Do you use CBD for pain or other medical purposes? That’s great but does CBD show up on a drug test?
This is a question that bothers users of CBD products.
Cannabidiol or CBD is a chemical compound you find in cannabis. CBD occurs naturally and you can enjoy its health benefits in the form of oils and edibles.
As for the legality of CBD, things can get a little bit tricky. Hemp does not produce the psychoactive effects that you experience when using marijuana.
The problem with this is that you can find CBD both in hemp and marijuana plants.
So is CBD legal? Yes, but only if it contains less than 0.3% of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). THC is what causes psychoactive effects.
And this “0.3%” rule only applies to CBD that comes from hemp.
But even if your CBD doesn’t contain THC beyond the approved threshold, does it guarantee that it will not show up on a drug test?
Continue reading below for the answers.
Taking CBD Legally
Does CBD show up on a drug test? Ideally, CBD should not show up in your drug test. Also, it is not the CBD per se that is the problem. It is the THC content that may come with your CBD.
CBD is not medicine. Instead, most of them fall under the “supplement” category. This means there is no stringent regulation for its purity.
In turn, your CBD product may contain some contaminants. One of them can be THC. And when you go through a drug test, this THC, depending on its level, may show up.
Also, the chances of THC showing up in your drug test increases depending on where the manufacturers derived your CBD. If the CBD came from marijuana instead of hemp, then you have nothing to worry about.
As we mentioned earlier, the law mandates hemp-derived CBD to contain not more than 0.3% of THC for it to be legal.
Take note, however, that even if your CBD contains the legal amount of THC, it doesn’t guarantee that you’re completely off the hook. Your CBD usage also plays a crucial role in passing or failing the drug test.
Thus, you need to consider your ingestion of CBD. If you take CBD products daily, it can lead to THC accumulation in your body.
So can you fail a drug test because of CBD? The likelihood is small but the answer is yes, it is possible.
Drug Tests and Cannabis
Taking a closer look at CBD and drug tests, the latter targets cannabis, as well as other substances. The drug test works by taking a sample of your urine. Thereafter, the laboratory analyzes your urine to determine the presence of substances.
Aside from cannabis, the drug test also checks for alcohol, cocaine, benzodiazepines, amphetamines, and opiates. In the case of CBD, high levels of THC can manifest in the test. If the test comes out with a positive result, you will likely go through a follow-up test.
How long does CBD stay in your system? This is another question to consider. Typically, CBD remains detectable in your system for about 1 to 2 days max.
Though urine tests are the most common option, other confirmatory tests yield more accuracy. Examples of which are mass spectroscopy and gas chromatography.
Also, drug test analysis requires careful attention. Even if the initial test turned out to be positive, there is the possibility of false-positives and false-negatives. If you know you didn’t use any substances and the results came out positive, a consultation with your doctor is in order.
Blood tests can also work as a drug-screening method. However, it is not as popular as the urine test especially when it comes to workplace testing. This is because THC doesn’t stay that long in the bloodstream.
THC only appears in plasma for up to five hours.
Different Types of CBD
It is also important to discuss the different types of CBD extracts. First, there is the full-spectrum CBD. This is the type that contains all the compounds that naturally occur from cannabis.
Since it is full-spectrum, it means it contains other cannabinoids including THC. When it comes to CBD oil, they must only contain a maximum of 0.3% THC to become legal for sale. Unfortunately, not all CBD oil manufacturers have integrity.
Some do not disclose the sources of their full-spectrum CBD. In turn, assessing the amount of THC present can be very difficult.
Next, there is the broad-spectrum CBD. This is similar to the full-spectrum type, as it also contains other cannabinoids like terpenes. However, THC is no longer present.
Most CBD oils use the broad-spectrum type.
Last but not least is the CBD isolate. This is CBD in its purest form. Also, it normally comes from hemp plants.
You can find these available in a solid slab or crystalline form. And like the broad-spectrum CBD, it doesn’t contain THC.
Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test? Other Factors to Consider
As we mentioned earlier, some results can be false-positives. But what are the possible reasons that your CBD use may yield a positive result?
The first possibility is cross-contamination. This takes place during the preparation of the products that have THC and CBD.
Another possible factor is second-hand exposure to THC. This happens when you expose yourself to second-hand marijuana smoke. The chances of this happening are small but possible.
Moreover, studies note that your body can absorb THC depending on the potency of marijuana where the smoke comes from. If you are unlucky and you inhaled smoke from high-quality marijuana, there is a chance that the THC level in your body may exceed the legally acceptable amount.
Additionally, the ventilation in the area where you inhaled marijuana smoke also counts.
Lastly, there are times when the manufacturers incorrectly label their CBD products. Because there is no stringent regulation for the industry, some manufacturers intentionally mislabel their products to make them more appealing.
At the end of the day, it is best not to take any CBD products if you are looking to go through drug testing.
Increase Your CBD Knowledge
Now that you know the answer to the question “does CBD show up on a drug test, you can prepare accordingly and avoid going through complications concerning the drug test. But learning about the THC levels is only one of the many things to learn about CBD.
Feel free to check our other articles on CBD products. We discuss topics that will help you maximize the benefits of your CBD product purchases.
You May Like These Articles As Well:
