Does CBD show up on drug test?
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With all the positive benefits users receive from CBD products, some may be hesitant due to the possibility of being drug tested for employment, sports, etc. Drug tests look for detectable amounts of drugs in the body, including marijuana. The marijuana plant naturally has high levels of THC along with other cannabinoids and plant compounds.
As the CBD industry continues to be successful, a very common question these days is, “Does CBD show up on a drug test?” But, it is important to remember that not all CBD is the same. CBD can be sourced from different plants and processed to create three different extracts; CBD isolate, full-spectrum CBD and broad-spectrum CBD. Understanding the three extracts is crucial in determining the answer to the popular question and avoiding the risk of failing a drug test.
Research has shown that products made with pure CBD will not cause you to fail a drug test. On today’s market, there are numerous products made using pure CBD, also known as CBD isolate. The extract has been processed to remove any traces of THC and other plant compounds resulting in a 99% pure extract. Unfortunately, not all products contain CBD isolate. Full- spectrum extract is the opposite of CBD isolate. Full-spectrum extract contains all the plant compounds, including CBD, THC, terpenes, flavonoids, fatty acids, and more. Legally, CBD products contain 0.3% THC by weight. Broad-spectrum CBD extract is happy medium between CBD isolate and full-spectrum CBD. Broad-spectrum extract contains all the natural occurring plant compounds with the exception of THC. All traces of THC are removed. Overall, CBD users who are subject to drug testing should use products that are made with CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD being that they do not contain traces of THC.
This can make using CBD products a little trickier, especially if you are subject to random drug testing. In some case, drug screening tests that are screening for the presence of THC could come back as positive. Some CBD products are made using full spectrum extract, which contains 0.3% of THC or less. It’s possible that levels could be detected in your bloodstream. Many of these drug tests use pre set levels of drug concentration. Therefore, if the drug concentration is below the set threshold, the test will be negative.
If you are still worried about the possibility of a drug test being positive, it is important to do your own research prior to purchasing CBD products. First, a common reason why CBD could cause you to test positive for THC is because you’re using a product that actually does contains THC. There is also the possibility that you could be using a product that unknowingly contains THC without your knowledge. With CBD continuing to become more popular, there are brands and companies that are not reputable. Also, CBD is sourced from hemp which naturally contains THC. To meet legal regulations, CBD products must contain no more than 0.3% THC. Unfortunately, the CBD industry is largely unregulated causing low-grade products to slip through the cracks. It’s common for a product to be labeled at THC free even though it does contain THC. Some manufacturers may use CBD sourced from marijuana, that contains low levels of this cannabinoid but high levels of THC. If processed incorrectly, there is the possibility that a small amount of THC in the extract could be in the final product. Depending on the amount, it could trigger a positive drug test. Cross contamination is unlikely, but possible and something to be aware of. Lastly, there is the rare possibility of failing a drug test due to secondhand THC exposure. It would not be in your urine, but in a hair test (LA Magazine)
In the end, using CBD products does not have to put your employment, sports, etc in jeopardy. The best thing you can do is to do your own research on products and buy from a reputable manufacturer.
