Is There Any Way To Tell If Cbd Would Register On A Drug Test?

By Author: Sativa Bliss Canabis
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Cannabidiol is gaining popularity as a natural remedy for a wide range of symptoms, but one common worry is whether or not it will affect one's performance on a drug test.

There is no simple answer to this question.

There are a number of variables at play here, including the CBD oil's purity and concentration, the user's dosage, and the type of CBD being used.

Further, as we shall see, certain medications can cause a false positive result on a drug test. However, the truth is typically revealed after additional testing is performed.

Fortunately, we've got an in-depth guide that explains everything you need to know about CBD and drug tests to clear up the confusion and answer your question.

What is CBD?

CBD is just one of over 400 cannabinoids discovered in cannabis. CBD and THC are both members of the cannabinoid family of compounds. Being biologically active means that they can have some kind of effect on your body.

THC is the main psychoactive compound found in marijuana. The psychoactive component of marijuana is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. However, while CBD has psychoactive ...
... effects, it does not produce a high when taken by itself.

In light of the FDA's position that CBD oil and other CBD products derived from hemp are supplements, the agency has not imposed any rigorous regulations on the industry.

Pure CBD should not cause you to fail a standard drug test. To avoid unintentionally ingesting THC, it's important to only purchase CBD from reputable vendors, even if the label claims otherwise.

Any product containing more than 0.3% THC is considered illegal by the FDA. Additionally, the DEA does not approve of THC concentrations above this threshold, placing it in the most restrictive category of Schedule I substances. [Source]

Just what is it in it for you? THC is still illegal and may be one of the substances tested for in a drug test unless you live in a state where medical and recreational marijuana are legal.

Types of CBD

There are three distinct types of cannabidiol, distinguished by the number and composition of the remaining marijuana compounds. Other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids in marijuana are also beneficial (believed to contain phytonutrients and antioxidant properties).

In order to make an informed purchase of CBD products, it is important to understand that they may contain a wide range of these compounds and in varying proportions. You can learn what is in your CBD product by looking at the label or packaging.

Full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD, and CBD isolate are the three most common forms of CBD sold in dispensaries.

Full-Spectrum CBD

This variety of CBD can be found in a variety of delivery systems, including ingestibles, topical lotions, oils, and salves. CBD oil is different from hemp oil because it is extracted from the plant's flowers, leaves, and stalks rather than its seeds.

Full-spectrum All of marijuana's natural compounds are present in CBD extract. In other words, it has terpenes, flavonoids, and other cannabinoids, including trace amounts of THC.

In cases where THC is not being extracted from the hemp plant, it may be difficult to achieve the desired concentration. When the plant is grown for industrial purposes, it has very little THC in it to begin with, so there is a natural cap on how much can be found in the finished product.

Is it possible to detect full-spectrum CBD on a standard drug test? As you'll see, that's not necessarily the case.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

This form of CBD is more uncommon and typically comes in the form of an oil.

It's similar to full-spectrum in that it includes terpenes and other cannabinoids along with the main cannabinoids. However, broad-spectrum CBD contains no THC and is therefore unlikely to cause false-negative results on drug tests designed to detect THC.

CBD Isolate

CBD Isolate is, as the name implies, CBD by itself, with no added THC or other cannabinoids. Because of the low THC content of hemp plants, they are a common source of this type of cannabis.

Due to the lack of oversight in the CBD industry, it is important to only buy CBD isolate from a reputable dispensary to ensure you are getting exactly what you pay for.

Where does CBD go during the metabolic process?

In the same way that THC is broken down in the liver, CBD is also processed there. Between two and four hours after ingestion, plasma levels are highest. Both cannabidiol (CBD) and tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) have an elimination half-life of around two hours.

CBD, like THC, is processed by the liver, which means it could result in a negative drug test.

Can CBD Turn into THC?

No. However, studies in both animals and humans have shown that CBD cannot be converted into THC in the body, so testing positive for THC with THC-free CBD should be a non-issue. [Source]

Cannabidiol: Does It Show Up on Drug Tests? Because they are calibrated to detect THC rather than CBD, drug tests are theoretically unable to detect CBD.

The problem arises when low-quality products incorrectly label their contents, leading to the possibility of a false-positive result in the presence of THC.

How to Tell If a CBD Product Also Contains THC

Read the Label

First things first, if you have faith in the seller, read the specs. It's important to keep an eye out for, among other things:

Whether or not the CBD was extracted from hemp or marijuana by the manufacturer.
Whichever CBD product you choose, full spectrum, broad spectrum, or isolate,
Find out the exact percentages of each ingredient and ensure that the THC level is below 0.3 percent.
Select only products with detailed labels that list the CBD content and any other ingredients.

In general, you should stay away from products that make exaggerated health claims.

The FDA has made it clear that only one CBD product, Epidiolex, has been approved for medical use.

And there isn't a lot of evidence showing that CBD treats anything anyway. Because cannabidiol (CBD) is only used for its therapeutic benefits, you should avoid any brand that makes unproven medical claims.

Do Your Research

You should learn as much as you can about the company behind the product and see if it has undergone any testing at a reputable independent lab. Also keep an eye out for these other factors:

CO2 extraction
Solventless
Decarboxylation
USDA-certified organic
Pesticide/ herbicide-free
No preservatives
No additives

Do Drug Tests Reveal CBD Oil Use?

The majority of CBD oil products do not contain any THC. However, full-spectrum CBD oil may cause a false positive on a drug test.

A total of 15 people took a full-spectrum CBD product, and 7 of them tested positive for THC. Low statistical power aside, the study did find that participants with high creatine levels shared other positive characteristics.

When it comes to drug tests, do CBD gummies show up?

The same holds true for CBD gummies; unless they are full-spectrum or tainted with THC, they will not show up on a drug test. Depending on your individual biochemistry, they may not even be noticeable if they are full-spectrum.

If you're worried about getting into trouble, you might want to stick to CBD isolate or broad-spectrum products from reliable vendors.

How Do Different Drug Tests Detect Cannabis Use?

Cannabinoids like THC can be absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, as well as through the nails and hair. Because of this, cannabinoid detection methods center on potential sites of exposure.

Collecting samples and running diagnostics are the first steps in the process. False results are common, so a follow-up test is typically only performed after a positive preliminary one.
Urine Test

This is the most frequently performed examination because it requires minimal patient discomfort and provides for simple sample collection.

Only heavy marijuana users will be affected by the 15-day detection window for THC metabolites in urine. Using cannabis once may take up to three days to show effects, while using CBD rarely shows.

Blood Test

The chances of being subjected to a blood drug test at your place of employment or education are much lower than they are for a urine test. THC also has a short half-life in the bloodstream, at most five hours, though its metabolites could linger for up to a week.

Exactly why are we putting you through this? Experts can use blood tests to determine if someone is impaired, which is often necessary after an accident where intoxication is suspected.

Saliva Test

Is there any evidence that CBD would show up in a saliva drug test? CBD is not tested for in saliva samples. THC is also unusual. However, regular cannabis users may find that THC levels in their saliva remain elevated for as long as 72 hours after their last use.

It has been suggested that THC breath tests be implemented, but as of yet, there is no reliable method for doing so.

Hair Test

DNA Analysis of Hair Sample

The presence of THC metabolites in hair may be detected for up to 90 days. However, this examination is unusual.

There is no universally accepted threshold for detection of THC metabolites in a hair test.

Which drugs might cause a false-positive test for marijuana?

Such medications include:

Dronabinol
Pantoprazole
Efavirenz
Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like naproxen, ibuprofen, and sulindac

Factors That Might Cause Excessive THC Levels

Cross-Contamination

During production and storage, accidental contamination is always a possibility. This is especially the case if the producer intends to sell only CBD products or if their facility is also equipped to produce THC-only products.

It's also possible for CBD oil to become tainted if you keep it in the same place as substances that contain THC.

Second-Hand Exposure to THC

It's possible that a positive drug test result could be the result of being around someone who was smoking cannabis but not directly involved in the act. The likelihood of this occurring, however, is extremely low. Very rarely is there sufficient second-hand THC in the body to make a difference.

Nonetheless, studies have shown that the strain of marijuana and the ventilation in the room can both affect how much THC you absorb. The presence of high levels of THC is a direct result of using particularly potent cannabis strains and of the combination of a lack of ventilation and prolonged exposure.

Mislabeling

Researchers have found that many CBD products on the market contain negligible amounts of THC despite label claims to the contrary.

We've already mentioned that it's not unusual for CBD packaging to be misleading. When a company produces a large variety of goods, the likelihood of this happening increases. Since CBD products have not yet been uniformly regulated, it is also possible that products have been mislabeled on purpose.