Will CBD Cause Me to Test Positive on a Drug Test?

Many employers, for a number of good reasons, drug test their employees. Jobs that require strict attention, such as truck drivers and those operating heavy machinery would be ill-suited to those under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Those in the medical field, people working with young children, police officers, firefighters, and airline pilots are just a few of those who should expect to be tested upon hire and through random drug testing. 

Most drug tests used for employment run from 5 to 10 panels. They screen for drugs such as barbiturates, cocaine, amphetamines, opiates, and THC. THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is one of over 100 cannabinoids identified in cannabis. This molecule is the psychoactive component of the plant. It is what's responsible for getting users "high."

Drug tests almost universally screen for the cannabinoid THC. CBD, or cannabidiol, is also a cannabinoid identified in hemp and marijuana. However, it has different properties from THC. It is not regarded as psychoactive, nor is it thought to cause impairment. Drug tests generally do not test for this molecule.

Firefighter CBD Drug Test

Nonetheless, because CBD is produced from cannabis (and yes, hemp is part of the cannabis family), taking anything made from full-spectrum hemp extract could theoretically trigger a positive THC test. Legally, hemp is defined as any cannabis plant with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC. Ingesting anything with less than 0.3% THC will emphatically not get you "high;" however, the trace amount metabolized by your body could show up in drug tests. Many employment drug tests are designed to detect very small amounts of the substance. In addition, the molecule is fat-soluble, and as a result, can remain in your system for days to weeks.

Whether trace amounts of THC show up on a drug test depend on a number of factors. Body composition, activity level, frequency of use, and concentration of dose all affect THC levels. For example, someone who is inactive with high levels of body fat are more likely to hold onto the trace amounts of CBD as those who are lean and work out daily. Genetics and metabolism also likely contribute to differences.

Full-spectrum products are preferred by many users because not only do they contain CBD, they contain small amounts of other cannabinoids, many of which are thought to have beneficial and synergistic properties.

If you are drug tested and have only been using CBD products, speaking to your employer may be your only option. Your employer will have the final word on whether they accept your explanation, but saving evidence of your use of CBD may help. Unfortunately, there is no way to differentiate the THC from a CBD product from that of a legal hemp product.

However, the good news for those who are drug tested is that CBD can be isolated from other cannabinoids. Our CBD Isolate is one such product. CBD isolate is still beneficial, and many have found that it works for their issues. The CBD isolate has undetectable levels of THC and on its own will not produce a positive THC drug test.

Worth noting, though is that CBD is not regulated. The tinctures found in health food stores, gas stations, and retail boutiques has not gone through a standardized testing protocol. In fact, the labeling accuracy of most products is highly suspect. The majority in the study were found to not contain levels of CBD on the bottle. Some contained more than the legal amount of THC. And a few even contained synthetic cannabinoids. 

When selecting a CBD product, it is essential to go with an ethical company where strict testing and good quality control are standards. We guarantee the potency and purity of our products.

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