CBD & Drug Testing: Can You Test Positive?

Testing positive for using CBD is a worry that many people have. After all, it wasn’t until 2018 that the federal government recognized hemp as a separate plant from marijuana -- so it makes sense that a lot of people still think CBD is the same thing as cannabis. But do you need to be worried that it might come back on a drug screen?

For most, it’s relatively unlikely, but understanding the truth about CBD and full-spectrum CBD oil drug test protocols will go a long way toward giving you the confidence you need when approaching a drug screening.

Testing for Full-Spectrum CBD Oil: What Goes Into A Drug Screening

When you’re taking a drug test that screens for “cannabis,” what it’s actually checking for is evidence that you’ve used products containing high concentrations of THC. THC is the psychoactive compound in marijuana, but it is found in all cannabis plants. Rather than checking for THC directly, however, the screening test responds to the presence of a metabolite found in the body after THC is ingested, usually THC-COOH. For cannabis tests, this threshold is usually 50ng/dl of THC-COOH. This amount, however, is consistent with fairly regular usage of a moderate amount of marijuana.

In theory, testing positive for using CBD shouldn’t be a concern. Legalized CBD is derived from industrial hemp. While hemp is a cannabis plant that contains THC, by law industrial hemp must contain 0.3% or less. Compare this to marijuana, which can have THC concentrations as high as 30% or more, and the disparity in their potential effects becomes apparent.

Industrial Hemp

Like we said above, the industrial hemp plant is a close relative of marijuana. Both are cannabis plants, but the distinction between the two lies legally in the THC concentration of each plant. Under the 2018 Farm Bill (which recognized industrial hemp as a separate plant), hemp and hemp-derived products are federally legal since they contain only trace amounts of THC. Testing positive for using CBD, then, won’t be a concern for standard users under normal circumstances.

When Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Affects Drug Tests

There are circumstances, however, where a high-quality CBD product with a beneficial full-spectrum formula may impact a drug screening, but they require very specific circumstances.

• Your body metabolizes THC faster than normal - While it may only be in trace amounts if your body creates a large amount of THC-COOH or releases a large amount from storage as a response to the presence of THC, that may be caught on a screening.
• You’ve also been using high-THC products - If you’ve been using marijuana products, which are higher in THC, your body may already be over the limit. Even if you’ve stopped using marijuana, testing positive for using CBD may be possible as the trace amounts of THC could increase the amount of time needed for your body to process and eliminate enough metabolite to pass your screening.
• Your products are not hemp-derived - Some marijuana products also have high CBD concentrations. These products can, technically, be marketed as CBD (because marijuana does naturally contain it), but they will have high THC concentrations. These may not be legal at the federal level or under your state’s laws. While they may look like CBD products, they are not and they will cause a failed drug screening.

Passing Your Drug Screening

If you know you have a screening coming up or that you may be subject to testing, there are some steps you can take to keep from testing positive for using CBD.

• Avoid High-THC Products - The easiest way to not have a large amount of THC metabolites in your system is to limit your intake of THC-containing products. Avoiding marijuana and marijuana-derived capsules, oils, edibles, and topicals will help you keep your THC levels low, even while using CBD.
• Make Sure You’re Using High-Quality CBD - THC-free CBD products have only the barest traces of THC remaining. While, technically, not every bit of THC can be removed from a full-spectrum product, the levels present fall well below normal testable limits. In order to get the best from a full-spectrum CBD oil but still pass your drug test, opt for products from companies that will supply a certificate of analysis proving their low THC concentration.
• Detox, Don’t Mask - If you’re still worried about testing positive for using CBD, consider a detox that’s meant to help you clean your system and increase elimination. Be careful, though, not to try to mask your sample. While a detox is meant to support your natural elimination process, a masking agent is meant to hide the presence of full-spectrum CBD oil while drug testing by “fooling” the test. If it’s detected, however, it may flag your sample for increased scrutiny, or depending on the conditions of the screening, automatically count as a failed test.
• Know Before You Go - If you’re worried about your test results, you can always test yourself at home beforehand. From $20 kits at your local pharmacy to $1 test strips at many dollar stores, many of these kits are calibrated to the same 50ng/dl threshold as most screenings. Pick up a test and verify for yourself whether your care regimen will lead you to test positive for using CBD. If the results aren’t what you hoped, this will give you the advance warning you need to lower your intake or make other lifestyle adjustments.

Choose CBD You Can Count On

Choosing a reputable, high-quality CBD brand not only helps limit your risk of a false positive, but it ensures you receive a better wellness product to support your endocannabinoid system. At EndoCoast, we use only non-GMO hemp grown without potentially harmful chemicals, so we have the best hemp possible to make our ultra-pure, high-quality CBD oil. Using a clean CO2 extraction process, we create a premium oil that is then formulated with organic and vegan ingredients to give you the best CBD products you can trust to be safe, pure, and potent.

Take charge of your wellness and find your #coast without testing positive for using CBD. Order your CBD from EndoCoast today.