How Long Can You Expect to Reap the Benefits of a Dose of CBD? An Expert Breaks It Down

While more research is needed to determine its exact benefits, cannabidiol (or CBD oil) has become increasingly popular for treating ailments ranging from headaches and nausea to anxiety and sleeplessness. But knowing exactly how long CBD remains in your system can help ensure you're using it safely and effectively.

"CBD may remain biologically active up to 32 hours — probably less, but let's assume conservatively. This is assuming you have a single administration," Abraham Al-Ahmad, PhD, an assistant professor in the Jerry D. Hodge School of Pharmacy at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Centre, told POPSUGAR. Research backs this up, suggesting that a single dose will remain in the body for one to two days when taken by mouth. "If you administer another dose within this time period, you will peak at a higher concentration," Dr. Al-Ahmad said.

It's important to work with your doctor to determine how much CBD you should take and how often in order to manage your symptoms without overdoing it. (There's no universal recommendation when it comes to dosage.) Your doctor can also help ensure that CBD won't interfere with any medications you're taking.

If you're more concerned that CBD could potentially show up on a drug test, you can rest assured that's unlikely to be the case. Tetrahydrocannabinol (or THC) is the chemical in cannabis that produces a high; according to Al-Ahmad, you shouldn't have a positive drug test if your CBD oil is high in purity — ideally, 99 percent or higher — and contains very little to no THC. While CBD is safe, "be aware that not all CBD oils are equal, and we have a very important disparity in the quality in the products," Dr. Al-Ahmad said. When in doubt, discuss your options with your doctor.