Could CBD Cause You To Fail A Drug Test?

 Posted on July 22, 2019 in Uncategorized

With the legalization of marijuana for recreational and medicinal purposes spreading across the country, more and more employers are conducting drug tests, but could CBD cause you to fail one?

In a perfect world, Cannabidiol (CBD) shouldn’t cause you to fail any random or scheduled drug test either at work or undertaken by law enforcement.

That’s in a perfect world. In the imperfect world we live in, many common CBD products contain trace amounts of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). If enough THC is present in the CBD product you consume, it could lead to a positive indication on a drug test.

This means that in extremely rare cases taking enough CBD could lead to a positive indication, but that depends a lot on the quality of the product and its composition.

Why do some CBD products contain varying amounts of THC?

As the growth of CBD products has been extremely fast, not all products are regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. This is especially true when you’re purchasing CBD products from international companies.

Even when these products are clearly labeled with their ingredients, even small variations in the amount of THC in a CBD product could be enough to get a positive indication on a drug test. CBD products which are sold across America legally are required by federal law to contain less than 0.3% THC.

Other factors which influence the THC content of CBD products are where the CBD is sourced from, the manufacturing process, and what type of CBD products you’re purchasing.

What are some of the different types of CBD?

CBD is sourced from both marijuana plants and hemp plants. Both plants are part of the cannabis sativa family. While hemp is predominantly high in CBD and low in THC, marijuana is usually the opposite with much higher levels of THC.

Some of the different CBD products are:

• Full-Spectrum CBD – Full-Spectrum CBD contains all the other compounds found in the plant material including terpenes, terpenoids, flavonoids, and cannabinoids, including
• Broad-Spectrum CBD – Broad-Spectrum CBD products contain all the plant material the same as Full-Spectrum CBD with all the THC removed. It’s usually sold as an oil and isn’t very common.
• CBD Isolate – CBD Isolate is pure CBD with all the added plant material removed from the finished product. Most CBD Isolate is made from hemp plants rather than marijuana plants.

How much THC is enough to register on a drug test?

Different testing methods are going to have a different cut off points to determine whether there is enough THC present to trigger a positive indication. Also, different drug tests can pick up varying amounts of THC over different periods. Some of the common testing methods for drugs are:

• Urine Testing – Urine testing is common in many workplaces and can usually show THC anywhere from 3-14 days after use. This depends on the sensitivity of the test as well as how much THC was consumed.
• Blood Testing – For drug screening purposes such as employment requirements, blood testing is far less common because of the training required to administer the test. It’s also far less likely to show THC as it is quickly eliminated by the body from the bloodstream. Blood tests are much more accurate up to 5 hours after use and are more commonly used to show impairment such as when operating a motor vehicle.
• Saliva Testing – Saliva testing is becoming an increasingly popular way for many companies to test for cannabis. Most saliva tests do not show levels of THC present, only a positive indication for THC in saliva. THC can show up in saliva for anywhere up to 72 hours after use.
• Hair Testing – Hair testing for THC is one of the least common ways to test for THC but also has one of the longest detectable times. THC can be present in hair for up to 90 days after consumption.

Could CBD cause you to fail a drug test?

While CBD alone shouldn’t ever cause you to fail a drug test, it’s important that you know exactly what’s in your CBD product. By buying products from reliable and reputable companies which have CBD products that are approved by the FDA, you are more likely to ensure you’re getting products with only trace amounts of THC.

A huge thank you to marijuana author Ben Johnson for submitting another excellent article!

If you have been arrested for any marijuana-related offense or have questions regarding CBD products, please contact Fort Worth Criminal Defense Attorney Craig Dameron at 817-222-0624. A little research when you purchase your CBD products could save you a lot of headaches down the road.