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CBD and Drug Tests: Can Taking CBD Make You Fail?

By Sleep Health Energy Team · · Updated

Drug test result
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Love the benefits of CBD but need to pass a drug test? Sometimes your work might require you to take a random drug test. And if you like taking CBD or need to take CBD for certain health conditions, you’re probably wondering:

  • Does CBD show up on a drug test?
  • Can you fail a drug test due to CBD?
  • How long does CBD stay in your system?

These are valid questions, especially if you take CBD every day. Standard drug tests look for a THC breakdown product, not for CBD itself.

Pure CBD is unlikely to cause a failed test. The real risk is THC, which many CBD products contain, sometimes without saying so on the label.

No product can guarantee you will pass. Here is what the research shows and how to lower your risk.

Drug screen vs Drug test

First of all, what’s the difference between a drug screen and a drug test?

Workplace testing usually happens in two steps. The first is a quick, inexpensive screening test, usually an immunoassay on a urine sample.

A screen looks for a class of drug metabolites and reports a positive or negative result against a cutoff. It is fast, but it can cross-react with other substances.

A positive screen is normally sent for a confirmation test, such as mass spectrometry. Confirmation identifies the exact substance and measures how much is present.

Will CBD show up on a drug screen or drug test?

We won’t lie to you: there is always a chance that a CBD product will lead to a positive result. Both steps check for a THC metabolite (THC-COOH), not CBD. THC is the intoxicating cannabinoid that many CBD products contain in small amounts. How long it stays detectable depends on how much and how often you use it.

Federally legal hemp must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight. That is a small amount, but labels are not always accurate.

A JAMA study of CBD products sold online found THC in 18 of 84 products (about 21%). Only about 31% were accurately labeled for CBD content.

There is another catch. Taking a THC-containing product daily, or at high doses, raises the amount of THC metabolite in your urine. That makes a positive result more likely.

When asking, “Will CBD oil make you fail a drug test?”, consider how much THC the product actually contains, your dose, and how often you take it.

So, does CBD show up on a drug test? Standard tests do not look for CBD. They look for THC, which many CBD products contain.

Can you fail a drug test due to CBD? Yes, if the product contains enough THC.

In a controlled study of urine drug testing after CBD, a single dose of pure CBD did not cause a positive result under federal workplace cutoffs (50 ng/mL screen, 15 ng/mL confirmation). A CBD-dominant cannabis product that also contained THC did produce confirmed positives.

A product labeled under 0.3% THC is not a guarantee, especially with daily use.

Will CBD cause a “false positive” drug test?

A false positive is a screening result that comes back positive for a substance the person didn’t take. Confirmation testing is designed to catch these.

A positive result after CBD use is often not a true false positive, though. If the product contained THC, the test correctly found THC.

Common reasons for an unexpected result include:

  • Some medications, such as efavirenz and certain NSAIDs, can cross-react with cannabinoid screening tests. Dronabinol is a prescription form of THC, so it will cause a true positive.
  • Mislabeled or untested CBD products that contain more THC than stated
  • Heavy exposure to second-hand marijuana smoke in a closed space

drug test form

3 ways to avoid “false positive” drug tests when taking CBD

No method is guaranteed, but these 3 steps can lower your risk of a positive or false positive result.

Understand how results are confirmed

Screening tests are more prone to cross-reactions than confirmation tests. In federal programs, a positive screen goes to a confirmation test before it is reported.

If you think a result is wrong, ask whether it was confirmed and how to request a retest of the split sample.

Let your employer or test administrator know about any medications you take

And yes, this includes any and all CBD supplements you take, whether medically or recreationally. It’s best to be completely upfront and honest rather than wait for a surprise false positive. Some medications may also affect how your body stores THC. Be aware that many testing programs will not accept CBD use as an explanation for a confirmed THC positive. The U.S. Department of Transportation, for example, does not treat CBD use as a valid medical explanation. Check your employer's policy before you take any CBD product.

Be careful of the CBD products you use

CBD products with incorrect labels that don’t reflect an accurate THC dosage, products that haven’t been properly tested, have been contaminated, or defective products in general, can all affect the results of a drug test. Choose a company that publishes a batch-specific certificate of analysis (COA) from an independent lab. Check that the COA matches your product's batch and shows THC as not detected or below the stated level.

Best CBD products to take so you won’t fail a drug test

If you are subject to testing, the safest choice is to avoid CBD products altogether. If you still use CBD, the product type matters. Here’s what to look for.

CBD Isolate

CBD isolate products are designed to contain only CBD, with THC removed. That makes them the lowest-risk option for people concerned about drug testing, as long as the lab results confirm it.

Wild Theory CBD Gummies Isolate is one CBD isolate option. If you’re not a big fan of gummies, Wild Theory has isolate CBD oil. Check the batch COA for THC before you rely on any isolate product.

Broad Spectrum CBD

Broad-spectrum CBD contains CBD plus other cannabinoids and terpenes, with THC removed. Removal is not always complete, so trace THC is possible.

Wild Theory offers several broad-spectrum CBD oils:

Full Spectrum CBD

Unlike CBD isolate and broad-spectrum CBD, full-spectrum CBD does contain THC, up to 0.3% by dry weight in legal hemp products. With regular use, that can be enough for a positive drug test. Avoid full-spectrum products if you are tested.

Remember that ANY form of hemp-derived oils, whether full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, or isolate, could lead to a positive result.

Research the regulations

It’s all well and good to be aware of all this, but one of the most important things you should consider are the specific rules and regulations for the state you live or work in. Different states have different laws and guidelines when it comes to CBD. Some might be stricter than others, while some could be more lax.

You should also check with your company’s regulations and policies surrounding CBD and other medications. Avoid any issues before they even happen by being upfront with your manager, HR department, or immediate superior. When in doubt, it pays to do your research.

Buy CBD carefully

No CBD product can guarantee that you’ll pass a drug test. To lower your risk, choose THC-free products with batch-specific lab results, and skip CBD entirely if a positive test would cost you your job.

Wild Theory publishes a Certificate of Analysis for its products, so you can check THC content before you buy from your local CBD store.

The FDA has not approved CBD for sleep, anxiety, or pain, and CBD can interact with other medicines. Talk with your doctor before using it, especially if you take prescription drugs.

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