Does CBD Show Up on A Drug Test?

Does CBD Show Up on A Drug Test?

While many have made long-term commitments to CBD oil for quite some time, some are still dubious about it. CBD incites enough curiosity, but what’s stopping them from trying it? For athletes, public servants, professionals, and the like, it’s obvious (and quite logical) to have second thoughts about CBD products. CBD’s association with marijuana just presents worry about uncertain CBD drug test results.

The rules and conditions for drug tests massively vary between certain locations and situations. Consequently, it’s not entirely possible to give one blanket statement on whether CBD will appear on a drug test. So, while this article cannot provide medical or legal advice, we tackle the persistent question: does CBD show up on a drug test? The truth is—CBD should NOT cause your drug test outcome to fail; CBD isn’t a prohibited drug. Nevertheless, what could go wrong with CBD oil and drug tests? Why do we worry? Reakiro goes on point by point on the certainty of CBD products and CBD drug tests in Europe, so keep reading to stay out of trouble!

Dispelling the Taboo on Cannabis, THC, and CBD Drug Tests

Knowing when CBD show up on a drug test is crucial. This is one reason people are adamant about trying CBD oil. Most aren’t aware of the differences between cannabis, hemp, THC, and CBD. What’s worse is that people are oblivious to the existing drug tests. As Dale Carnegie puts it, “Inaction breeds doubt and fear.” You need to get yourself informed. So, let’s clear the air, get every term thrown around a lot on the web sorted out and debunk all the myths once and for all!

• Worry about THC, not CBD. CBD and THC are two main active cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa plant. THC is the most known (or notorious) because of its psychoactive effects. THC specifically causes the ‘high’ and is found in large amounts of recreational marijuana. CBD, on the other hand, has been gaining traction in recent years because of its therapeutic effects. Regulated CBD products have higher CBD and zero to less THC content.
• Marijuana plant and hemp plant are the same, sort of. It’s understandable if you’re confused about these two common sources of CBD. Because the truth is, marijuana and hemp are of the same species—they’re just two different names for the cannabis plant, even though they both contain CBD and THC. The only difference you should note is hemp is a variety that has more CBD and less THC, while marijuana, on the other hand, has high THC and low CBD content. Regulated CBD products source their CBD from hemp plants.
• Zero to less THC, as much as possible! CBD products sold over the counter are well-regulated by the Food Service Agency (FSA)[1]. FSA’s mandate is to ensure public health safety, so you can also guarantee that no CBD product with high amounts of THC will be sold in the market. CBD and CBD-infused products, which are considered novel food products, are required to undergo meticulous safety assessment. In short, you’re safe as long as you buy regulated CBD products.

Does CBD Show Up on A Drug Test? No, it’s THC

Even with the tight regulations and laws mentioned above, will CBD oil fail a drug test? There is nothing wrong with being 100% sure CBD oil won’t cause your career downfall or even life plans to derail. We will not deny that isolated cases where CBD products may have caused a positive drug test to exist. What we advise: spot THC, the major culprit, and make sure you don’t take large doses of it. This is a possibility we’re trying to avoid. Reakiro CBD has prepared some safety measures you could follow when incorporating CBD products into your routine to avoid excess THC:

• Be wary of your CBD products’ THC levels. Reputable CBD manufacturers are transparent about how they extract their CBD and where they source it. Hemp plants should be the source. As for the CBD-THC ratios, you need to know the most common outputs of the extraction methods, the three types of CBD:

1. Full-spectrum CBD, which has CBD along with all the phytocannabinoids, terpenes, but with traces of THC;
2. Broad-spectrum CBD, which has CBD, and almost every cannabis compound but no THC, and lastly,
3. CBD isolate, which only contains the pure CBD compound.

If you want to be 100% sure of zero (to traces) of THC contact and STILL want to experience the entourage effect [2], then go for Reakiro hemp-derived broad-spectrum CBD oils.

• THC absorption might come into play. If CBD bioavailability can tell how effective a CBD product is, the THC bioavailability can tell you (sort of) how to pass a drug test EU. If you’re trying to consume a full-spectrum CBD product, it’s best to go for ingestion rather than inhalation, for example. Through a study, it was determined how fast THC effects our body. THC, being highly lipid-soluble, gets absorbed rapidly by fat tissues. The significant findings [3] below may help you decide on what CBD product to buy:

1. Ingestion of THC has 4% to 12% bioavailability, while oral CBD has 6% bioavailability.
2. Inhalation (vaping) of THC has 10% to 35% bioavailability, while inhalation of CBD has 11 to 45% bioavailability.

• Know the plasma half-life of THC and other components, like CBD. CBD and THC’s difference in bioavailability in humans is caused by their half-life. The plasma half-life is an excellent indicator of the duration of the drug's action. Once the concentration of THC is reduced in half and leaves the plasma, three outcomes can be known: THC is eliminated from the body, THC is translocated to another body fluid compartment, or THC is destroyed in the blood. For the record, THC’s plasma half-life differs depending on how frequent a cannabis user you are. For occasional users, it’s 1 to 3 days; for chronic users, it’s 5 to 13 days. CBD, on the other hand, has an 18 to 32 hours terminal half-life [4]. This information may also determine how long CBD is detectable in urine.
• How long does CBD show up on a drug test? CBD won’t ever show up on a drug test. (It could, if they request CBD to be detected. However, this is rare.) A routine drug test detects THC and its metabolites. THC has the following duration of detectability according to American Family Physician [5], so as much as possible, consume cannabis products accordingly:

1. Three days with single-use
2. 5 to 7 days with use around four times per week
3. 10 to 15 days with daily use
4. More than 30 days with long-term, heavy use

How CBD Could Cause You to Fail a Drug Test

Sometimes, no matter how much you ready yourself for battle, even with all the information on CBD and THC available above, it’s the external factors that will topple and influence the outcome. CBD may be safe from not showing up on a drug test, but when we’re oblivious about the other ways how THC can get through our system, you might not save your drug test from failing.

So, how do we avoid the domino effect of the blunders of other people? Or even avoid being the victim because of the lack of accuracy of some data? Here is some helpful information you should know about accidental contact with THC:

• Rampant CBD Mislabelling. CBD has risen to unbelievable popularity in Europe. In a report, it was shown that 25% of the 67 CBD products examined in Germany exceeded the 2.5 milligrams-per-day required dose of THC by the FSA [6]. No matter how careful you are with reading the CBD labels, taking the right dosage, and making sure you don’t exceed the THC levels if the CBD manufacturers aren’t compliant with regulations, then you’ll probably fail that drug test. That’s why, as much as possible, go for top CBD manufacturers who value transparency and amenability. Reakiro CBD, for example, is one of the top CBD manufacturers, which is European GMP/HACCP certified and transparent about the CBD products’ lab testing.
• Does CBD show up on a drug test, after it’s been converted? CBD isolates (even without THC) may be a culprit, too, it turns out. According to an in vitro study, under acidic conditions, CBD may be converted to THC and other cannabinoids [7]. In another study, to see if this will be the same instance with humans, they mimicked the stomach’s gastric fluid and were made to interact with CBD. Results show that there was an increase in levels of THC [8]. So, if you ask, does CBD show up on a drug test? Probably, if CBD is successfully isomerised to THC in our stomachs.
• You’ve exceeded the recommended dosage of your CBD product. This is an irresponsible way to enjoy CBD benefits and a right-of-the-bat approach to get yourself a questionable drug testing result. Taking much of what you need will also increase the traces of THC in your system. As mentioned before, for chronic cannabis users, it takes a longer time (a week or two) to remove THC fully. As much as possible, follow CBD product dosage. You may still experience CBD effects regardless!

Conclusion

You’ve just been presented with quite a lot of information, so it might be a good idea to have a quick recap of what has been discussed!

First of all, due to the presence of THC in cannabis plants, it is difficult to say 100% that a CBD product definitely won’t show up on a drug test. However, you can do several things to guarantee a strong chance that there is no THC in your product.

First, pick a CBD product with a broad-spectrum extract. This means that all the natural molecules (other cannabinoids, terpenes, flavonoids) are present so that the entourage effect takes place, but THC has been removed.

Make sure you check the labelling thoroughly and then verify this against the CBD manufacturer's independent third-party laboratory results, which should be displayed on their website.

Last but certainly not least, if you know when you are going to be taking a drug test, it might be a good idea to allow your body some time to metabolise and eliminate the potential presence of any THC.

FAQ

1. Does CBD show up on a drug test?

Many factors can influence the result, such as your physical size and the length of time that you’ve been consuming CBD products. If you are concerned about taking a drug test while using CBD, your best choice would be selecting a CBD product that has no THC, such as an isolate or broad-spectrum CBD product.

2. What do drug tests look for?

Standard drug tests will search for the presence of THC in the bloodstream. This means that any amount of this compound that can be detected can cause a positive result. Seeing as drug tests tend to operate on a zero-tolerance policy, having any amount - no matter how minuscule - of THC in your bloodstream will not be tolerated.

3. What is the best time to do a CBD Drug Test?

There is no ‘best time’ for a drug test. If a drug test is a concern, for employment, or other major factor, then you should choose a THC-FREE CBD product, like an isolate or broad spectrum.

4. Will CBD make you fail a drug test?

CBD products that contain more than a 0.3% concentration of THC are classified as marijuana. CBD products with a THC concentration above 0.3% will have a positive test result for marijuana. So, you won't fail the test if you use CBD Products with less than 0.3% THC.

5. How long does THC stay in the body?

When THC enters the bloodstream it is broken down to form molecules called metabolites. These metabolites will be stored in fat cells which will eventually be passed as urine or excreted. The rate of your body ‘cleaning itself out’ of THC will depend on how frequently you have ingested it, as this can cause a build-up, and also your metabolism rate which will vary depending on your weight, age, and lifestyle. In general, THC is eliminated within 30 hours, but it could take up to 21 days in some cases.

6. What measures ensure CBD product safety?

All legitimate and high-grade CBD producers will use an independent third-party laboratory to test their CBD extract and products for quality and consistency.

If you are carrying out thorough research—which you should be if you are considering taking CBD when you are subject to drug testing—you can find these documents online via the producer’s website. Remember, if lab results are not available, think twice about whether you want to purchase CBD products from this company.

Sources:

1. Cannabidiol (CBD) guidance for England and Wales
2. The “Entourage Effect”: Terpenes Coupled with Cannabinoids for the Treatment of Mood Disorders and Anxiety Disorders
3. Mechanisms of Action and Pharmacokinetics of Cannabis
4. Cannabidiol: Pharmacology and potential therapeutic role in epilepsy and other neuropsychiatric disorders
5. Urine Drug Screening: A Valuable Office Procedure
6. Are adverse effects of cannabidiol (CBD) products caused by tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) contamination?
7. A Conversion of Oral Cannabidiol to Delta9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Seems Not to Occur in Humans
8. Identification of Psychoactive Degradants of Cannabidiol in Simulated Gastric and Physiological Fluid