Does Cbd Show Up On a Drug Test
Now that consumers are becoming more familiar with CBD, it is beginning to raise many questions as to whether CBD can show up on a drug test. Because CBD comes from the same plant species as cannabis, many are relating CBD with marijuana or THC. The major question is, does CBD or CBD oil show up on a drug test? The answer can be a little bit complicated. How CBD oil reflects on a drug test screening will be dependent on the type of CBD product. Let’s break down how CBD can affect a drug test and what could potentially make you fail.
Can CBD show up on a drug test?
CBD can potentially show up on a drug test but only if the drug test screening tests for the cannabinoid. It is very uncommon for employers or law enforcement to be looking for specific cannabinoids because drug tests are normally designed to look for illicit substances such as THC, narcotics and steroids, etc.
Because CBD is legal and doesn’t impair or artificially improve athletic performance, there is no reason for organizations to be testing for CBD.
Can CBD oil show up on a drug test?
We established that CBD itself does not affect drug screening, however, the CBD you use might do so. Again, going back to the fact that drug screenings are only testing for illicit substances, it isn’t the CBD in the oil that will affect the drug test but the THC content.
If you are using a full spectrum CBD oil, keep in mind that there can be up to 0.3% THC and therefore this may result in a positive drug test for THC.
Don’t worry, though, you can easily avoid a situation like this if you choose a Broad Spectrum and CBD isolate oil instead.
What’s the difference between Full Spectrum, Broad Spectrum, and Pure CBD Isolate?
The biggest difference between the three different types of extracts is their THC and cannabinoid content, which each makes them more refined.
Full Spectrum CBD contains up to 0.3% THC, a variety of minor cannabinoids like CBG and CBN, terpenes, and other nutrients the hemp plant carries. The content of THC can also be dependent on whether the extraction was done with a hemp or cannabis plant. For example, if the full spectrum of CBD has been extracted from the cannabis plant, there will be a higher content of THC while a hemp-derived extract has the opposite.
Broad Spectrum CBD has a high content of CBD but does not contain any traces of THC. There will also be content of minor cannabinoids such as CBD and CBN without terpenes or other nutrients.
CBD Isolate is the most refined version of CBD because it does not contain anything else but 99% pure CBD. It’s exactly as the name implies, a pure crystalline form of strictly the cannabinoid CBD. No THC or other cannabinoids are available in a CBD to isolate oil.
Factors that can potentially lead to a positive drug test with CBD Oil
Even if the product says that it is THC-free, there is no guarantee. Any company could follow proper extraction processes but still produce a product that can have detectable traces of THC.
Here are three ways this can happen:
Using a product with THC
As mentioned before, using a full spectrum CBD oil will have traces of THC in it and that is the most common way to fail a drug test. Even though there are very few traces of THC in the full spectrum CBD oil, it is highly probable that it will trigger a positive for THC.
The product has been mislabeled
Since CBD and THC have just recently become legal, mislabeling is a big issue in the industry. In the United States, the FDA tested several CBD products and about 70% contained more or less CBD than advertised and significantly high levels of THC. The concerning part of this is that consumers who are looking for CBD without THC because they suffer from severe anxiety can potentially make their condition worse by taking THC.
Cross Contamination
Another issue that the industry is running into is the locations of hemp and cannabis farms being in proximity to each other. This leads to the cross-pollination of the hemp and cannabis plants, affecting the THC levels of industrial hemp. Farmers must be constantly testing their plants and products through growth and extraction to ensure the THC levels do not exceed 0.3%.
How to make sure that your CBD product does not contain any THC
Check the label
Look at the label to determine whether the CBD is full spectrum, broad spectrum or CBD isolate. You want to make sure that the CBD extract is either a broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate to ensure that there is no content of THC in the product.
Check the COA
A certificate of analysis is a document produced by a third-party laboratory that shows the entire breakdown of compounds in the CBD extract or product. A certificate of analysis will identify whether there is legitimate content of THC in the product. Always check to make sure that the company you are purchasing from provides updated COAs to ensure the highest quality of your CBD products.
Buy from a reputable company
You want to be purchased from a company that not only offers third-party lab testing but other high-quality standards such as the following:
In summary, CBD will not show up on a drug test unless the drug screening test is specifically testing for that cannabinoid. Drug test kits are screening for illicit substances such as THC and the only way CBD oil will affect a drug test is if there is THC content. If you still want to consume CBD without having to worry that it will show up on a drug test, it is best to use a broad spectrum of pure CBD isolate products. CBD2GO.ca checks off all the above boxes with their variety of CBD products. Be sure to check out their wide selection of broad-spectrum and pure CBD products if you are looking for something without traces of THC.