Does CBD Show On A Drug Test? 2022

CBD show on a drug test

Can You Take CBD And Pass A Drug Test?

The use of CBD oils has been on the rise as people seek out natural alternatives for pain relief and other health issues, but will CBD show on a drug test?

But since it is derived from a family of plants that also contain THC, there are concerns about how it might affect an employer’s drug-testing program. 

CBD is a non-psychoactive compound found in both cannabis and hemp. It has no intoxicating effects and cannot get you high. In fact, CBD is a legal product across all 50 states, according to the 2018 Farm Bill.

One question that often comes up is whether or not CBD will show up on a drug test. This article will answer that question in full, to help you know what you can and can’t do.

What Is CBD?

CBD is a non-psychoactive component of the cannabis Sativa plant. It won’t get you high—and that’s important if you need to pass employment drug tests or background checks (which many people do).

THC is the active ingredient in marijuana, leading users to feel relaxed and happy or confused at times, depending on their tolerance level.

CBD oil, which is derived from the cannabis plant, contains trace amounts of THC. Some users have reported a positive result for a CBD drug test.

Types of CBD Oil

Full-spectrum CBD oil contains cannabinoids like THC and CBD and terpenes in their natural form, while a CBD isolate product only contains CBD. 

Isolates and broad-spectrum CBD products are less likely to be detected by a drug screen.

The most common test used to detect marijuana use is an immunoassay drug screening test, which looks for THC metabolites in your urine, blood, or saliva. 

If you’re using a full-spectrum CBD product regularly and your employer uses urine testing, you may fail the test because traces of THC can build up in your system.

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Why Do Companies Use CBD Drug Tests?

Drug testing is used by employers and companies to monitor employees’ health and make sure they can function properly at work or at home. 

Someone who has been using drugs or alcohol excessively may not be able to do their job effectively or safely, so employers screen their employees regularly to ensure that they’re healthy enough to work.

Most employers use urine tests because they’re inexpensive and easy to administer, but some may also choose blood tests for more accurate results.

Blood tests are more expensive than a urine drug test but can detect THC metabolites for longer periods after ingestion.

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Will CBD Show On A Drug Test?

The short answer is no. CBD does not show on a drug test.

The longer answer is that you need to understand how CBD drug tests work.

Drug tests screen THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana. They do not detect CBD, which is not psychoactive.

CBD is a legal product, and it should not show up on any drug tests.

However, it is possible to get a false positive result from THC if you use a full-spectrum CBD oil or hemp seed oil that contains THC.

THC is stored in your fat cells and is released into your bloodstream when you consume cannabis. It then binds to your brain receptors, causing you to feel high.

The cutoff level for CBD is 50 ng/mL THC. You'd pass if you were below this amount in your sample; anything above that threshold would fail the drug test.

There are several different drug tests, each with its own rules and regulations. 

If you have consumed CBD from the hemp plant, which contains small amounts of THC – you may be able to pass a drug test.

However, if you have consumed a full spectrum product with higher THC levels than what is allowed by law, you will likely get a positive test result.

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So Why The Drug Test Confusion?

To start, let’s look at what we know. 

First of all, it’s important to note that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate CBD products.

This means that many products labeled as “CBD oil” may not contain any cannabinoids—or even less than what is listed on the label!

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Is Your CBD Good Quality?

A recent study found that 75% of CBD products sold online contained less CBD than advertised. 

Some consumer reports also found that nearly half of these products contained higher THC levels than labeled (which can cause additional side effects).

Companies often market CBD as a dietary supplement or food additive, so they don’t need FDA approval before sale.

That’s good news for CBD users looking for something to ease anxiety or insomnia without getting high. 

Still, there’s no guarantee of quality control or purity when you buy these products over the counter at a health food store or online.

The other issue is that even if a product does contain CBD, it could still cause a positive drug test result if it contains THC.

But this is only true if you use full-spectrum CBD products regularly.

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Why Some CBD Products Contain THC

The trace amount of THC in CBD products results from industrial hemp cultivation. 

Hemp is an agricultural product with only a very small amount of THC (less than 0.3 percent THC). 

Industrial hemp is grown in fields and harvested like other crops, so a trace amount of THC may be found in hemp CBD oils.

This trace amount of THC does not cause any effects and is not likely to be detected by drug tests. 

While many companies are selling CBD products with no THC at all, some suppliers use high-THC strains to make their products flower more quickly, which can cause those small amounts of THC to show up in lab tests. 

The best way to know if your CBD product contains any trace amounts of THC is to check its product label and third-party test results.

More You Should Know About CBD Drug Tests

CBD-containing products like vape oils, edibles, and tinctures are marketed by many companies as a natural way to relieve stress, anxiety, and other conditions. 

While this is true, there’s another side to the story: CBD also contains trace amounts of THC, which means it can show up in a urine analysis.

Workplace Act of 1988

The Drug-Free Workplace Act of 1988 requires employers with federal contracts or grants to take steps to create a drug-free workplace. 

The Controlled Substances Act classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug alongside heroin and LSD.

Use of Schedule 1 drugs is not permitted on federal property or when operating government vehicles or heavy machinery in most states.

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Drug Tests At Work

These laws mean that employers have the right to conduct random drug tests on safety-sensitive employees — those who operate heavy machinery such as bulldozers or dump truck drivers. 

The same goes for anyone who has access to sensitive information such as customer credit card numbers or trade secrets.

THC is detectable in several different ways, depending on which method it’s being tested for. 

However long it takes for THC to leave your system will depend on many factors like your age and weight and how often you smoke or vape marijuana products such as edibles or dabs that contain high levels of concentrated THC. 

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What Is The Most Common Drug Test?

A few different types of tests can be used to detect drugs in your system, including; 

  • Urine tests
  • Hair tests
  • Blood tests
  • Saliva tests

They’re all very accurate but have their strengths and weaknesses.

Urine Tests For CBD

A urine test is the most common type of drug test you’ll face as a candidate for employment or some other official position or program. 

Urine samples are usually sent off-site for analysis at labs certified by SAMHSA (Substance Abuse Mental Health Services Administration).

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The Science Behind CBD Drug Testing

Labs use GC/MS (gas chromatography/mass spectrometry) equipment—the same technology used by police officers when they analyze street drugs seized from suspects.

This equipment identifies several hundred compounds associated with marijuana use and determines whether there’s enough evidence for a positive drug test result on further testing.

The cutoff level is 50 ng/mL THC metabolite, which means you’d pass if you were below this amount in your sample; anything above that threshold would yield a failed drug test result.

This would likely disqualify you from consideration as an employee or participant in whichever program requires the test results (though employers aren’t legally required to report a positive THC test result).

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Does CBD Show On A Drug Test? The Bottom Line

CBD and marijuana laws continue to evolve across the United States.

CBD is considered a dietary supplement and is not subject to the same regulations as prescription drugs.

There are no specific requirements for oversight or labeling of many CBD products.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) drug testing program does not test for CBD or other hemp-derived products like terpenes, so it’s unlikely that your employer will test for them either. 

If you have concerns about how your employer might react to your use of hemp products or other medical marijuana, talk to a medical review officer before making any decisions about how to proceed.

 

And hopefully, you now have a very good understanding of ‘can CBD show up in a drug test’.