Will I Fail A Drug Test While Using CBD?

February 15, 2016

In recent years, a host of scientific studies have been released on the health and wellness benefits of CBD. While this research is still in its early stages, the results are incredibly promising. It is little wonder, then, that 14% of all Americans say that they use CBD.

Many people who are interested in trying CBD worry that if they start using it, they will fail a drug test. In most cases, CBD should not cause you to have a positive drug test. Routine drug tests do not screen for CBD.

These tests do look for the presence of THC, which may be found in trace amounts in many CBD products. Generally, the THC levels in CBD are so low that they should not cause you to fail a drug test.

If you want to avoid even the slightest possibility of testing positive for marijuana on a drug test when using CBD, there are a number of things that you can do. From buying THC free CBD to only purchasing CBD from companies that perform independent lab tests on their products to ensure THC levels meet legal requirements, taking these steps will allow you to take advantage of the benefits of CBD, while reducing the risk of a failed drug test.

What Substances May Show Up on a Drug Test?

If you’re required to undergo drug testing, you might need to provide a sample of urine, blood, saliva, hair, or sweat. Most drug tests use urine samples and screen for the following substances:

Marijuana
Opioids: heroin, codeine, oxycodone, morphine, fentanyl, hydrocodone
Cocaine
Steroids
Amphetamines: methamphetamine
Barbiturates: secobarbital, phenobarbital
Phencyclidine (PCP)

How Drug Tests Work

Drug tests are designed to detect substances at specific levels. A test is considered “positive” if the substance is present at or above these levels. For marijuana, tests look for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the compound that causes the high. Most urine tests screen for THC-COOH, an inactive metabolite.

Federal Standards and Procedures

Under the 1988 Drug-Free Workplace Act, the federal government set procedures for drug testing federal employees, contractors, and certain others, such as commercial drivers. The current standard for marijuana metabolites in urine tests is 50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL). If an initial test is positive, a more sensitive confirmation test is conducted with a cut-off level of 15 ng/mL.

Passing a Drug Test

The standards aim to avoid false positives from trace amounts of THC. It’s possible to have some THC in your system and still pass the test if it’s below the cut-off value.

CBD and Drug Testing

Standard drug tests do not screen for CBD. While an employer could request a test for CBD, it’s very unlikely.

Does CBD Contain THC?

In 2018, the industrial production of hemp was legalized through the Farm Bill. Under this law, farmers are now permitted to grow hemp. However, to be legal, this hemp must contain no more than 0.3% THC. If it meets this criteria, then the hemp is not considered to be a controlled substance.

Like THC, CBD (or cannabidiol) is a naturally occurring compound of the cannabis plant. Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds, including cannabinoids like THC and CBD, terpenes, and flavonoids. The chemical composition of a specific cannabis plant varies considerably by the plant strain and variety.

While marijuana and hemp are both derived from the cannabis plant, they contain very different levels of THC. Marijuana may contain as much as 30% THC, in contrast to hemp, which can contain no more than 0.3% THC. As a result, CBD products made from industrial hemp have a maximum amount of 0.3% THC.

CBD products are typically grouped into three categories: full spectrum, broad spectrum, and isolate. Full spectrum CBD products contain all of the compounds that occur naturally in the cannabis plant, including terpenes, flavonoids and cannabinoids like THC and CBD. As a result, full spectrum CBD oil may contain up to 0.3% THC.

Broad spectrum CBD products also contain the compounds found in the cannabis plant. However, unlike full spectrum CBD, the THC is removed from broad spectrum CBD. As such, it is less likely that this type of CBD product will contain THC.

Finally, CBD isolates are pure CBD. They do not contain any additional compounds. CBD isolates are a 0% CBD product.

Will CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

Depending on the product that you buy, your CBD may contain trace amounts of THC. Any full spectrum hemp product can contain up to small amounts of THC. While using CBD may result in a positive drug test, it is unlikely given the low levels of THC found in most CBD products. We can’t guarantee it, though, and always say it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Routine drug tests do not screen for CBD. As described above, these tests look for the presence of THC or one of its metabolites. Because the levels of THC in CBD products are so low, taking CBD should not cause you to fail a drug test.

There are some situations where you may have a positive test for THC even if you have not consumed marijuana. For example, if you are exposed to secondhand marijuana smoke, it is possible to test positive for THC. In some situations, your CBD product may be cross-contaminated by THC, either in the manufacturing process, or even if you have THC products in your home.

In some situations, inaccurate labeling may result in you accidentally consuming THC. According to a 2017 study, 18 out of 84 CBD products purchased online were found to contain THC — despite labels stating otherwise.

Because CBD is not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it can be difficult to know exactly what is in the product that you buy. However, reputable companies have their CBD products independently tested, and make those results available online for consumers. Before buying any CBD oil or other item, be sure to check for these third party laboratory test results so you can confirm the presence — or absence — of THC.

How Can I Make Sure that My CBD Product Doesn’t Have Any CBD?

While taking CBD should not cause you to fail a drug test, if you are screened for drugs by an employer or for any other reason, you may want to be particularly careful about taking CBD. There are a number of ways that you can do this.

First, research the product that you are considering. Is it made from industrial hemp or from marijuana? Is it full spectrum, broad spectrum, or CBD isolate? If you are looking to avoid any THC in your CBD, choose a broad spectrum or CBD isolate product that is made from industrial hemp.

Second, avoid products that make health related claims that seem too good to be true. Remember that the FDA does not currently regulate CBD. If a CBD company is making outlandish claims about what its products can do, it is probably a sign that it is a scam. This may make it more likely that the product contains THC, even if the company claims otherwise.

Third, only buy CBD products that have been independently tested by a third party laboratory, with the results available online. This is the only way that you can be sure that you are getting what you pay for, both in terms of CBD quantity AND the level of THC in the product. If a company claims that its CBD oil is 0% THC but doesn’t make lab results available online, then you cannot know for sure that is in its product.

How to Buy High Quality CBD Products Online

If you’re interested in taking advantage of the health and wellness benefits of CBD, you have come to the right place. At Green Wellness Life, we are passionate about all natural, alternative health products like CBD. While we aren’t doctors and cannot diagnose or treat any condition, we can help people like you by offering up the latest scientific research on CBD.

We only sell CBD products in our CBD shop made from industrial hemp grown in the United States, which means that our products range from 0% THC to (at most) 0.3% THC. Every CBD product that we sell has been independently tested, so you can confirm the quantity of both CBD and THC for yourself. If you have any questions or need help picking out a product, give us a call at 866-244-4223 from Monday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. EST. You can also press the live chat button or fill out our online contact form to get in touch with our team.

Sources:

Navigation