With the legalization of marijuana, one would think that drug tests would no longer be a requirement for employment. However, that is not the case, and people should be concerned about whether CBD can show up in a drug test. After all, if you’re just using CBD oil for pain management, there’s no reason you should be fired from your job because you fail a drug test. But it’s important to know that precautions need to be taken to verify the kind of product you’re using so that you don’t fail drug tests in the future. Here’s everything that you need to know in order to prepare for such a situation and keep your drug test results negative.
How Cannabidiol Works
No matter if it’s west coast weed or from another part of the country, CBD is derived from cannabis, which is the same kind of plant that marijuana comes from. There are several different strains of cannabis, and they have different names depending on how much CBD and THC they have in them. Overall, CBD should not show up on a drug test. Unfortunately, it can unexpectedly show up in some cases. Even if you’re just using CBD oil alone, there is the possibility that you could cause a positive result on a drug test, and that could put your job in jeopardy.
The reason for this is that drug tests also look for THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the chemical in marijuana that provides you with a high. CBD products are typically THC-free, but there could still be trace amounts, as low as 0.3%, and can still show up in a drug test. For this reason, you should exercise some care in where you get your CBD oil and CBD oil-related products from.
Can CBD Oil Contain THC?
Although you may be trying to get the beneficial effects of CBD, you might not know whether the CBD oil you’re using is actually free of any THC. It really depends on the source of cannabis that is used to produce the oil. Especially low-quality isolates and tinctures are going to have some amount of THC in them.
CBD that is taken from hemp, however, is nearly void of any THC. Any strain of cannabis must have less than 0.3% of THC in order to be labeled as hemp. Hemp also contains other cannabinoids other than CBD, which can also be present on a drug test.
Another factor that comes into play is how CBD is extracted from the cannabis plant. An extraction method that creates a pure compound with only CBD is considered an “isolate,” while an extraction method that contains other chemicals, such as other cannabinoids and THC, is called “full-spectrum.”
Why You Might Fail A CBD Drug Test
Even with these distinctions mentioned above, one would think that using CBD oil made from hemp should be safe enough. However, there are still reasons why you might fail a CBD drug test that you should be aware of so that you can take the necessary precautions.
- You used a product containing THC: because there are no federal regulations on CBD-related products, there is no official monitoring of how much of a certain chemical is in each product. So a person could be using a CBD oil that contains trace amounts of THC that they’re not aware of. They may be using a full-spectrum product or a low-quality isolate and are unaware of what they’re using.
- Cross-contamination has taken place: it is possible for THC to get into a CBD oil product in high enough amounts that they show up on a drug test. This can occur in dispensaries that are CBD oil as well as other products.
- Products have been mislabeled: it’s not uncommon for sellers to mislabel their products as THC-free when they’re actually not. Whether intentionally or not, this can be misleading for those customers who think they’re getting a THC-free product.
- Secondhand exposure to THC: Being exposed to THC through secondhand smoke is not enough to produce a positive drug test result, but that doesn’t make it impossible. You would have to spend several hours in a room with heavy pot smokers for this to happen, however.
- CBD oil breakdown in the digestive system: there have been a few rare cases where CBD oil is broken down in the stomach into very small amounts of THC. Studies have refuted this claim, but it is still theoretically possible for stomach acid to break down less-purified CBD products that do contain some THC.
How To Avoid Testing Positive On A CBD Drug Test
If you are using CBD oil on a regular basis and you know that you’re going to be subjected to a drug test, there are some steps you can take so that your test doesn’t end up with a positive result.
- Do some research to ensure that the product you’re purchasing is actually THC-free and that the company you’re buying from is legitimate. The best way to do this is to look for businesses that have been accredited by the Better Business Bureau.
- Ensure that the CBD oil you’re buying is an isolate product that has been extracted from a viable hemp supply. Do not go for a low-quality tincture.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the processing techniques that were used to make your CBD oil. You should also inquire about the possibilities of cross-contamination.
- Avoid secondhand exposure to any pot smoking or hair contact of any kind.
Although CBD oil is usually marketed as THC-free, there is no real way to verify that it is. You have to exercise care when it comes to using CBD oil products without failing a drug test by doing some research and finding a pure product that is made by a reputable company.
If this is your first time considering CBD oil, don’t be afraid to ask any questions from your reputable dispensary so that you’re finding the CBD oil products that are right for you.