I was just wondering how long signs of weed lasted in bone marrow. One of my freinds was an occasional pot smoker in high school, and now he is looking for a job to co-op with at college. Anyway, the CIA has been really interested in him, but he heard that they take bone marrow tests to check for drugs. Anyway, how long does pot last in bone marrow?
Sounds like a UL to me. Taking bone marrow is a highly painful process with very little margin for error, as I understand it. Unless the CIA has a standing agreement with Walter Reed Hospital, I seriously doubt they perform such a test on potential applicants.
On the surface of it it doesn’t seem like THC can get into bone marrow, since my understanding is that marrow, being blood cells in the making, generally head outward while nothing gets in. I’m a Russian major, not a doctor, however; so I hope our illustrious Qadgop steps in for a moment soon.
of course stuff goes in. If nothing went in, nothing could come out. The developing cells in the bone marrow need oxygen and nutrition too, which is brought in by the bloodstream, along with whatever the blood is carrying, like alcohol, THC, opiates, etc.
THC is lipid-soluble. that it, it dissolves in fat. As such, for heavy consumers, it can last in fat for months after consumption has stopped, and then it disappears as it’s slowly leached back into the bloodstream. However, most screening tests for THC don’t turn positive for concentrations this low, so most whiz quizzes for THC which show up dirty for job applicants can’t be blamed on this (or the bone marrow) mechanism.
QtM, MD
Certified Medical Review Officer (whiz quiz certifier)
Hear ye the words of Qadgop the Mercotan. Dude knows.