CBD products are extremely popular these days, but one potential drawback of using these products is the possibility that they will show up on a drug test.
Typically, drug tests are looking for a different cannabinoid, THC, not CBD. But, even so, what are the chances that taking CBD oil will show up on a drug test? Can you prevent it? Here’s what you need to know.
Will CBD Oil Result in a Positive Drug Test?
The truth is that using CBD oil may result in a positive drug test. It’s not likely, but it is possible. It all depends on whether there’s any trace amount of THC in the CBD oil you used and when you last used the CBD oil.
Does CBD Oil Contain THC?
The chemical in the cannabis plant that causes psychoactive effects is called delta 9 tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short. CBD is a different compound entirely from THC which leads many people to think that CBD oil is completely THC-free. That’s usually true, but it isn’t always.
Some CBD oil does, in fact, contain trace amounts of THC. It’s not generally enough THC for you to notice any effects, but a drug test might pick up on it. Whether or not a CBD oil contains some THC generally depends on the source of the cannabis used to make the CBD oil.
It’s worth noting that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently regulate most CBD products. That means it may be hard to know exactly what’s in a given product, especially if it’s from an unknown brand. You can end up with a CBD oil that contains THC without even knowing it.
Cannabis Types
Many people don’t know this, but cannabis isn’t just one kind of plant. It’s actually an umbrella term that encompasses both marijuana and hemp plants. Both of those plants are cannabis plants (and both contain CBD), and yet there are major differences between them.
Most notably, hemp plants contain almost no THC. To be classified as a hemp plant in the United States, a cannabis strain needs to be less than 0.3 percent THC. That’s why hemp and hemp-based products are legal in many places where marijuana is not.
Manufacturers generally extract the CBD for CBD oils from hemp plants to ensure that the products are legal and safe. How the manufacturers extract the CBD from the hemp plant will determine whether the CBD oil is a full-spectrum oil or CBD isolate.
CBD isolates are pure compounds without any other cannabinoids or chemicals. Full-spectrum CBD, on the other hand, contains CBD and other active chemicals like terpenes.
What Types of CBD Oil Have the Greatest Chance of Showing Up and Which Have Less of a Chance?
Full-spectrum CBD oils are more likely to contain trace amounts of THC and thus are more likely to show up on a drug test. It’s much less likely that CBD isolate oil will show up on a drug test.
Reasons for Failing a CBD Drug Test
A CBD user might fail a drug test for any of the following reasons:
Using a CBD Product that Contains THC– The most probable reason for failing a drug test after only using CBD products is that there was some small amount of THC in your CBD products. Even if the manufacturers claim that there’s no THC in their CBD products, that doesn’t mean that’s necessarily true.
Product Mislabeling- It’s possible that you ingested a product that was mislabeled as being THC-free. Without strict regulation from the FDA, CBD manufacturers can mislabel their products and mislead customers like you. If the CBD in your products actually came from marijuana and not hemp, that could cause a failed drug test.
Cross-contamination- Another possibility is that your CBD products got contaminated with small amounts of THC. If that happened, it could lead to a positive drug test result. This possibility is most likely when you buy your CBD products from a dispensary that also sells products that contain THC.
CBD Oil Breakdown in the Digestive System
There have been some claims that CBD may break down into trace amounts of THC in the stomach after use, resulting in false positive drug test results. Other research has refuted these claims.
The conclusion to take away is that there’s a very small chance that CBD oil could break down into THC in the digestive system. It’s not very likely, though, and has never been definitively proven.
How to Avoid a Positive CBD Drug Test
If you want to use CBD but are worried about a potential failed drug test, there are some steps you can take to protect yourself.
First, do extensive research into any products you’re considering buying and the companies that produce them. It’s always a good idea to buy cannabis products from established companies with strong reputations. Reputable companies will take the time to carefully label their products and prevent cross-contamination. That way, you can be confident that the CBD products do not contain THC.
Check the lab results or certificates of analysis. These results should be available for each product and show that an independent, third-party lab verified the contents of those products.
Make sure that the source of the CBD in the CBD oil is industrial hemp rather than a low-quality cannabis plant.
By taking these precautions, you can nearly eliminate the risk of failing a drug test after using CBD oil.
