Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test? The Truth Explained

As cannabis continues to rise in popularity across the U.S., millions of people are resorting to CBD as a natural remedy and wellness supplement. While CBD products are showing tremendous promise in helping with a range  of ailments including pain, anxiety and insomnia, it’s leaving many others in a tough situation wondering how to pass a drug test. Unfortunately, there have been numerous reports indicating individuals who consume CBD can accidentally fail their drug screening. Many in the workforce are asking, ‘does CBD show up on a drug test’?

Here, we will review everything you need to know to avoid failing a drug test due to using CBD.

Do Drug Tests Test for CBD?

One of the most common drug tests employers often administer to prospective workers is a 5-panel drug test. A 5-panel drug test is essentially a urine drug test that screens individuals for the five most commonly abused substances: marijuana (THC), cocaine, opiates, phencyclidine (PCP), and amphetamines. The primary objective of employing such drug tests is to safeguard the workplace environment, making sure no one is undergoing impaired judgment or motor skills.

Thus, many employers are not exactly looking for traces of CBD in the drug test, considering this cannabis component is non-psychoactive. The main area of concern focuses on the trace amounts of marijuana, or THC toxins, in your system. THC is the psychoactive part of the plant that makes you feel ‘high’ and can ultimately inflict physical or mental impairment within the workplace. Be that as it may, it is POSSIBLE to test positive for THC toxins after recently consuming CBD.

Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

It is important to note there is a variety of cannabinoids, including CBD and THC, that originate from the cannabie plant. Consequently, you will likely find traces of CBD in THC, and THC in CBD. Many CBD products available today are hemp-derived and contain small amounts of THC, otherwise known as full-spectrum CBD.

Full-spectrum means the CBD product contains all other cannabinoids found in the marijuana plant: CBD, CBN, CBG, THC, and THCV. But, how is it legal to include THC in the composition of CBD products while marijuana is still illegal on a federal level?

According to the 2018 Farm Bill, hemp products cannot contain more than 0.3% of THC, but anything below that level is not considered illegal. Even so, there’s a chance these small amounts of THC can accumulate and be detected in a drug test.

Additionally, while the sales of CBD products are permitted, CBD products are not formally regulated by the FDA. As a result, companies can mislabel their CBD products. For instance, CBD products may contain misguided or incorrect information about the levels of CBD and THC. In essence, you could be getting more THC than you realize and thus your CBD product could show up on your drug test.

How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?

Depending on which method of consumption you decide to use for CBD, the therapeutic effects can kick in at varying times. For instance, CBD edibles often take around 60 minutes to work, while a CBD sublingual can take effect within just 5-10 minutes. All CBD products are non-psychoactive and should contain less than 0.3% of THC compounds, or none at all.

Albeit, trace amounts of CBD remain in your system longer than just the time in which you feel its effects. Also, the time in which it takes CBD to leave your system ranges and is contingent on a variety of factors, including dosage, frequency, and body weight. According to PubMed Central (PMC), following single doses, the half-life of CBD, when taken orally, is about 1 to 2 days. Moreover, it takes about one week for CBD to leave your system altogether.

Can You Fail a Drug Test Due to CBD?

In short, yes, you can fail a drug test due to CBD. There are some products, however, that do not contain any THC whatsoever.  These are known as CBD Isolate or Broad Spectrum CBD products. Evidently, you can’t fail a drug test by consuming either of these CBD products, which contain zero traces of THC. CBD Isolate and Broad Spectrum CBD products are ideal for individuals who want to stay clear of THC.

Broad-spectrum CBD is like Full-spectrum CBD in that it has other cannabinoids in it.  However with broad spectrum the THC is removed. Further, broad-spectrum is CBD that is extracted from the cannabis plant, along with other compounds like terpenes, essential oils, and other cannabinoids. The formula of these cannabis compounds working together enhances the effects of CBD. This interaction is otherwise known as the ‘entourage effect.’

CBD Isolate, on the other hand, is the purest form of CBD. Producers make CBD Isolate by removing all other compounds from the cannabis plant during the extraction process. Additionally, CBD Isolate typically sources from the hemp plant, and not the marijuana plant, considering it has non-existent levels of THC and other cannabinoids.  Due to this, Isolate is also often called “Pure CBD.”

How to Avoid Failing Due to CBD?

At the end of the day, you want to take all measures necessary to avoid a failing result. To help ease your worries, here are some preventative actions you can take:

• Ask your employer if the drug test will be screening specifically for CBD
• Do your research. Educate yourself on the CBD you are taking. Check to see if the CBD brand posts their lab results and review the report for measured levels of THC.
• Buy CBD sourced from Hemp, not Marijuana. (Such a CBD Isolate or hemp-derived broad spectrum)
• Discontinue use of the CBD you are consuming until after the test if it contains any amounts of THC. (Full-spectrum CBD)
• If you are a daily CBD user or a moderate THC user, discontinue use until after the test.
• Use a reliable detox kit to ensure your body is cleansed.

If you’re still freaking out about passing a drug test, don’t worry!