What Controls Clearance: THC, Metabolism, and Individual Differences Understanding how long cannabis stays in your body starts with how the plant’s primary psychoactive compound, THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol), behaves once consumed. THC is highly lipophilic, meaning it binds to fat tissue. After the immediate effects fade, THC and its metabolites (especially THC-COOH) are stored in body…