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Marijuana can be detected longer in urine drug tests primarily because it is fat soluble. This characteristic means that the active compounds in marijuana, particularly THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), are stored in the body's fat tissues rather than being quickly expelled through the urine. When THC is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and is eventually stored in fat cells, where it can remain for days, weeks, or longer, depending on factors such as frequency of use and individual metabolism.

Because of its fat solubility, THC releases slowly from fat stores back into the bloodstream over time, which can result in prolonged detection windows during urine tests. Unlike water-soluble substances, which are typically eliminated quickly through urine, fat-soluble substances tend to linger longer in the body's system.

The other options are less relevant in this context. For instance, while water solubility would lead to quicker excretion, marijuana’s fat solubility is the primary reason for its longer detection period. Quick metabolism is more applicable to substances that are processed rapidly, which is not the case with marijuana. Lastly, while substances binding to blood cells can play a role in drug action, it does not directly contribute to the duration of detection in urine.