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According to a 2018 survey of cannabidiol (CBD) users, many people are turning to CBD-only therapy in the hopes of finding relief from a variety of medical conditions, including anxiety, pain, and depression. But what many of these people do not realize is that they may be risking showing up positive on a drug test.
For anyone who might need to take a drug test for things like a new job, current job, or other commitment, it is important to understand why CBD products may lead to a positive drug test and what can be done to reduce the chances of this happening for qualifying medical marijuana patients.
Why CBD Oil Can Result in a Positive Drug Test
When people use CBD oil, they aren’t doing so to get high—or, if they are, they will be met with disappointment. It is THC (delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol), another cannabinoid found in cannabis, that can lead to noticeable psychoactive effects, not CBD.
CBD is legal at the federal level, meaning those who use hemp-derived CBD products in the United States are not breaking any laws.
Because CBD is legal and doesn’t make you high, few people would expect for CBD use to result in a positive drug test. Unfortunately, some 100% legal CBD oil can lead to a positive drug test.
Why? It is all due to the presence of THC in many CBD oils.
CBD oil often contains trace amounts of THC. In fact, it is legal to have 0.3% or less THC in a CBD oil sold in the United States, and this is enough to test positive for marijuana use.
How to Avoid a False-Positive
When you shop for CBD oil, you will usually find one of three types:
Full-spectrum hemp oil (FSHO)
Broad-spectrum hemp oil
CBD isolate
The difference between these options is the type of phytonutrients found within. FSHO contains not just CBD, but other cannabinoids, terpenes, and more found in the hemp plant...including up to 0.3% THC. This is enough to show up on some drug tests. Broad-spectrum CBD oils are similar to FSHO, but without THC. CBD isolate products should contain only CBD.
So, the logic stands that a broad spectrum hemp oil or CBD isolate would have 0.0% THC and would therefore not cause a positive drug test result. Unfortunately, things are not quite so simple.
Regulation is lacking in the CBD marketplace. You may purchase a broad spectrum CBD product, only
to find that it does actually contain THC.
This leaves consumers in a tricky position. If you want to use CBD oil and know that you may be subject to a drug test, you need to be extremely cautious.
One of the best things to do is to look for a CBD company that provides a Certificate of Analysis (COA) on every batch of CBD oil. You can examine the COA to confirm that there is 0% THC.
Another good option is to get a CBD-only product at a marijuana dispensary. Products in dispensaries are subject to higher testing standards than those that you find in stores or online and are therefore less likely to contain THC if they claim to be CBD-only.
Final Thoughts
Consumers should be aware that using CBD oil can result in a positive drug test. While CBD itself will not cause a false-positive, many legal CBD products contain high enough concentrations of THC to result in a positive drug test.
If you want to use CBD but are worried about drug tests, be sure to look for products that offer test results proving that there is no THC found within. And if you know that you will be drug tested soon, you can always take a week or two off of CBD until after you have been tested.
If you are an Arkansan suffering from one of these 18 medical conditions you may be eligible to treat your ailment with medical marijuana, which includes both THC and CBD products.
Click here to learn more about what Arkansas Marijuana Card's state-certified medical marijuana doctors can do for you, or give us a call at (844-249-8714) and our friendly support team can walk you through the entire process, and set you up with an appointment.
I recently lost a job in Indiana due to testing positive for marijuana. I know this happened because I am using CBD oil to help with anxiety. The oil I am using contains THC. Has this happened to others and what can I due to fight my employer’s decision?