CBD has gained lots of notoriety lately. It is popular among vapers, but it is just as common as a supplement for people. It can help in a wide range of situations – from pain control and depression to insomnia and anxiety. However, lots of people are also concerned about CBD and drug tests, as well as the possibility of failing a test.
Generally speaking, CBD is a compound in cannabis. Cannabis is illegal due to THC, a psychoactive compound within the plant. CBD, however, is perfectly safe and should not make you fail a drug test. But then again, you hear all kinds of stories and read all types of news. So, let's dig in.
THC, CBD and drug tests explained
Drug tests work to detect specific compounds/chemicals. They do not detect marijuana or other substances as a whole. Instead, they detect the THC. Most people believe that CBD is THC free, where it’s actually negligible, but THC free CBD is available.
However, there are situations when CBD may have traces of THC. It depends on some factors – the source of the cannabis used in the process, the separating procedures and even the third party tests involved in the process.
Cannabis comes in certain forms of plants – two of them include marijuana and hemp. Most plants under this umbrella are different, but they are all referred to as cannabis. Obviously, they have a bunch of similarities as well, alongside a wide range of effects.
CBD is one of the cannabis compounds. The main reason behind its popularity is fairly simple – it gives a wide range of benefits without containing THC, which is the illegal substance that gives people a psychoactive-high. The most important difference between marijuana and hemp is that hemp has very low amounts of THC – less than 0.3%. This is why hemp is widely available in food stores.
When it comes to CBD oil and other similar supplements, most of them are made from hemp. When it comes to extracting just CBD, there are more procedures out there. Sometimes, the CBD is extracted as a full-spectrum oil. Other times, it is only an isolate and so on. The isolate has no other compounds so it’s pure. On the other hand, the full spectrum oil has other compounds too which can give benefits, such as terpenes – the compounds responsible for the aroma.
Now, when it comes to CBD and drug tests – be it a mouth swab drug test or a classic urine test, there are more reasons why people may fail them.
Using CBD products with THC
The most common reason why someone may fail a test involves using a CBD product that also has THC in its composition. Usually, poor quality products have such issues. Manufacturers can get sloppy and aim for quick, simple profits. Many claim their products have no traces of THC without even checking. But based on the way they extract the CBD, they may have traces of THC in their products. At this point, the THC gets in your body in a reasonable dose and can be detected in a drug test.
Cross contamination
Cross-contamination is also a reason wherefore you might fail a drug test. When CBD is extracted, small traces of THC may be found. If these traces make it to the oil or supplement you use through cross-contamination, you are likely to fail a test.
This issue is more common in certain environments. For example, if you buy your CBD oil from a dispensary where cannabis is legal, small traces of THC might be around too. On the other hand, a reputable retailer (CBD dealer specific) is less likely to face such issues.
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Secondhand exposure
Secondhand exposure has next to nothing to do with the compounds you test for. For example, being close to someone who smokes marijuana will not necessarily make you fail a test, but there is a micro change in blood levels. Being in a room with a few heavy smokers could cause you to inhale enough secondhand smoke to end up with a positive test however, so the risk must be a personal decision.
Now, you'll probably ask yourself – how long is CBD detectable in the urine? Secondhand exposure should not make you test THC in your urine. As for the actual CBD, it usually stays in the urine for up to five days – more for some people.
Problematic products
If extracted from hemp, CBD oil should have 0.3% THC or less. Some manufacturers label their products as THC free. However, if they want to make money fast, cheap products are often extracted from marijuana, rather than hemp. At this point, there is a risk your product has THC in it.
Many products online – usually those coming from random manufacturers with no reputation – are mislabeled. They are advertised to be THC free and can even cause potential harm to consumers. This is because, in the USA, CBD products are not well regulated by the FDA – hence the importance of buying from a reputable store. It’s more expensive, but you’re paying for a quality product.
Now you understand why you may fail CBD and drug tests, what can you do to prevent these issues? Some of them are common sense – avoid close contact with marijuana smokers. Some others require doing a bit of research upfront.
Do your homework
This is the first step in the process. Keep in mind that a failed drug test could make you kiss your job goodbye or prevent you from getting the job of your dreams. Therefore, it pays to research a product or brand before making a purchase.
Look out for reviews and try to find authentic data about the brand. The company should be legitimate and have a good reputation. Keep in mind that even a poor quality CBD oil could help in some areas, but you'd want to get rid of the THC content.
Check the source
The source is critical when doing your research. You may need to ask the manufacturer about it if you cannot find enough information online. For instance, the oil or supplement you use must be an isolate product.
Other than that, the source should be organic. Hemp is a highly absorbent plant and will take anything. The more information you have about the industrial hemp supply, the better. It sounds daunting, but a little research will prevent the chance of using a poor quality tincture.
Get in touch with the manufacturer
Some brands provide lots of details about their products. They will mention where their farms are and whether they are organic or not. This is not always the case. If you are not 100% sure about something in particular, simply get in touch and ask them.
Stay away from heavy smokers
This rule makes perfect sense. Again, being in a room full of heavy marijuana smokers could get you to inhale too much smoke, leading to a positive drug test. At the same time, hair contact is also to be avoided.
If you have a drug test scheduled, try to avoid marijuana smokers and wash your hands after you get in touch with them – avoid touching other things, like your hair. THC traces could cause you to fail the drug test.
Final words
As a short final conclusion, buying the right CBD product could save you lots of trouble, whether you are after oil, a tincture or an edible. The rule is fairly simple – if you get an authentic CBD product from a reliable company, you should not bother worrying about the possibility of failing a drug test. It is almost impossible due to the 0.3% THC being so low.
Now, the CBD industry is not well regulated. It is still relatively new. There are still lots of research studies going on and quality manufacturers can be hard to find. Luckily you've come to the right store for quality CBD!
Now, whilst checks could be irrelevant if you are not drug screened, getting a quality product should be A1 priorirty. We suggest you begin by taking a look at our wide range of quality assured CBD products