and started off working with people with disabilities. I then found my love for counseling when I worked with juveniles who had mental health and substance use issues. I then decided to go back for my mental health therapy license after that and working in a forensic treatment center. I went on to obtain my therapy credentials and since 2017, I have also been working on my PhD in forensic psychology in which I am currently working on my dissertation. I am inspired by change and how resilient people can be. My favorite inspirational quote is “Some will, Some won’t, So what, NEXT!!!” This quote has inspired me to try, try, and try again no matter how hard life gets, someone will give you a chance eventually. As a therapist at NPAC, I have been given the opportunity to work with diverse populations such as in substance use and mental health and I am known for my work with people on the schizophrenic spectrum as well as with other clients with other severe conditions including personality disorders.

Megan Carmona, LMHC

Lead Therapist

Our Lead Therapist, Megan, is a bilingual Licensed Mental Health Counselor who specializes in working with adults who struggle with addiction, anxiety, depression, and trauma. As Lead Therapist, she provides individual, family, and group therapy sessions to our clients.  Megan says “I am very passionate about therapy, especially about supporting my clients in exploring their strengths and identity. My goal is to provide individuals with the tools that can help them achieve independence in coping with their challenges and facilitating personal development.” In her free time, Megan enjoys watching docu-series and playing video games with her family. Her dream is to own acres of land so she can care for vulnerable animals, especially old dogs, cats, and horses. 

Kristen Bensley

Primary Clinician

As Primary Clinician, Kristen works with all aspects of our clinical team, from case management to primary therapy.  She has broad experience working in the mental health field. Prior to joining our team at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic, Kristen was part of the team awarded the Evernorth Behavioral Health Center of Excellence Designation by Cigna. She says her motivation is to help people rediscover who they are and become excited about the future and all the possibilities life offers. Kristen’s favorite quote is: “You can’t go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending.”

Ronn Daigle, MSW

Therapist, Utilization Review Clinician

Ronn Daigle services as a Therapist and Utilization Review Clinician at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has been working in the field of substance use disorder treatment since 2011, with experience in all facility-based levels of care. Ronn earned, both an Associate of Arts in Psychology (2013) and Bachelor of Science in Human Services, with an Addiction Studies Concentration (2015) from Indian River State College. 

Ronn additionally earned a Master of Social Work degree in 2021 and is a current Registered Clinical Social Work Intern working toward licensure (LCSW). He describes himself as detail oriented, and solution focused.

Ronn says: “There is nothing more fulfilling than working with someone who doesn’t believe in himself or herself, and being there in the moment with them when the belief begins. We work with individuals who come to us at a point and time in their respective lives where they do not believe that change for others is possible; let alone for themselves…throughout the process they eventually come to a point where they realize that change is not only possible, but achievable.”

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI

Assistant Clinical Director

Erika Melecio, LMHC, MCAP, CEI is the Assistant Clinical Director at Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic who specializes in the treatment of LGBTQ, addiction, as well as mental health disorders ranging from depression and anxiety, to Bipolar Disorder, trauma, personality disorders, psychotic disorders, and eating disorders. Erika utilizes a number of modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, and Mindfulness amongst others. Erika has been in practice for close to a decade and has earned her license in Mental Health Counseling, as well as being a Master’s Certified Addiction Professional. Erika has worked with many individuals including couples counseling and family therapy, and is fluent in Spanish.
 
Throughout my years of practice, one of the things I enjoy helping people find is inner peace. Whether you are in the deepest parts of depression, overrun by your anxiety, controlled by your addiction, or there are certain issues in your life that are negatively impacting your ability to function, and have a happy, healthy life, maybe now is the time to talk about it. I am a big believer in empowerment, working hard in therapy, and utilizing different techniques to help you regain that inner peace that may have been lost along the way. I want to work with you as a team because with two people, absolutely everything is possible. I want to be there as a therapist, to help build you up, support you, but also help you be honest with yourself and accountable. At the end of the day, when all is said and done, my biggest goal for you is going to be simple….for you to no longer need my services. Why? Because if you no longer need my services, it means that you have regained your peace, you have regained your strength, you have regained your confidence. It means that you now have the tools to address any issues that try to derail you, and best of all, you will have the insight to overcome and thrive. So let’s begin this journey together, and get you to the place you want to be, emotionally, mentally, psychologically, and in your sobriety.

Aurelio Ayuso, MSW, LCSW, CAP, ICADC

Clinical Director

Aurelio has worked with those that suffer from the disease of addiction in adults and juveniles alike for over 10 years, beginning in the United States Navy where he proudly served for 20 years, working with those that were succumbed by addiction due to trauma and continuing his passion for helping those in need locally in Central Florida.

He specializes in both Addictions and Trauma, he has worked first as a therapist then as the clinical supervisor to both the Juvenile and Adult Drug Court programs in Brevard County. Aurelio has been instrumental in developing substance abuse treatment programs directly tailored to help those that also suffer from complex trauma due to their addiction. He has been recognized by several organizations for his forward thinking and ability to tailor treatment to individuals in the most restrictive environments.

Mr. Ayuso received his Graduate Degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Central Florida in Orlando. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker as well as Certified Addictions Professional in the State of Florida, and Internationally Certified Alcohol & Drug Counselor. Aurelio specializes in the treatment of Addiction, Trauma, and Abandonment using strength based strategies deeply rooted in Solution Focused, and Mindfulness Therapies. At the Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic he passionately develops holistic curriculums that foster the belief that through addressing the mind, body, and spirit together, the Disease of Addiction can be addressed successfully.

Robert Lehmann, MHSA

Chief Operating Officer

Bob Lehmann is the Chief Operating Officer at the Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic. He has a Master’s Degree in Human Services Administration with a concentration in Mental Health Administration and over twenty-five years of experience as a senior executive at addiction and mental health treatment facilities.

One of the reasons for his commitment to excellence in addiction treatment was his experience related to family members who suffered from the disease of addiction. Bob has been actively involved in community organizations throughout his career. Recently he was one of the founders of the Florida Addiction Treatment Coalition (FATC) and is its present Vice President. FATC was designed to bring together treatment executives in Florida to advocate on behalf of treatment facilities and the clients they serve adhering to a foundation of integrity and service excellence.

Jose R. Toledo, M.D.

Medical Director

A well-rounded and accomplished individual, Jose R. Toledo, M.D., is the Medical Director of Neuro Psychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a neurologist with 25 years of experience and has been in private practice since 1991 on the Treasure Coast of Florida. He completed his neurology training at the State University of New York and his Fellowship training at the University of Pittsburgh in Epilepsy and Clinical Neurophysiology.

He also completed 24 months of acute inpatient psychiatry at the Western Missouri Mental Health Center, University of Missouri in Kansas City. In 2008, Dr. Toledo participated in and was certified in the continuing medical education activity entitled “Buprenorphine and Office-Based Treatment of Opioid Dependence” from The Medical University of South Carolina during which began his quest to found and head Neuropsychiatric Addiction Clinic.

Dr. Toledo is a brain specialist with particular competence in addiction medicine and out-patient detoxification treatment and integrates the fields seamlessly. He is certified to prescribe Buprenorphine (Suboxone). He incorporates his background in neurology into the addiction field. Dr. Toledo is member/fellow of The American Medical Association, The Florida Medical Association and The American Society of Addiction Medicine