With how popular CBD has gotten in recent years, more and more people incorporate the cannabinoid into their daily routines. But, this increased consumption has led to a lot of concern surrounding CBD and drug tests. Specifically, we all want to know: does CBD show up on a drug test?
To help ease your anxieties, Elevate Holistics is taking a close look into CBD, drug testing, and everything in between. Let’s get started.
Will CBD Oil Lead to a Positive Drug Test?
First and foremost, does CBD show up on drug tests? No: unless you are taking a CBD-specific drug test, employers are not looking to identify CBD consumption. They are looking for illicit substances such as THC, narcotics, or steroids. CBD is federally legal, and it doesn’t impair judgment or motor skills or artificially improve athletic performance, so there’s no reason to test for it.
On the other hand, residual cannabinoids in your CBD oil can lead to a failed drug test, and this is a big deal. A failed drug test can cost you your job and income; it can cause you to lose access to essential resources like education and welfare benefits, child custody, and prescriptions for pain medication.
Unfortunately, this happens because trace amounts of THC can stay in the body for weeks. This will ruin the drug test. As a result, employees who use CBD can accidentally fail a drug test if their product isn’t pure CBD. So, it isn’t the CBD compound itself that’s the problem — it is the residual THC.
*editor’s note – while Delta-8 products are legal in many states, including Missouri, they will generate a positive result on most drug tests*
How Does THC Get into Cannabis Oil?
Accidentally failing a drug test is costly, but how does it happen? Why is there THC in your CBD product? There aren’t a lot of explanations for that, but the two best reasons are:
Using A Product That Has THC
THC and CBD are from the same source – cannabis. As a result, CBD can contain up to 0.3% THC, and the more CBD you consume, the higher your chances of registering a positive THC drug test. According to Greg Gerdeman, Ph.D., chief science officer at Colorado’s United Cannabis, “If you’re liberal with your hemp CBD oil use, you could hypothetically test positive for THC.”
Product Mislabelling
You could do your due diligence and read the labels but still ingest more THC than you intended to because the label on the product is wrong. A study has shown that 70% of CBD products sold online contain more or less CBD than advertised. Marcel Bonn-Miller, Ph.D., an adjunct assistant professor of Psychology in Psychiatry and the lead author on the study, blames mislabelling on lack of adequate oversight.
“The big problem, with this being something that is not federally legal, is that the needed quality assurance oversight from the Food and Drug Administration is not available. There are currently no standards for producing, testing, or labeling these oils. When companies sell products without any oversite, there is no way to know what is actually in the bottle. It’s crazy to have less oversight and information about a product being widely used for medicinal purposes.”
Consider The Source Of Your CBD
Seeing as THC, not CBD, is the problem, pay attention to the source of CBD as this is an indicator of how much THC it contains. Legally, CBD can have up to 0.3% THC, but there are plenty of THC-free options. THC content depends on the option you choose, and they are:
Full-Spectrum
Full-spectrum CBD oil, also known as “whole plant,” contains the most THC. During the extraction process, manufacturers try to retain the qualities of the hemp it is extracted from; this helps increase the potency of the CBD oil because the cannabinoids and terpenes in the hemp plant are present in the CBD oil. Also, it retains the ‘hempy’ taste and flavor. However, it has a significant caveat: CBD contains up to 0.3% THC and could hold more if the label is inaccurate. It’s best to avoid it if you don’t want to risk failing a drug test.
CBD Isolate
This is the opposite of full-spectrum; the process eliminates everything but the CBD during the extraction. The result is a high purity, flavorless CBD that is also less effective due to a lack of cannabinoids and terpenes. Many people prefer CBD isolate because it has no THC, and vendors who sell edibles sometimes like to use this.
Broad-Spectrum
This is a cross between full-spectrum and CBD isolate. The extraction process helps to completely get rid of THC while retaining the cannabinoids and terpenes present in the hemp plant. It offers the best of both worlds.
How Can You Pass A Drug Test For CBD?
As we’ve previously stated, employers and law enforcement are unlikely to carry out a CBD drug test; they have no reason to. However, if you’re worried about testing positive for THC, check out the detoxification guidelines we’ve explained here. They include dieting, exercise, drinking lots of water, and discontinuing use.
How Much CBD Will Make Me Fail A Drug Test?
Again, you may ask, does CBD show up on drug tests? Will it make me fail the test? No, CBD won’t make you fail a drug test; the culprit is THC. A little THC in your CBD won’t show up in a drug test, but if you consistently consume full-spectrum CBD, it could build up in your body and result in a positive test.
The amount of THC in your blood also depends on the amount consumed, the period, your metabolism, and other factors like hydration levels.
How Long Does CBD Stay In Your System?
CBD effects can last between 90 minutes and several hours, but the compound can stick around in your body long after the effects wear off. Your body converts CBD to a byproduct chemically known as CBD-OOH, and this byproduct can remain in your body for several days. Not to worry, though: no employer or law enforcement is testing for CBD-OOH.
How Long is CBD Detectable In Urine?
According to research, CBD has a half-life of two to five days; this means you’ll eliminate half the CBD in your system in that period. We’re not sure how long CBD stays in the body, but THC can last from 3 to 30 days. While employers and law enforcement are unlikely to do a CBD drug test, trace amounts of THC in your CBD oil can turn up a positive test.
How Long Is CBD Detectable In A Hair Follicle Test?
It is rare for employers and law enforcement to test for THC in hair, and for CBD, it is unheard of. However, if the CBD you consume over time contains trace amounts of THC, it can accumulate in your hair and stick around for up to three months.
Elevate Has The Answers To Your Canna-Questions
The medicinal properties of cannabis are beyond doubt; our job is to bridge the divide between its therapeutic benefits and the end-user. At Elevate Holistics, we believe access should not be a barrier to the pursuit of nature’s abundant wellness gifts. Our deep understanding of the maze of regulations surrounding cannabis distinguishes us as the best to help you through it.
If you have questions and inquiries or need help getting an MMJ card or finding a licensed dispensary, we can help. Contact us today.
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