Does CBD Show Up On a Drug Test: An In-Depth Look

Maybe – according to experts pure CBD isn’t responsible for making you fail a drug test. But if you use a CBD product with trace amounts of THC, there’s a strong possibility that you could get a positive test result!

The reality is that a lot of CBD products contain more THC than advertised. For most medical cannabis users, this is a huge cause for concern when it comes to passing pre-employment or random drug tests.

So, if you want to pass a drug screening without giving up CBD, look no further. In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about CBD and drug tests, and we’ll even show you a few handy tips and tricks to fool a drug test.

Marijuana vs Hemp

If you think these terms are interchangeable, think again! CBD is derived from both female cannabis plants and male hemp plants, but the key difference is that hemp has significantly lower THC levels than its female counterpart. Hemp doesn’t have any psychoactive effects when smoked or consumed, making it a perfect source for pure CBD hemp oil.

Females, on the other hand, grow flowers that have high concentrations of THC, so additional processes are needed to extract the CBD isolate. In fact, some farmers have addressed this problem by breeding strains with high CBD content instead of THC! Either way, both types can be used for medicine, industrial textiles, paper, food, building material, and skin products.

CBD vs THC

The cannabis plant has two major active compounds: Cannabidiol and Tetrahydrocannabinol, which bind to the CBD receptors throughout the body. However, only one compound is considered a drug, and that’s THC, which gives you all the stereotypical effects of weed.

THC is popular among cannabis consumers for its psychoactive effects while CBD is famous for its wide range of healing properties. These cannabinoids may have similar genetic makeup, but each cannabis compound has different effects on the endocannabinoid systems in our bodies.cbd vs thc

The Benefits Of CBD Products

Medical cannabis has taken the world by storm, with more patients choosing CBD products over prescription pain medication. They’re just as effective as prescription medications from big pharma, except people experience less side effects!

Scientists and researchers have been studying the therapeutic potential of CBD for the purpose of healing millions of people. Cannabis use is now more mainstream than ever, and most of its demand comes from its effectiveness against symptoms of cancer treatment. This miracle drug can also treat a long list of conditions including:

  • Insomnia
  • Inflammation
  • Arthritis
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Epilepsy
  • Seizures
  • Chronic pain

Types of CBD Products

Companies produce a wide range of CBD products including edibles, CBD oil, supplements, tinctures, vape liquid, topical ointment, and even CBD bud. 

Unfortunately, finding 100% THC-free CBD products is nearly impossible.

The truth is that no matter what kind of extraction method is used, most products will still contain a trace amount of THC. So, before you purchase an over-the-counter cannabis product at a store or online, it’s important to check for more information on the label. Here are the three different kinds of CBD products and how much THC they contain:

  • Full Spectrum CBD – If sourced from marijuana, it can have varying percentages of THC along with other compounds. If sourced from hemp, the law requires a percentage of less than 0.3 THC to be sold legally.
  • Broad Spectrum CBD – This type removes as much THC as possible without removing other compounds.
  • CBD Isolate – This is the purest form of CBD available with up to 99% extracted purity, at most.

Will CBD Flowers Make You Fail a Drug Test?

To answer this frequently asked question, you have to remember that marijuana buds are categorized as full spectrum products. Because they’re sold in their raw form, they don’t go through any extraction processes to separate the CBD from the rest of the plant. So yes, CBD flowers can raise some red flags on a drug test if they have enough THC.

How the Body Processes Cannabis Compounds

When you ingest cannabis, the compounds will go straight to your digestive system to be broken down by stomach acid. If you consume cannabis through inhalation, the smoke passes through your lungs – meanwhile, a sublingual dose makes direct contact with blood vessels under the tongue.

Whichever method of CBD consumption is used, the human body breaks down THC and CBD into metabolites the same way. Eventually, the compounds end up in your liver where enzymes begin the breakdown of each metabolite. Afterwards, THC and CBD metabolites pump into your bloodstream to the rest of your body where it bonds with fat stores and receptors.

Where is CBD and THC Stored?

Since THC and CBD metabolites are stored in fat cells, they can stay in your system for up to 90 days! Of course, the length of marijuana’s half-life depends on your usage, dosage, metabolism, and overall health. So, even if you only consume CBD, small amounts of THC can stack up over time and come up positive on a drug test.

The Laws on Legal Cannabis

The FDA regulations state that all CBD products should not contain more than a percentage of 0.3 THC, otherwise it might produce unwanted psychoactive effects for patients. However, this isn’t the case for everything on the shelf since state laws don’t require laboratories to analyze each product to make sure it’s up to standard.

CBD is all the rage these days, but because it’s categorized as a supplement, a majority of the CBD industry remains unregulated by the FDA. With so many unchecked CBD products derived from hemp and marijuana, there are a large number of risks involved. In some states, CBD products are allowed to have THC levels as high as 5%!

This means that customers and patients might be purchasing products that contain higher amounts of THC without even knowing it! This can do more harm than good for individuals that think they’re consuming isolates, putting them at risk of getting caught by an employer.

The Effects Of Cannabis Legalization

Recently, states like Colorado are getting with the times by prohibiting the rejection or termination of employees based on positive cannabis drug tests. In Canada, employee rights allow for warnings or disciplinary action instead. 

In some cases, companies will order the person in question to attend a rehab program before returning to work. But despite the rise in cannabis use for recreational and medical purposes, most states haven’t followed suit. You should never take your chances, so it’s important to prepare for a DT if you want to get a job or keep one!

Drug-Free Company Policies

Federal laws allow employers to perform drug testing procedures before and during employment. So, when it comes to drug testing, most companies have strict regulations to make sure they don’t hire anyone with a recent history of drug use. Employees are also regularly tested to make sure no one is high on the job to maximize safety for workers and company property.

Someone using THC has a high risk of impairment, and this could get the business in trouble if an on site incident occurs under their watch. For example, if you get into an accident at work, the company has the right to collect evidence on substance abuse before you can claim any medical compensation.

Common Types of Drug Tests

Companies use a wide range of drug tests to screen for drugs, each with their own detection thresholds. THC metabolites stick around far longer than other substances, so most marijuana drug tests can pick them up easily.

Employers can choose to test applicants on the spot or send them to a nearby location to get tested. Here are four methods that employers use for workplace drug testing:

  • Urine Test – Can detect THC for up to 30 days.
  • Hair Test – Can detect THC for up to 90 days.
  • Saliva Test – Can detect THC for 2 to 3 days.
  • Blood Test – Can detect THC for up to 2 days.

What Do Drug Tests Screen For?

Using a special type of chromatography device, a drug screening will test positive if it detects over the cutoff level of 50 nano-grams per milliliter in test specimens. Most companies use five, seven, or ten panel drug tests to screen for the following substances:

  • THC from marijuana
  • Cocaine
  • Opiates
  • Amphetamines
  • Methamphetamines
  • Alcohol
  • Benzodiazepines
  • PCP
  • Barbiturates
  • Some prescription drugs

What Happens If You Fail a Drug Test?

medical lab testsWhile it won’t go on your criminal record, the presence of drugs in laboratory findings presents very serious consequences for both applicants and employees. Depending on the company’s regulations, they could deny your job application, discipline you, or fire you. 

Here are some factors that could make you test positive for marijuana use and fail a drug test:

  • CBD Purity – Pure CBD shouldn’t have a trace amount of THC, but if the ingredient list has a percentage of more than 0.3 THC, then screening tests may come out positive. 
  • Dosage – Higher doses of CBD equate to greater levels of THC, especially if you’re taking more than necessary. Keep your dosage under 1000mg per day to be safe.
  • Frequency of Consumption – How often you use CBD products will affect the length of time it takes for your body to metabolize the byproducts. Only take it according to what your doctor says.
  • Mislabeled Products – One of the biggest issues is the absence of transparent reports and publications for the sale of products with traces of THC. Always do your research before buying anything!

Most drug tests have a slim chance of error, so if there’s any issue with the results, the lab will use a technology called Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry to look at individual chemicals for the final report.

How to Pass Any Drug Test

So, how can you make sure you don’t fail a drug test? Here are some products that will cover all your bases!

Toxin Rid 10 Day Detox

Toxin Rid 10 Day Detox is an all-in-one kit for passing hair, blood, or urine drug tests – with the help of organic herbs, vitamins, and minerals, it boosts your body’s ability to naturally flush drug toxins. Toxin Rid is well-regarded in the drug detox community because of its unbelievably high success rate. So, if you’ve got time to prepare for your test, this should be your first option.

Clear Choice Sub-Solution

According to cchil.org, Clear Choice Sub-Solution is one of the best synthetic urine you can buy locally especially for heavy drug users to beat a supervised drug test! It uses the perfect ratio of uric acid, urea, and creatinine to pass the test with a 99% success rate – but it’s most acclaimed feature is the ‘heat activation powder’! This stuff lets you warm up your sample to the perfect temperature right before the test.

Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo

Old Style Aloe Toxin Rid Shampoo can help you pass a hair follicle drug test with just a few washes. It works by giving your strands a deep cleanse to rinse off any chemical residue on your hair and scalp. According to SELB.ORG, using one of these leading hair detox shampoos is one of the safest, most reliable, and extremely effective way on how to pass a hair follicle drug test – if you’ve got a hair test coming up, this should be your first option!

Toxin Rid Rescue Rinse Mouthwash

Toxin Rid Rescue Rinse Mouthwash is your best option if you’re prepping for a saliva test. The special formula goes above and beyond regular mouthwash – reducing your oral drug metabolites to undetectable levels. This product is easy to use, effective, and best of all, it’s really affordable!

There’s No Reason to Fail

CBD can often show up on a drug test due to trace amounts of THC – it isn’t fair, but it’s reality! Thankfully, it isn’t too much of a concern if you’re armed with the right products. Just follow our advice and use high-quality solutions and you can take CBD without worry.