Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?

Many individuals have taken CBD as a natural remedy for various ailments. CBD is being promoted for alleviating chronic pain, insomnia, anxiety, and many other ailments. While there is still ongoing research on those uses, there is certain science behind the CBD compound. The FDA, last year, approved a drug that contains CBD known as Epidiolex to treat certain severe, but rare seizures.

CBD oil and other CBD products can be made from either the cannabis plant or the hemp plant. These are closely related variations of Cannabis sativa. Products with CBD in them contain cannabidiol, which is a cannabinoid, and doesn't make you high. It's the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in marijuana that causes the buzz you experience.

Licensed farmers are allowed to grow the plant, but it must contain less than 0.3% of THC. Because of this, more and more CBD products are popping up everywhere from lotions to oils to cookies to coffee.

CBD and Drug Tests Overview

One study suggests as long as the CBD is pure, it won't show up on a drug test. Researchers of the study found CBD didn't react with a couple commercially available tests for screening marijuana use.

But, CBD products can cause problems when it comes to a drug test. It can be tricky. That is, drug tests screening for THC that have CBD in them might come back positive, since a lot of CBD products do contain trace amounts of THC in them that tests will detect in your bloodstream.

How Does Drug Testing For Cannabis Work?

An article published in 2020 shows urine drug tests typically focus on the following substances:

• Amphetamines
• Alcohol
• Cocaine
• Benzodiazepines
• Cannabis
• Opiates

The urine test is most commonly used for cannabis testing. It's an "immunoassay test" that uses antibodies made for latching on to certain drugs or their metabolites (like the presence of THC as well as its metabolites).

When the antibodies do identify a drug, they'll generate a signal showing the test as "positive."

The American Family Physician (AAFP) published an article showing the federal government is the entity that sets the levels of drug concentration for urine drug screening. If the test does detect a drug under this concentration threshold, the test comes back "negative."

Reasons for Failing a CBD Drug Test

There are a few reasons why you'd fail a CBD drug test.

1. You Use a Product Containing THC

Using a CBD product containing THC is the most common reason why you'd fail a CBD drug test. In some cases, this might be because you buy a low-quality product that contains a trace amount of THC. Many manufacturers do claim their products don't have THC in them when they really do.

2. Mislabeling of Products

CBD oil that comes from the hemp plant isn't supposed to contain more than 0.3% of THC. But, it's not uncommon for products to be mislabeled by sellers as THC-free hemp, when they're really low-quality oil that does contain THC because they're extracted from marijuana.

3. Cross Contamination of THC

Tiny amounts of THC in material CBD is extracted from could end up in the CBD product in high enough amounts that would trigger a positive drug test. This is more likely to occur when the CBD product is bought from a cannabis dispensary in locations where cannabis is legal.

4. Secondhand THC Exposure

Inadvertent marijuana exposure (through secondhand smoke) isn't likely to be enough for you to end up with a positive result on your drug test. But, if you're in a room with heavy marijuana smokers for a few hours, it could cause you to inhale enough THC smoke that could result in a positive drug test.

A secondhand exposure scenario that is more likely is a positive hair test for marijuana that results from directly contacting marijuana paraphernalia or from someone who has THC on their hands. For example, if somebody who was in contact with marijuana then turned around and touched your hair, you might end up with a false positive drug test, if it was a hair test.

5. CBD Oil Breaking Down in Your Digestive System

In rare cases, a false positive test could occur from CBD oil breaking down in small amounts of THC in your stomach. It's theoretically possible for you to have traces of THC metabolites in your stomach acid when you ingest "less-purified CBD productions."

How to Avoid a Positive CBD Drug Test

There are certain things you can do if you use a CBD product to prevent you from failing a drug test. These include:

• Performing thorough research on the CBD product to ensure it's pure, and comes from a legitimate company.
• Asking questions about the CBD product's processing methods and the potential for cross-contamination.
• Ensuring the CBD product is an isolate product that is extracted from a reputable and viable hemp source, and isn't a low-quality product.
• Avoiding secondhand marijuana exposure through hair contact, or pot smoking from THC users.

In theory, ending up with a false positive on a CBD drug test should be fairly impossible if the product uses pure CBD that contains less than 0.3% THC. But, since CBD isn't well regulated as of yet, there isn't any guarantee any certain product will contain pure CBD oil, or if its concentration is at an effective or safe level if the company doesn’t provide a certification of analysis (COA) from an independent third party.

Your best bet is to do your research, and take the utmost caution when buying a CBD product to ensure it's pure, particularly if you must undergo a drug test.

Using a CBD Pillow for Better Sleep

CBD pillows are made for microdosing CBD over a certain lengthy time period. When you take CBD orally through CBD oil or gummies for sleep, it will begin wearing off after two to three hours. However, if you're absorbing a microdose of CBD throughout the night, while you're sleeping on a CBD pillow, it could help sustain the CBD's effects.

Here at CBDPillow.com, we use only high-quality CBD in our pillows that are sourced from a Colorado family farm. You can check out our updated lab testing page to see the exact specs.

And, we can ship our CBD pillows legally to all 50 states in the United States, since they're made with hemp-derived CBD, and contain less than 0.3% THC, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill. Order your own CBD pillow, and experience the amazing benefits by visiting our site, and placing your order.