The drug tests detect the presence of the substance tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites. Even though they don’t generally test for CBD, many CBD products have certain quantities of THC. So theoretically, it must result in a failed drug test.
The CBD products that are derived from industrial hemp, a federally legal type of cannabis with low-THC levels. Even though some CBD products claim to contain no THC, contamination might have occurred during the production process. In other cases, the producer’s labeling may not include the info but it might have THC.
If you’re still asking yourself the question “Will CBD Oil show up on a drug test or not?” then keep reading to find out the answers to your curiosity.
What is CBD?
Cannabis sativa is a very potent and versatile plant that is cultivated due to its numerous benefits, ranging from food including the hemp seed, the hemp-based construction materials as well as for it’s medicinal and recreational uses.
Researchers have found over 400 chemical compounds in the cannabis plant. Out of these 400, around 80 are biologically active. These chemical compounds are available only in the cannabis plant and surprisingly appear nowhere else in nature.
Cannabinoids are considered to be one of the most important biologically active chemical compounds found in cannabis. They include CBD, THC, CBG, CBC, and CBN.
THC is a psychoactive chemical compound in cannabis and is responsible for the “high” feeling one gets from marijuana. Consumption of CBD, on the other hand, doesn’t result in any “high” feeling. This is one of the reasons why many researches are going on to determine its potential in treating medical problems.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says that products that have THC over the federally legal limit of 0.3% are illegal. As a result, the United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) has categorized them as a Schedule I drug.
How does a drug test for cannabis work?
The urine test is one of the most common diagnostic tests for cannabis. The urine drug test is an “immunoassay test”. It means it latches on to specific drugs or their metabolites by using antibodies. In this case, it tries to control the presence of THC and its metabolites.
It’s believed that urine drug tests usually try to detect the following substances in a person:
- alcohol
- amphetamines
- benzodiazepines
- opiates
- cocaine
- cannabis
In case the antibodies identify a drug, they produce a signal that indicates that the test has failed. The American Family Physician (AAFP), the federal government is responsible for setting the drug concentration levels for urine drug screening.
If the test finds a drug under the concentration threshold decided by AAFP, it will show a negative result. Whereas in case the result is positive on the screening test, then that person needs to undergo a follow-up test.
Confirmatory tests like gas chromatography, mass spectroscopy, or high-performance liquid chromatography are comparatively more accurate in determining the presence of drugs and their metabolites in the body.
Also, doctors and people responsible for the testing process must take great care in analyzing the results of a positive test as false-positive and false-negative tests might occur. The AAFP states that the test can detect weed for up to 3 days after a single use and over 30 days in case of heavy use. This might occur as THC is soluble in fat that the body stores in the fat compartments. As a person burns the fat, it can gradually release THC. As a result, the kidneys might eliminate it and its metabolites during the test.
However, it’s very unlikely that CBD will show up on a drug test. If you’re afraid that your CBD oil contains traces of THC, then you can go for those CBD products that don’t have THC. You can also choose CBD isolates. It’s advisable to go for CBD oils from reputable manufacturers. Many manufacturers get their products tested by a third party. If you are still concerned about the levels of CBD and that you might fail a drug test, then use high-quality CBD oils with zero THC. This way you can rest assured that you are using THC free CBD oil.