Can CBD Cause You to Fail a Drug Test? Here’s What You Need to Know

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With new opportunities or changes in career, the question of whether I would pass a drug test with CBD products arises with trepidation in many individuals. It is a valid concern and one that cannot be avoided in most cases. So, it is not only you that worries about, will CBD fail a drug test? Clearly, there is no simple yes or no answer to this, because much depends on context, and becomes more specific why one worries about this perhaps, and they can try and avoid it.

In What Way Do Drug Tests Work?

It is necessary to understand what the standardized drug tests are intended to achieve in the first place. It is worth mentioning that when you apply to a job or take a test for any insurance purposes or other legal reasons, the screen is very rarely used for the checking of CBD levels. Most of the time, CBD, which is a substance present in the cannabis plant and non-addictive in nature, is not an ‘unwanted’ substance or ‘problem areas’ that most employers would worry about. On the contrary, they are mainly performed to detect the presence of THC (Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol) or better still more accurately the metabolites of THC.

This is because when the body confronts THC, there is a change in it, converting it into other forms. The most dominant one that drug testing facility is concerned with is known as 11-nor-9-carboxy-THC (THC-COOH). This metabolite is stable in fat, and hence can be retained in the fat cells of your body only to be gradually re-evacuated. Hence, the problem is not the CBD per se but the probability that the embedded CBD in your product has THC. Therefore, this is the primary reason that users ask themselves the question, ‘will CBD fail a drug test?’

Center point of the discussion: THC present in Hemp Derived CBD Products

2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp for industrial purposes and hemp derived products including CBD nationwide. However, it came with one major condition: the hemp plant and all its products must contain 0.3% or less THC on dry weight basis. Even though the percentage is too low and can’t be intoxicating, it is non-zero. A person’s failure to pass a drug test while consuming CBD will most likely come from this trace amount of THC.

Now imagine drinking a bit of decaf. There is still caffeine in decaf coffee but much in lesser amounts. If you are highly allergic to caffeine or have taken massive amounts of decaf coffee, you may feel it still. In line with this, it is possible to utilize a CBD product that contains 0.3% of THC but in large doses or for prolonged periods, causing the THC levels in the body to increase. When enough of this occurs, the threshold level of a normal drug test may be reached turning the results positive.

CBD: Not All CBD Is Created Equal.

As you’re browsing for the CBD products options, you will come across phraseologies such as ‘full spectrum’, ‘broad spectrum’ and ‘isolate’. Knowing what these terms mean is a significant portion of your exposure to risk evaluation. That is why the question that most people ask whether will CBD fail a drug test is dependent on the type of product that will be used.

Our Full Spectrum CBD product

The main feature of the full spectrum CBD oil is the presence of all chemicals that occur naturally in the composition of the hemp, this includes the cannabidiol, some other a couple of cannabinoids (C.B.G, C.B.N), terpenes, and vitally, very low, but present, levels of THC usually up to 0.3% in accordance with the regulations. According to enthusiasts utilizing full spectrum products, all these ingredients act together as one i.e. the components support one another thus boosting the overall therapeutic effect pronounced as the “entourage effect”. Nonetheless, the main component in full spectrum CBD is THC thus the rationale for carrying out a drug test to confirm in most cases remained true.

Other CBD Products – Broad Spectrum

CBD products that are broad spectrum is a consensus. Such products do include several cannabinoids whilst including different terpenes to help the enhanced entourage effect. However, such products go through any other stages that removes the traceable THC. There is a certain level of preference for those who seek the benefits of various products from the plant excluding THC. The risk though is less than in case of full spectrum will still exist however insignificant there is a minimal risk of trace contamination in the production therefore it is very important to consider the brand factors.

Isolation of CBD

The purest form of cannabidiol (CBD) is referred to as CBD isolate, which is usually more than 99% pure. During the extraction and purification processes, every other cannabinoid, including terpenes and THC, is strictly eliminated, leaving behind a powder or a crystalline solid that only contains CBD. Anyone who needs to undertake drug testing is recommended to opt for CBD isolate since it is the only form of CBD that contains no THC at all. However, if you start getting anxious and begin thinking, ‘will CBD fail a drug test,’ then using the isolate significantly reduces the chances of detection, if any, almost to zero.

Essential Factors Determining the Positive Outcome for the Tests

Whenever you are using a full spectrum product, there is still no guarantee you will test positive. Other factors are involved which make the question ‘will CBD fail a drug test?’ one with an answer for each person.

• Amount and Ingestion Interval: This is arguably the most important variable. It is obvious that a person who takes a full spectrum CBD every day in huge amounts is more susceptible than one who uses it occasionally. With repetitive usage, the amount of THC metabolites in the factors bond in the fatty tissues increases.
• Physiology: Each person’s organism is unique. Every person’s weight, age, B.M.I. and speed of metabolism affect the rate of clearance of substances such as T.H.C.
• Product Quality and Label Accuracy: The cannabis and primarily, the CBD market, is not regulated by the FDA. Therefore, many products may contain tetrahydrocannabinol in more quantities than what the labels indicate. Several reviews have indicated that a number of CBD products sold on the internet are poorly labeled. This adds more weight to the question “will CBD fail a drug test”.
• The type of drug test: Various tests comprise different levels of sensitivity and time frames of detection. Urine drug tests are mainly used for pre-employment purposes and the window for detection of THC metabolites is anywhere from 3 days up to 15 days or even longer in chronic users. The detection window for both blood and saliva test is however short. Nonetheless, hair follicles have the capability of detecting not less than 3 months past level of THC.

Protection from Endangerment: Choosing Wisely

In case you consume CBD and are subject to drug testing, you may engage several mitigating measures in reducing the possibility of ingesting cannabidiol. That’s the most reassuring way of tackling the issue of “will CBD fail a drug test.”

• Think Twice When Opting For a CBD Product: Since it is pure these products tend to be in high demand because of their reduced toxicity. However, if you desire something which is not a single compound and contains other, active compounds, the best next alternate is a high-quality broad spectrum product. It is advisable to stay away from Full Spectrum Products once you know you will be taking a drug test in the future.
• Keep In Mind That You Will Have A Third Party Analysis: The Concept of Free Will Should Be Shunned. Every CBD company of repute employs a third party laboratory to assess its Intra batch and Intra step results through a third party and this analysis is called a Certification of analysis (COA). This should be evident in their websites.
• Get Comfortable With Reading a Reach Report: When a report is presented, the CBD compound level profile is studied. Delta 9 THC readings should be examined for accuracy. All measurements on this compound should say “ND” which is Non-Detectable or should be read as 0.0% or less. In case you should be interested in purchasing every product, especially full spectrum, make it a point to check and see whether the THC content is 0.3% and not more. The COA reading will help you the most.
• Discontinue Use in Advance of a Test: Should you anticipate being subjected to a drug test in the near future, the safest course of action would be to avoid the consumption of any CBD product (including an isolate) for at least two to three weeks before the test. This allows a sufficient period for the elimination of any metabolites as much as possible. There are concerns which pose most people’s questions to be will CBD fail a drug test. Well, that is the only way most certainly.

Commonly Asked Topics

• Are there chances of failing the drug tests because of Cannabinoid infused Lotions and creams? It is highly improbable. Quality topical cannabidiol containing products are to be used on the skin and function on receptor targets for cannabinoids on the skin. There is no reason to worry about them leading to detection of THC metabolites on a test because they are not absorbed into the systemic circulation. Possible exceptions include trans-dermal products, such as patches, intended to deliver an active ingredient through skin absorption into the bloodstream.
• I took a test and failed, but I’m telling them that I only use cannabidiol, can I get away with it? It is entirely dependent upon the employer’s policy. Several employers and companies will have a zero tolerance for any THC, of any kind. Others may have a more flexible stance particularly if the residence state has a policy of legality. However, there is no acceptable answer like, “I use legal CBD,” for a positive test for THC. It does not matter how many times you are asked, “will CBD fail a drug test?” The fact is the answer depends entirely on their policy and THC content guideline.
• Can This Product be Completely Safe If Labeled “THC Free”? “THC Free” may sound promising but it is not an absolute certification. The absolute surety can only be guaranteed by checking a current third party COA. The COA, on the other hand, contains the non-subjective validation of a complaint with the contents of a product. A laboratory report is not made of advertisement and it must always be trusted more.
• How many THCs are in a CBD Item that Will Turn the Test Positive? Answering such a question is not an easy task as it depends on several factors such as all of the individual considerations mentioned above and the cut-off point of the test itself. The 50 ng/mL cut-off is the most widely used for most urine analyses. For example, it is impossible to quantify the amount of full-spectrum CBD intake that would cause one to go over the permissible limits because the results are rather compound. In this regard, there is no straightforward answer to the question, ‘will CBD fail a drug test?’.

To Sum Up

Having said that, will CBD fail a drug test in the first place? You bet it does. The issue is not with the CBD consumption but all the other sources of THC commonly found in hemp based products (most especially) the rich full spectrum ones. Those ones are prone to causing a build up that leads to the detection of THC in the system upon a drug test. Unfortunately, the market does not have any standards and therefore aside from consumers encountering cases of false advertisement there is also the issue of safety: in fact most of these products are of low quality and unsafe to use.

But one can manage this risk. This is possible through discerning the right use of different CBD spectrums, going for non-THC products such as broad spectrums or CBD isolate, making a condition whatsoever for proof of the third parties lab tests and enjoying the use of CBD in relaxation. Education and hard work are your very best weapons. Thereby becoming a health conscious and consumer can always make wise decisions as they can influence personal wellbeing without risking your job.