People swear they only used 100% cannabidiol (CBD), but they still failed drug tests. But urine tests don’t check for CBD, so how can using this cannabis compound get you in trouble?
“CBD will not cause a false positive result,” says Steven Dudley, PharmD, a clinical toxicologist and director of the Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center. “When people using CBD products test positive on a cannabis or marijuana drug test, it has to do with one thing: THC contamination.”
Many CBD companies will tell you that their products contain small amounts tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana that gets you high. But according to Dudley, mislabeling is a major problem. As a result, THC may be contained in so-called 100% CBD oil or other CBD products labeled as THC-free. In fact, that’s one reason why CBD is not recommended if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Animal studies have shown that high doses have caused damage to developing fetuses. The health effects of CBD in unborn human babies are unknown.
As CBD becomes more popular, experts warn that frequent use could impact workplace drug testing for marijuana use. And while there’s no guarantee you’ll be able to use a CBD product and pass a drug test, “there is something to be said for responsible use,” says Dudley.
There are steps you can take to reduce your exposure to THC. But first, let’s dive into the sometimes confusing world of cannabis.
What is the difference between CBD, THC, marijuana and hemp?
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural substance found in cannabis, including marijuana and hemp. There is some evidence that CBD can relieve pain, anxiety, insomnia and other health problems. But scientists are still investigating the medical benefits of this cannabinoid.
Currently, there is only one FDA-approved CBD drug. It is a tightly controlled prescription drug used to treat rare types of seizures. But unregulated CBD products are available everywhere, from online sellers and local pharmacies to gas stations and grocery stores.
Marijuana contains CBD, but most CBD products come from hemp. Legally, hemp is any part of the cannabis plant with less than 0.3% delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (commonly referred to as THC). But it’s not 0.0%, so trace amounts of THC may be present in many CBD products made from hemp.
Large amounts of delta-9 THC can alter your mind and reflexes. But you can think of CBD more like ibuprofen.
“CBD is not psychoactive, and that is its main selling point,” says Dudley. “And there is some evidence for its role in the inflammatory pathway and the pain process, which is one of the main reasons people use it.”
How can using CBD cause you to fail a drug test?
Companies sell CBD products with little to no THC. The problem is that you may not be able to trust that the ingredients on the packaging are actually in the product.
Research shows that most CBD products sold online and in stores are not accurately labeled. While some products contain more or less CBD than advertised, the red flag among experts is that some products contain THC even if they are labeled THC-free.
Keep in mind that even small amounts of legal THC can be a problem. While you’re unlikely to fail a drug test after a single use, you’re more likely to test positive if you use CBD products frequently (daily for weeks or months) or in high doses.
“Maybe the instructions say to use it one to three times a day, but they start using it six times a day,” says Matthew D. Krasowski, MD, PhD, chairman of the Toxicology Committee of the College of American Pathologists . “Even though it’s not a huge amount of THC with each dose, it still accumulates.”
Another thing you should know is that urine tests check for THC metabolites – molecules that float around in the body after you break down a drug. A positive test shows that THC was once in your body. But it says nothing about how THC got there.
But THC metabolites can build up over time and linger in your body for a while. How long you test positive depends on how much and how often you use THC. Its metabolites usually appear in urine tests days to a week after a single exposure.
If you use THC products frequently, “it is certainly possible to test positive for two to three weeks,” Krasowski says.
How to Avoid Failing a THC Drug Test While Using CBD
Experts agree that the safest choice is to stop using CBD products, at least right before your urinalysis. While this isn’t a guarantee, it’s a good idea to abstain for at least 30 days before your drug test.
Other steps you can take include:
Try to buy THC-free products. Search for terms like broad-spectrum, THC-free, CBD isolate, or 100% CBD. Avoid anything labeled “full spectrum” as it is more likely to contain trace amounts of THC. But when it comes to product accuracy, “you’re really rolling the dice,” says Dudley. “As long as there is no enforced regulation, you can’t be sure what you’re going to get.”
Check whether you have a Certificate of Analysis (COA). Check that an accredited third-party laboratory tests the product you want to try. These labs analyze CBD products for high levels of THC and other cannabinoids and may have no link to the manufacturer.
“The COA can be good, but it only reflects what the manufacturer asks of the testing laboratory,” says Krasowski. “And that can be misleading or presented in a way that is not useful to consumers. It is difficult to say whether this is deliberate or sloppy.”
Email the CBD company if you find the COA but don’t understand the results.
Shop with a licensed pharmacy. These people are more likely than unlicensed sellers to test the ingredients in their products and be honest with you about the results. Why? Because they risk losing their license “and a lot of money” if they mislead customers, Dudley says.
“I’m not saying there aren’t good manufacturers out there, but it’s definitely the Wild West when you look at the CBD market in general,” he says. “And I think pharmacies are probably the ones doing the best work [regulating their products] because they have the most to lose.”
Is Using CBD Worth the Risk?
Weigh the pros and cons of taking an unregulated supplement and discuss with your doctor why you are taking CBD in the first place. They will help you find the best way to manage your medical conditions, which may include transitioning to more familiar treatments.
And think of the consequences of a failed drug test. If you use CBD or plan to do so in the future, ask yourself the following:
- Do you regularly undergo drug testing for work?
- Do you need to apply for a new job soon?
- Have you been personally or secondhand exposed to marijuana?
- Are you pregnant and live in a state that tests newborns for THC?
- Are you on probation? Does your probation officer know that you use CBD?
- Does a positive THC test affect employee job performance if you are injured on the job?
If you use CBD and fail a drug test, there are ways to take a closer look at your results. For example, your employer (or probation officer) may order a follow-up laboratory test to measure the ratio of CBD to THC. This provides more information than a simple screening for positive-negative drugs in the urine.
But urine tests are quick and cheap, and you may not get a second chance. “So even though you can ‘prove your innocence,’ you may be unfairly faced with the consequences of a failed drug screen,” says Dudley. “Prevention is really the key.”