The world is changing, and CBD is very much a part of it. CBD is being used to treat a number of ailments and conditions in people everywhere.
CBD has been proven to help with issues like anxiety, sleepless nights, and pain, amongst other things. It’s not the same thing as THC. It doesn’t get you high. But some people are still trying to give it a bad rap.
Many people wonder if CBD will show up on a drug test. If you’re a marijuana smoker and you’ve ever had to take a drug test, you understand the fear and anxiety that causes your heart to race, wondering if your pee will pass the test.
As a marijuana smoker, there’s never any assurance that you’ll pass, unless you haven’t smoked in at least a month. That’s because the range for when marijuana has officially left the building (your blood), is different for everyone.
The new question that has been pondered by CBD users today, is, will it show up on a drug test? Keep reading to find out if marijuana tests look for CBD.
What Is CBD?
There are users who have found solace in this new(ish) form of sweet relief. But even some CBD users don’t know exactly where it comes from. So let’s break it down before we get into testing.
CBD can be derived from either marijuana or hemp. Both marijuana and hemp are members of the cannabis family. Simply put, cannabis is a family of plants that includes both indica plants and sativa plants.
Marijuana has plants that can be either sativa OR indica. Hemp, on the other hand, is made up of plants that are ONLY sativa.
That being said, both marijuana and hemp contain cannabinoids, the most prominent of which are THC and CBD. Hemp contains a VERY LOW concentration of THC, at 0.3%. Marijuana, however, can contain THC concentrations from 15-40%.
So, CBD is a cannabinoid that is extracted from both marijuana AND hemp. In both instances, it can be extracted without the THC and thus without the psychological high. THC is what gives someone a psychological high, whereas CBD does not.
How Long Does It Stay in Your System?
The half-life of CBD is approximately 1-2 days after a single dose. The amount of time that it takes for the concentration of any drug to be reduced by half inside your body is referred to as the “half-life.”
A lot of studies estimate that after 5 half-lives, a drug has officially left the body and it will not show up on a drug test. But how long a drug takes to be reduced by half is different for every individual. Things like age, weight, and metabolism play a huge role, and unfortunately, there isn’t really an average amount of time that it takes for drugs to disappear.
Thus, CBD stays in your system for anywhere between 4 and 25 days. That’s a big range to work with, so it makes perfect sense to want to know if it will show up on a test.
Will CBD Show up on a Drug Test?
CBD could show up on a drug test if the test called for a CBD test. Fortunately, drug tests don’t typically look for CBD. The FDA has approved of CBD for treating epilepsy. And most drug tests look for things like THC and opioids.
But will CBD oil test positive for THC? In a drug test, it is possible for trace amounts of THC to show up if you are using CBD. There are CBD products that contain 0% THC and are tested multiple times by a third-party. Many products, however, may contain those trace amounts and if used in high quantities, could show up on a drug test.
But, it’s very unlikely. CBD is chemically distinct from THC, so as long as they aren’t testing for CBD specifically, it shouldn’t show up on a drug test. And if your employer or tester is testing for CBD specifically, they should and would most likely tell you.
It’s better to be safe than sorry though. And if CBD is your vice and you use it on a regular basis, your best bet is to consume CBD products that have absolutely NO THC.
There would never be enough trace amounts to get you high. But there could be trace amounts that show up on a test.
What Do the Policies Say?
Every state is different, and every job is different. In most states, you can buy CBD in gas stations and coffee shops without a doctor’s recommendation. Unless your employer states explicitly that they have a no-tolerance for CBD policy, it’s highly unlikely that they would test for it.
Especially if you aren’t operating any heavy machinery, many employers are not granting permission for employers to use CBD and even THC products for things like anxiety and pain.
In fact, waking and baking boasts benefits for many individuals who use marijuana, including alertness, inspiration, and more energy.
Do Marijuana Drug Tests Look for CBD?
We can almost guarantee that marijuana drug tests will not be looking for CBD. However, we can’t guarantee that if you use CBD, trace amounts of THC won’t show up on that drug test.
That being said, your safest route is to consume CBD products that contain ONLY CBD. But if you can’t afford those pricey and pure options, there are other legal drugs that can induce a natural high.
Want to know more about all sorts of legal highs? Check out our blog to find out more ways you can enjoy nature’s gifts and get a legal high.