Why Did My THC Levels Go Up Without Any Cannabis Use?

If you’re here, you’re wondering, “how long does THC stay in your urine?” It’s an easy answer, with a complicated explanation that requires a marijuana attorney’s guidance.

Below, outline all the reasons for THC remaining in your urine.

Facing a marijuana DUI? Other drug-related charges? Unhappy with your current marijuana attorney? Request a free consultation now.

Testing Positive for THC After No Marijuana Use: How?

If you’ve been charged with a drug or alcohol related criminal offense, it’s common for the court order that the person refrain from the use of marijuana and require them to provide urine drug screens (UDS).

If the person has historically used marijuana regularly, a drug screen can show positive for THC for up to 77 days.

This is even if you stopped smoking marijuana.

This then begs the question, how does the court know that someone isn’t using marijuana in violation of their bond?

The court monitors THC-COOH levels. Therefore, they believe that as long as your THC levels are consistently decreasing, there is no marijuana use.

However, there are situations where THC levels actually go up without any marijuana use.

There are cases where a person can test completely negative with zero THC with a subsequent test detecting THC again.

If the court sees the levels go up, they may put you in jail for violating your bond or probation.

Facing a marijuana DUI? Other drug-related charges? Unhappy with your current marijuana attorney? Request a free consultation now.

The Science Behind THC Test Results

THC is only detectable in human blood for short durations.

However, as stated above, the second metabolite (THC-COOH) is detectable in urine for up to 77 days in chronic users.

You may be asking, why is the elimination period so slow?

This is because THC-COOH is “highly lipophilic” drug, which means it combines with fats or lipids.

Unlike alcohol, it’s rapidly absorbs and stores in the fat deposits of the body.

There are human conditions, such as food deprivation and stress, that are proven to speed up the elimination of THC-COOH.

On the other hand, these conditions promote “lipolysis.”

This means when the THC releases from the fat cells, it also significantly spikes in your blood levels.

Facing a marijuana DUI? Other drug-related charges? Unhappy with your current marijuana attorney? Request a free consultation now.

Cannabinoid ‘Flashback’

There is a scientifically proven phenomena known as a “cannabinoid flashback.”

This explains why someone’s THC levels can go from zero to slightly above the threshold, and back to zero within days or weeks without any additional use.

It also explains how someone’s THC levels that are steadily falling can quickly spike during frequent laboratory urine drug screens.

How to Fight a False Positive THC Result

An experienced and proven marijuana lawyer can expertly defend your marijuana DUI case or probation violation if they know the science behind it.

Facing a a DUI, Operating While Visible Impaired (OWVI), or reckless driving charges? Other drug-related charges?

Unhappy with your current marijuana attorney? Request a free consultation now.