Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?
CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, is quickly becoming the rave among people who want to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.
But while it has been proven to be an effective health supplement and alternative, the recent development of CBD raises a lot of questions: Is CBD a controlled substance? What’s the difference between CBD and marijuana? And one of the most common questions: Will CBD show up on a drug test?
If you’re asking any of these questions, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ll cover all you need to know about CBD and drug tests. Let’s start with a refresher on what CBD really is.
WHAT IS CBD?
CBD, or cannabidiol, is a compound found in the hemp plant. CBD has been shown to help people with anxiety and depression, as well as various physical conditions such as pain and inflammation. It also does not produce psychoactive effects like THC, which means it doesn’t make you high as marijuana would.
Is CBD legal? Yes. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized the production and use of hemp-derived CBD that contains less than 0.3% THC in all 50 states. Conversely, CBD that comes from marijuana is still federally illegal because of its high THC concentrations.
Most CBD manufacturers comply with federal law, using only hemp-derived CBD for their products. Before we go into whether CBD shows up on drug tests, let’s first examine what drug tests screen for.
WHAT DO DRUG TEST SCREEN FOR?
Drug tests are usually used to screen for the presence of controlled substances and prescription medication in your body. Biological specimens used for drug testing include urine, blood, saliva, hair, or sweat.
The common type of drug screening is the urine drug screen (UDS) and it’s usually used to screen for the following:
Amphetamines
Methamphetamine
Benzodiazepines
Barbiturates
Marijuana (THC)
Cocaine
Phencyclidine (PCP)
Methadone
Opioids (narcotics)
You may have noticed that CBD is not on the list. Drug tests do not screen for CBD as it is neither psychoactive nor a controlled substance. However, consuming full-spectrum CBD, a form of CBD that contains THC, can bring about a positive result in a drug test.
CBD VS. THC: UNDERSTANDING THE DIFFERENCES
CBD and THC are both extracts of the cannabis plant. They can be gotten from hemp as well as from marijuana. The difference between CBD and THC is that THC gets you high, while CBD doesn’t.
Because they are both extracted from the same plant, trace amounts of THC are sometimes left in some CBD products. The term “full-spectrum” is usually used to describe these products that contain trace amounts of THC, usually no more than 0.3%.
The concentration of THC in full-spectrum CBD products is usually not enough to cause a “high”. However, when taken frequently and in large doses, full-spectrum products can result in failing a drug test.
There are many benefits to using full-spectrum CBD products. However, if you’re an athlete or have a drug test coming up, it’s usually best to avoid full-spectrum products.
ARE THEY CBD PRODUCTS THAT DON’T SHOW UP ON A DRUG TEST?
Full-spectrum CBD, which is the only form of CBD that contains THC, is just one of three available CBD spectrums. Others are: broad-spectrum and CBD isolate.
Broad-spectrum CBD products contain all the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and essential oils in the cannabis plant, except THC. They are similar to full-spectrum products, the only difference being that they don’t contain THC and thus can’t get you high or cause you to fail a drug test.
CBD isolate products are made of pure CBD, without any extra cannabinoid or terpene. And most importantly, no THC. When using CBD isolate products, there are almost zero chances of failing a drug test or even raising a false positive.
The best-known way to avoid testing positive to drug screenings as a CBD user is to stick to broad-spectrum and CBD isolate products. That being said, how do you identify broad-spectrum and CBD isolate products?
HOW TO IDENTIFY BROAD-SPECTRUM AND CBD ISOLATE PRODUCTS
CBD manufacturers make it easy to tell which spectrum of CBD a product is made from. If you’re buying from a physical shop, you can find it by reading the product label or by simply asking the shop attendant.
If you’re buying CBD from an online store, you can usually find it in the product name or by checking the ingredients in the product description. Below is an example of how you can identify the spectrum a CBD product is made from through its name.
For products like the third one in the picture where the spectrum is not in the name, simply check the listed ingredients on the product page.
DRUG TESTING AND THE JUST LIVE DIFFERENCE
Just Live was founded by a group of athletes with a common desire of obtaining optimal recovery and performance through natural means. Many of our founders are subject to drug tests in their respective sports, so none of our products contains THC.
We offer broad-spectrum and CBD isolate products that are completely THC-free.
Although broad-spectrum products are THC-free, they could still raise false positives on a drug test, as other cannabinoids with similar molecular structures can be flagged as THC. If you want to be completely certain of passing a drug test, CBD isolate is your safest bet.
