It doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, drug tests are a completely normal part of accepting a job. Many companies require their employees to take part in random drug tests throughout the year. You may think that they’re just looking for hard drugs or alcohol in your system but just about anything can show up on a drug test, even that aspirin getting you through the week.
If you’re one of the millions of people who consume CBD, you may be wondering if this is going to show up on a drug test. CBD does come from cannabis, making this a fair question to consider. If it does show up, how will it affect your employment? CBD is a wonderful thing that has been helping so many people with a plethora of physical and mental ailments.
While you could talk with your boss ahead of time, it may be comforting to know that the majority of the time, drug screenings aren’t looking for CBD. By taking CBD in any form, you’re not risking your ability to do your job. You’re not getting high from that morning CBD tincture you add to your coffee, so why does it matter if it shows up?
CBD and THC
Many consumers don’t know that most CBD products have trace amounts of THC in them. If you have enough THC in your system, you will fail a drug test if they’re testing for THC. You may not think you consume enough THC for it to show up on the screening but it’s smart to keep in mind that THC can stay in your body for weeks after consumption.
While cannabis is fully legal in over 10 states, that leaves quite a few where it’s not fully legal. Whether you live in a state where it’s not legal at all or one like Minnesota where it’s mixed, it’s important to know what can legally be sold to you. CBD products are legal in all 50 states but there has to be less than .3% THC in products sold where marijuana isn’t fully legal.
There are specific regulations that stores and CBD manufacturers must follow in order to be able to sell you their products. Each product should be labeled with percentages showing the consumer how much CBD and THC is in it. If you buy a CBD oil that has a small amount of THC in it, you’d need to consume around 1,000 mg per day in order for the THC to show up enough on a urine test.
You don’t want something like this to affect your ability to keep or get a job. Depending on where you live, this could affect much more than that, including the custody of your children. You’re taking the right steps by educating yourself about the relation between CBD and drug tests.
Can CBD Make Me Fail a Drug Test?
If you consume CBD you won’t have to worry about it showing up on a drug test. You won’t fail simply from cannabinoids. With that being said, if there is enough built up THC in your system from consuming CBD products that have trace amounts of THC, you may have something to be concerned about.
The majority of the time when a drug test is given, the company is collecting samples of employees urine to measure if there are specific drugs in the system. Though it’s rare, sometimes drug tests are performed by taking hair or blood samples. Marijuana and other drugs can be found in the blood and hair a lot longer than in urine. For example, if you regularly smoke CBD joints, the THC may show up in your urine for up to 30 days. On the other hand, it can be seen in hair tests up to three months after the last consumption.
Many workplaces have no tolerance for drug use. If you’re a federal employee, they may not even want to hear your reasoning for why there’s THC in your system.
Why do CBD Products Have THC in Them?
When a marijuana plant grows it has THC, CBD, and many other compounds. As you’ve already read, states that don’t have fully legal marijuana require there to be less than .3% of THC in CBD products. Why? Well, that’s mostly because of how it’s derived. It can take an extensive amount of work to get CBD isolated. Though CBD isolate exists, where there is no THC, it’s a lot less common.
If you find yourself consuming thousands of milligrams of CBD each day, you could also be getting over a milligram of THC at the same time. This may not seem like a lot, but drug tests will tell you otherwise. A lot of the times the labels on CBD products aren’t honest, especially if you’re buying from out of state. This is why it’s encouraged to buy local at a dispensary or CBD shop.
You’ll want to look for products that have not only been tested, but use state licensing that shows the labels are honest and accurate. Depending on who you ask, some claim that CBD needs trace amounts of THC to even work. This may depend on each individual’s body and brain. You won’t know if CBD isolate works for you until you try it.
Things to Consider
One thing you’ll want to consider is where you’re getting your CBD from. This is why it may be your best bet to shop somewhere in person. If you have physical or mental handicaps that make this difficult, many local shops offer delivery online.
You also want to keep in mind the dose of CBD you’re ingesting. If you’re having a 10 milligram gummy once a day, you have nothing to worry about when it comes to THC showing up on a drug test. It’s also important to note that 10 milligrams of CBD probably isn’t doing too much for you. It’s suggested to start off taking between 20 and 40 milligrams and slowly increasing as you see fit.
How long have you been consuming CBD? If you just started using a tincture last week and your boss tells you that there’s a surprise drug test tomorrow, should you freak out? No! Unless you’ve been chugging down the bottles of CBD, THC isn’t going to show up on the test. It requires a lot of CBD for an extended amount of time for the THC to build up enough to make an impact on the urine sample.
There are other factors to consider including your weight, age, diet, mental health, and more. THC tends to cling onto fat cells. If someone who weighs 150 pounds takes the same amount of CBD as a 300-pound individual, it’s going to stay in the heavier person’s system longer.
Passing a Drug Test for CBD
It doesn’t matter if you’ve never consumed CBD in your life or if it’s a daily treat for you, it will not show up on a drug test. Why? Because they’re not testing for CBD. It’s like checking your car’s gas tank to see how low the oil is. It doesn’t make sense and there’s nothing to worry about when it comes to the amount of CBD on a drug test.
There are specific detoxifying measures that you can take if you are worried about the amount of THC that might show up due to how much CBD you consume. Stay hydrated, add lemon to your water, and exercise to help you get THC out of your system a bit faster.
If you’re curious about how long CBD stays in your system, that number can be affected by things like your weight, the dosage, and your experience with CBD. On average, it tends to stay in your system for about two hours. If you take a lot, it will stay for a longer period of time. Depending on the factors involved, you may have CBD in your system for up to a week.
Other Types of Drug Tests
So your boss tells you that there’s a drug test coming up. No big deal, right? You haven’t had any CBD with traces of THC in a couple of weeks. Then your boss says that it won’t be a urine test. Okay, now you might be a bit nervous. Let’s talk a bit about the two other forms of drug tests.
The company may suggest an oral test where they swab your mouth to get saliva. Just like a urine test, CBD isn’t going to show up on a mouth swab test. However, THC from weeks ago may show up. It’s not common for a company to suggest a mouth swab test, but it is something to keep in mind.
It may seem repetitive but it may be nice to get peace of mind. A hair follicle test, just like the others, will not be checking for CBD. THC can stay in hair follicles for several months. This can vary depending on your body type and the length of your hair. The longer your hair is, the more likely THC is to show up.
There are rumours on the internet that your stomach acid will turn CBD into THC. This is anxiety-inducing news for many people. While this can happen, it’s incredibly unlikely. If you’re really worried about the amount of THC in your system, consider getting an at-home test to keep on hand. These may not always be accurate, but it can give you a general idea of what to expect if you’re surprised by a drug test for your current or potential employers.
