Yes, CBD can show up on a drug test. But that’s not 100% always true. Things like the kind of CBD you use, how often you use it, when you’re tested, and other factors can influence your drug test results.
- Is CBD detectable on a drug test?
- How long does CBD stay in your system?
- Is CBD a drug?
- Can an employer fire you for using CBD oil?
- How To Avoid Failing A Drug Test While Using CBD
Can CBD Make You Fail a Drug Test?
Most drug tests, including urine drug test don’t check for CBD … but they do typically check for THC. And many CBD products are made with full-spectrum CBD, which has trace amounts of THC. So, in theory, yes — even if you “only” use CBD, you can fail a drug test (i.e., test positive for THC).
Urine drug tests that look for THC metabolites are the tests that most people are worried about when wondering if they will fail a drug test due to CBD products. THC metabolites build up over time with use, and they can stay present in the human body for a long time, causing you to fail a urine drug test. Depending on how much THC was used, you may get a positive urine drug screening result for weeks after a single exposure. This means if you used a CBD product that had some THC present, it is possible to fail a drug test, even though you didn’t knowingly ingest THC.
If you’re concerned about testing positive for THC, avoid full-spectrum CBD products like the plague. Products made with broad-spectrum CBD and CBD isolate, in theory, don’t have any THC in them at all. But, not all brands are 100% transparent, and not all products are tested by third-party labs.
In that case, if you want to continue to use CBD products without the risk of testing positive for THC, proceed with caution. Always read through certificates of analysis, or COAs, before purchasing and ingesting CBD products. COAs are third-party lab results that show EXACTLY what’s in a product, including CBD and THC.
We also recommend only purchasing from transparent brands you trust — even if sometimes, doing so comes with a higher price tag.
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
According to the co-medical director of the National Capital Poison Center, Kelly Johnson-Arbor, M.D., CBD stays in your system for about four to five days.
But! Things like what you eat, medications you take, how often you use CBD, and plenty of other factors may include how long CBD sticks around in the body or how long it’s detectable in your urine. So if CBD stays in a person’s system for five days, it might stay in another person’s system for ten.
Not to mention, CBD stays in different parts of your system for different amounts of time. In this case, whether or not you test positive may come down to what kind of test you take. Some tests may register THC ingested in the last seven days; others may register THC ingested in the last ninety days.
Urine, blood, saliva, and even hair follicle samples can check for things like THC — which shows up in trace amounts in some products made with full-spectrum CBD.
For those who are worried about passing a CBD drug test, consider taking a break from CBD for a while. But no matter what you choose, always talk with your doctor before making any changes to your health routine.
Starting, stopping, or disrupting a health routine may lead to negative side effects. Just check with a doctor to be on the safe side.
Is CBD a Drug?
This kind of depends on how you define what a drug is. But in general, yes — CBD is technically a drug that comes from the cannabis plant. That’s because a drug is something (usually a medicine or substance) that has a physiological effect when it’s ingested or “put” in the body.
Caffeine is a drug, nicotine is a drug, and even insulin is a drug. And since studies suggest that CBD has physiological effects (like reduced anxiety, sleepiness, and so on), it’s also considered a drug.
Can an Employer Fire You for Using CBD Oil?
Technically, yes, if you use CBD oil or CBD products in general, there’s a risk your employer may fire you after workplace drug testing. That’s because certain kinds of CBD have trace amounts of THC in them, like full-spectrum CBD. Should your employer require you to take a drug test, you may test positive for THC, which may result in termination.
Whether or not you’re drug tested at work largely depends on your employer. And whether or not you’re fired for a positive THC test may depend on your employer as well.
If you are drug tested for work and are concerned about testing positive for THC, it’s best to avoid using CBD products — especially full-spectrum CBD products.
How To Avoid Failing A Drug Test While Using CBD
While CBD alone won’t cause you to fail a drug test, many CBD products can have THC contamination. The absolute safest choice is to stop using CBD products for thirty days or more before you’re going to be tested.
That said, there are a few ways you can try to ensure your CBD products are free of traces of THC.
Check product names
Generally speaking, you’ll want to look for terms like CBD isolate, THC-free, pure CBD, broad-spectrum, and one-hundred percent CBD on the packaging of your CBD products. That said, this is still no guarantee the product won’t have traces of THC.
Check for a certificate of analysis (COA).
A COA shows that a proper third-party lab has tested the products you are ordering. A COA shows an analysis of the product’s compenents, and will generally show how much THC, of any, is in the product.
Acknowledge has all of our product COAs available for our customers, as we believe in transparency for all of our products.
How Acknowledge CBD Products Stand Out
At Acknowledge, we believe transparency is the key ingredient in trust. We want you to know exactly what you’re putting in your body, so we keep our ingredients simple, have our products third-party tested, and provide in-depth COAs.
Our CBD oil is carefully sourced from our regenerative farm in Maryland’s Pleasant Valley. We value sustainable practices that support the land, our products, and the health and well-being of our customers. If you’re looking for a CBD brand that you can trust, shop Acknowledge. If you have further questions, please reach out to us today.
The content provided by Acknowledge CBD is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new treatment or if you have any questions regarding a medical condition. Do not disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it based on information from this site. Reliance on any information provided by Acknowledge CBD is solely at your own risk.