Urine Analysis Testing: Will CBD Make Me Fail?

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a compound found in cannabis plants like hemp that can be used medicinally to possibly help relief anxiety, depression, pain, and more. In recent years, more and more states have been open to the consumption and sale of CBD due to mixed regulations on hemp derived products. With the 2018 Farm Bill Act, CBD and Hemp derived products are legal to sell and consume at the federal level.

Even though the laws have changed for cannabis products, corporations and employers are still testing their employees for illegal substances like marijuana to insure a drug free environment. Marijuana’s psychoactive ingredient that can get individuals “high” is tetrahydrocannabinol, also known as THC. Employer drugs test’s concentrate on detecting THC in your blood, urine, and hair samples.

Will CBD Show Up On a Drug Test At Work?

Employer drug screenings are not testing for CBD, only because we have cannabinoid-like molecules in our bodies called the endocannabinoid system that carry varients of CBD molecules. Usually ,CBD will not show up on a drug test at work when these tests are used. This system is made of receptors in our nervous system and immune system to naturally help bring our bodies back to normal status, also known as homeostasis.

Cannabinoid’s like CBD interact with our endocannabiniod system at two major brain and immune system receptors called CB1 and CB2. CB1 receptors help the brain with memory, motor skills, and cognition, while CB2 receptors can be found in white blood cells to help with immflamtion.

When testing for levels of THC, drug screenings can commonly look for a concentration of 50 Nano grams per milliliter in urine. Some workplaces drug screenings can result in a false positive reading with .26% through .3% of THC in a urine analysis test. Detection for THC in your system can depend on frequency of use and dosage, possibly detectible in urine for up to 3 to 15 days. For very frequent marijuana users, sometimes individuals can test positive for THC even after 30 days of use.

Blood tests are less common than urine analysis tests, only because THC is quickly eliminated from the bloodstream. THC is only detectable in plasma for up to five hours or less. Blood tests are most often used to detect high alcohol consumption for example in DWI’s.

Since CBD products aren’t consistently regulated by every state, companies and other distributers that sell cannabis items can sometimes bring in products that happen to be mislabeled. These CBD products can possibly carry higher amounts of THC due to an inadequate third party lab testing report for the product’s exact CBD composition.

Finding CBD Products You Can Trust:

In a 2017 study, Netherland scientists bought eighty-four CBD oils from different companies and found only 84% of the products were labeled correctly. The Netherland researchers found 18% of their CBD products were detected to have THC, when all the tinctures were labeled to only contain CBD. The researchers also found that 26% of their CBD tinctures were labeled to have a higher amount of CBD that what their bottles contained.

It’s important to look for reputable distributors and stores who have up to date third party lab reports for each of their products before purchasing a CBD oil, edible, vape, and more. For purchasing a CBD product online, double check the cultivation process to determine the Hemp plant’s quality and the CBD extraction process. If the information can’t be found online or on the product’s description, you can also contact the seller or dispensary.

In the state of Texas, there is a legal limit of .3% of THC that can be found in Full Spectrum CBD products, which will include CBD and the hundreds of other cannabinoids from the Hemp plant. This trace amount of THC won’t get you “high,” although it could result in a false positive reading in a urine analysis test. Consumers who are looking to try Full Spectrum CBD oil could possibly use their products to help relieve pain, epilepsy, insomnia, and much more.

Many of those who are on the fence about trying CBD due to drug testing, have tested themselves after using products and have come out clean. You can purchase at home drug kits from local convenient stores or online at Amazon. To be sure your product does not have any THC ask to see the lab results on the product or look for a QR scanner on the box.