Can CBD Cause You To Fail A Drug Test?

We’ve been loving all of the responses we’ve been getting to our polls and questions over at our new Facebook Group, All Axis Pass. As we’ve been launching more CBD oil products, we’ve gotten lots of great questions about them and how you can be sure you’re getting the best quality product available.

Recently, a page member posted, "I'm interested in the many health benefits of CBD products but have been afraid to use them because I get randomly drug tested at work. Are these products safe and will they show up on drug tests? I can't afford to lose my job!"

We hear you. We certainly wouldn’t want you to find yourself in a tricky situation because of the CBD products you choose to use. Let’s take a look at this question in depth.

What Are Drug Tests Screening For?

In your standard drug tests, employers are looking for the presence of drugs like heroin, cocaine, and other illegal substances, including marijuana in many cases. There are a few different kinds of drug screens that look for certain drugs depending on how detailed the screen is. For instance, a seven-panel test looks for marijuana, opiates, cocaine, amphetamines, PCP, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines. The more comprehensive 12-panel screens test for the above, as well as methadone, propoxyphene, Quaaludes, MDA, and Percocet. Even the most rigorous of drug screens are not searching for any CBD in your system. Indeed, even tests that screen specifically for THC typically do not react to other cannabinoids, including CBD.

Is There THC In CBD?

According to the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills, hemp can only be grown, cultivated, and manufactured into a CBD-based product if it contains less than 0.3 percent THC. This ensures that you cannot get "high" from the average CBD product. This means that drug tests will not be a concern for most average CBD users. If you take no more than the recommended dosage of CBD by your medical provider, or  no more than what’s suggested on the product packaging, you should be fine during a drug test.

Reasons You Could Fail A Drug Test After Taking CBD

While CBD isn’t being searched for in a typical drug screen, that doesn’t mean that in rare cases you can’t fail a drug test after taking CBD. If you’re wondering how you could or may have failed a drug test after taking CBD, the following issues have presented themselves to CBD on occasion.

Your CBD Was Sourced From Marijuana

Depending on which cannabis plant your CBD product is derived from, you might ingest more THC than you expected. If your CBD is extracted from a concentratedTHC marijuana plant rather than hemp, or if you’re using a CBD product made from a full-spectrum hemp extract, you might fail a drug test. You should always know what kind of plant your CBD is derived from, and if you have any doubts, always select CBD from a hemp plant.

Your CBD Product Was Mislabeled

Labeling CBD products can be more challenging for some hemp companies than others. While the label might say it’s "THC-Free" it might not be. In fact, mislabeling CBD products is so common, a report from 2017 found that nearly 70 percent of all cannabidiol extracts that are sold online are mislabeled. This is probably because the FDA does not regulate the CBD industry. It’s important then to only purchase CBD products from companies who test their products in a third-party lab and freely post their results on their packaging or their website.

You Were Exposed To THC In Another Way

Whether it’s through secondhand smoke, or through unknowingly ingesting a THC-based edible, you might have inadvertently ingested THC somehow. While non-smokers or those who do not use THC with any regularity will likely process the THC out of their system in a few days, others might have in their bodies for a longer period of time.

You Might Have Taken Too Much

While there’s no recommended dosage set for CBD as of yet, you should always follow the advice of "less is more" when it comes to using CBD. This is because you could fail a drug test if you take too much CBD. But you’d have to take a lot for this to happen. Consider this: it’s estimated that the average CBD user takes about 120 - 160 milligrams of CBD a day. To trigger a false positive on a drug test, you’d need to consume 1,000 milligrams a day. If you’re using your CBD oils and creams responsibly, you’re at no risk of failing a drug test.

CBD Turned Into THC While Being Digested

This might sound almost impossible, but it’s been suggested that CBD can convert to THC when dissolved in your stomach. That’s because the CBD undergoes gastric stimulation when exposed to your stomach acids. While these minute amounts of THC won’t have any psychoactive effects, it may cause you to fail a drug test.

So What Should You Do If You’re Worried About Failing a Drug Test?

This part is up to you. You might consider discussing with your employer what kind of drug panel they’re using, as well as clarify their stance on the use of CBD. While your employer might simply follow your state’s particular drug laws, others might have different stipulations. Your employer might not even be aware of CBD as a product, and having a conversation with them might lead to a change in their internal policies.

Of course, the best thing to do if you’re still worried about failing a drug test is to simply stop using your CBD products leading up to the test.

So Can You Fail a Drug Test if You Take CBD?

So if you’ve read through this entire blog and you’re still wondering the answer to this question, here it is.

You probably won’t fail a drug test after using CBD.

If you purchased a CBD oil product that was third-party lab tested and contains less than 0.3 percent THC, and you used a reasonable amount, your chances of failing a drug test are very low.

Looking for high-quality CBD products? Axis Labs has exactly what you’re looking for. Made from some of the purest and most potent CBD available, we have a complete complement of CBD products that fit easily into your daily lifestyle. From oilsfor you and your pet to pain relief creams and even gummies, you can embrace the benefits that hemp-based products have to offer.