If you’re currently seeking new employment, your current job requires mandatory screenings, or if you’ve had recent legal issues, you may be in a position where drug tests are a regular fact of life.
Since the 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp and hemp-derived CBD on a federal level, the cannabinoid has seen a massive rise in popularity. However, despite its newfound legal status, many people who have considered taking CBD as a wellness supplement have concerns about whether or not the compound will cause them to fail a drug test.
What Do Drug Tests Test For?
Different types of drug tests vary in the substances they test for, so there isn’t a universal answer for the question, “what do drug tests detect.” However, the drugs these kits most often test for are:
- opioids
- steroids
- amphetamines
- cocaine
- barbiturates
- phencyclidine (PCP)
- marijuana
So, does the marijuana category include CBD?
Does CBD Show Up On A Drug Test?
Both marijuana and hemp are classifications of the same plant—cannabis sativa. The difference between the two lies in the percentages of the intoxicating compound, THC. Hemp contains a very small amount of THC, less than 0.3%, while marijuana has greater than 0.3% THC. Because there is so little THC in a hemp plant, the buds don’t get people high the same way as marijuana.
Drug tests that test for marijuana don’t test for just any cannabis plant-derived compound; they test specifically for THC. This means that CBD won’t show up on a standard marijuana drug test. However, not all CBD products are completely in the clear.
Full-Spectrum, Broad-Spectrum, And CBD Isolate
If you’ve shopped for any CBD products recently, then you’ve likely come across the terms full-spectrum, broad-spectrum, and isolate.
CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD available. All of the hemp plant’s natural terpenes and other cannabinoids are refined away and what’s left is straight CBD.
Full-spectrum CBD products still contain all of the plant’s terpenes and cannabinoids. When all of the compounds are present together, it results in CBD that’s overall more effective. Scientists refer to this phenomenon where each individual compound present in cannabis enhances the other’s effects as the entourage effect. These added benefits make full-spectrum products incredibly popular, and it’s why E1011 Labs uses full-spectrum hemp flower in each stelo™.
Broad-spectrum products are similar to full-spectrum ones in that they contain a varied terpene and cannabinoid profile that encourages the entourage effect. However, broad-spectrum CBD doesn’t contain any THC.
How To Pass A Drug Test While Using CBD
If you use CBD therapeutically but have concerns regarding an upcoming drug test, you don’t have to discontinue use. CBD itself won’t cause you to fail a drug test, but if you’re not careful, the additional compounds in certain products might.
First, you’ll want to avoid using full-spectrum CBD. While the benefits gleaned from full-spectrum CBD are great, the trace amounts of THC present may cause you to register positive for marijuana on a drug screen. In this case, broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate will be your best bet.
Next, you’ll want to make sure the product your purchasing actually doesn’t contain THC. Since CBD is unregulated, mislabeling is rampant in the industry. Only purchase your CBD from reputable vendors who use third-party lab testing to accurately determine the amount of cannabinoids present in their products.
