Can you Fail a Drug Test Due to CBD?

By: Jane Schwab  |  Published on:  USDrugTestCenter .com

As the medical marijuana industry continues to leave its footprint on the field of medicine, science — and the general population — are exploring new ways of experiencing it. Cannabidiol, or CBD, has stepped into the spotlight as a highly-regarded form of alternative medicine and has gained much traction in the medical marijuana industry. Furthermore, its list of benefits is no longer purely hypothetical. A growing body of research is finding that CBD could be highly beneficial to treat certain medical conditions. That doesn’t mean it’s workplace-friendly, though, which leads to the question: Can you fail a drug test due to CBD?

What is CBD?

CBD is a cannabis compound that many claim has medical benefits but without the feeling of being high — something that happens as a result of the THC in marijuana. However, in typical CBD products, there is little to no THC.  (It’s important to note that many CBD providers have been found to overstate the amounts of CBD and understate the THC in their products, however, premium CBD manufacturers provide a certificate of analysis (COA) from a third party laboratory stating the exact amount of all cannabinoids, including CBD and THC in each batch of their CBD products.) 

Can You Fail a Drug Test Due to CBD?

According to Quest Diagnostics Director of Science and Technology, Barry Sample, CBD likely won’t show up on a drug test: “If the product contains only CBD and has had the THC removed, then an individual being tested would not be expected to test positive for marijuana or marijuana metabolite.” In other words, marijuana drug tests screen for THC, not CBD.

This is an important point, because CBD is still widely taboo, as people assume it’s the same as marijuana. However, because it doesn’t bring that kind of high, people who use it aren’t actually impaired. Thus, the risks that drug use brings simply aren’t there.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the recommended cutoff level of THC is 50 ng/mL to pass a drug test.

Most hemp oil or CBD products are usually sold with much lower levels of THC (0.3% or less), so most CBD consumers won’t have trouble passing a drug test. For those using extremely high levels of CBD or hemp oil (over 2,000 mg per day), it’s possible, though unlikely, that this could produce a “false positive” result on a drug test. (The recommended dose is 30 mg per day.)  In the event of a false positive, a follow-up test can provide more conclusive results. 

So, it would seem that CBD alone is not enough to raise any red flags on a drug test; although, if you’d prefer to err on the safe side, refraining from taking CBD if you’re expecting a drug test is likeliest the best approach.

US Drug Test Centers is an industry leader in providing nationwide drug testing solutions for individuals and employers alike. To learn more about drug testing services, specialty drug testing, or to find a drug testing center near you, contact us at 866-566-0261 or order a test online.

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