The popularity of products having CBD is increasing. Aside from tinctures and oils, there are now numerous food, skin care products, and cosmetics that contain CBD. However, not many people are initially aware that this CBD is the same compound found in the marijuana plant. One common question is whether the CBD in these products could potentially affect the results of a drug test you might require for either employment or athletics purposes.
Before discussing whether CBD will cause you to fail a drug test, let’s take a look at what this compound is and how it is different from marijuana. CBD, short for cannabidiol, is not synonymous to marijuana. It is, however, a major compound found in marijuana and other types of cannabis plants. For thousands of years, the cannabis plant has been used as a medicinal herb to treat a variety of diseases but it developed a bad reputation in the 1930s and became prohibited because of its mind-altering effects.
The prohibition of marijuana did not stop scientists to study the medicinal applications of marijuana. Studies were conducted to delve deeper into which compounds of the cannabis plant were causing the specific effects. This eventually led to the identification of CBD and another primary compound present in the plant called tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. THC is a psychoactive compound that causes a euphoric “high “feeling. Unlike THC, CBD is non-psychoactive and it does not cause anxiety or paranoia. CBD is considered as a safe product, generally tolerated by humans and even the World Health Organization recognized that it does not pose any potential for dependence or addiction.
The levels of CBD differs depending on the type of Cannabis plant. In marijuana, for example, the level of THC is much higher than CBD, which is why it can leave you feeling high. It was also discovered that pure CBD can be isolated so a user can enjoy its many benefits without the psychoactive side effects.
Pure CBD is often used to treat chronic pain and mental disorders such as depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. CBD has also been shown to benefit people suffering from epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and Crohn’s disease. Cannabidiol also has anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties making it beneficial in treating skin problems like acne, wrinkles and other signs of skin aging. Another application of CBD is in the treatment of insomnia as it is said to help promote better sleep.
Will you fail a drug test after using CBD?
Maybe you ate CBD gummy bears or used some CBD oil, only to find out that you’ll have to go for a drug test in a couple of days. Since CBD is closely associated with marijuana, it is quite normal to be worried and ask this question.
When you go for a drug test, it is likely that you’ll be screened for cannabis, however, the test will be looking for THC, not CBD. This is true for the majority of the drug tests administered in the U.S. unless of course you will be specifically screened for CBD. What this means is that if you took pure CBD, chances are, it will not affect your drug test.
There have been many cases in the past, however, wherein people who took CBD failed their drug tests due to a “false positive”. So how did this happen? There are different possibilities why you could fail a drug test when using CBD products.
Mislabeled Products
Many users are not aware that there are CBD products in the market with THC in them. This often happens when manufacturers market a product as THC-free when in reality it contains high amounts of THC, which can be detected in a drug test.
Some products misrepresent the amount of CBD, while some do not disclose that there are other compounds like THC in them. One study actually found 70% of the CBD products sold on the internet were not properly labeled. What this means is that even if the CBD oil you’re using has CBD in it, it may also have THC which can cause you to fail a drug test.
Using a marijuana product instead of a CBD product
While CBD can be found in marijuana, it is worth repeating that these two are not synonymous. If you see a gummy bear that is infused with CBD versus another marijuana edible, these are two different products. Again, marijuana has higher THC in it which can be detected in a drug test.
Cross-contamination
When you’re buying a chocolate bar, you may have seen a warning on the label saying “may contain traces of nuts or gluten”. This was included to caution people who may have allergies as the product may have been manufactured in a place with nuts or gluten. This could also happen with CBD products especially if the product is low-quality. It is possible for the CBD to be contaminated with THC during the manufacturing process.
These three instances above are just examples of why you may fail a drug test while using CBD. It is important to be aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not currently regulate CBD products so while CBD in itself is safe, there is really no guaranteed way of knowing whether the CBD item you are buying only contains pure CBD or not. This can pose unknown side effects not only when you’re trying to pass a drug test but in different situations as well.
For people suffering from opioid or heroin addiction, they may turn to CBD to self-medicate and overcome their addiction. While CBD may be the cure they are looking for, having no guarantee whether they are taking a pure product may just worsen their situation instead of helping.
If you are struggling with substance abuse, it is best to seek out professional help.
Contact Morningside Recovery by Lighthouse to learn more about our full-spectrum of comprehensive addiction treatment programs.