What is Marijuana (Cannabis) Blood test?
Marijuana blood test is performed to check for the active ingredients of marijuana in the blood of a person.
Marijuana (cannabis) is a plant that is widely grown in different parts of the world. It produces psychoactive substances called cannabinoids and is most commonly abused for its effects on the brain. The two main active cannabinoids in cannabis are delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (delta-9-THC) and cannabidiol. Both these have almost similar effects on the body. Though THC is a major component of marijuana.
The amount of THC in the body can thus point to marijuana abuse.
However, THC levels in the blood depend on the route and dose of use. For example, in case of smoked marijuana, THC peaks rapidly in the first few minutes of inhaling. High levels indicate that the person has used marijuana recently. Low but detectable levels may persist for hours in one-time users and for days in long-term users.
A marijuana blood test can also detect other cannabinoids such as cannabigerol or cannabinol.