Does CBD Oil Show in a Drug Test? Avoid Testing Positive
Suppose you occasionally or regularly enjoy CBD products and also drive cars, operate heavy machinery, or are a professional athlete. In that case, you might have asked yourself: Will my CBD oil show up on a drug test?
While CBD has none of THC's intoxicating, psychotropic properties, they still come from the same plant. Many users are therefore concerned they might test positive for THC use when enjoying CBD products. Let’s find out if these concerns are warranted!
Roadside and Workplace Drug Tests
There are three types of drug tests for cannabis:
Oral fluid drug test: This is mostly used to check drivers on the roadside. If you consumed drugs within the last few hours, it will result in a positive test.
Urine drug test: A commonly used method for workplace checks. It will lead to a positive drug test if you took drugs within the last few days.
Hair follicle drug test: The only test that detects repeated use that could take place over 90 days before testing. However, substances consumed within the week prior to this test won’t lead to a positive test result.
Does Pure CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?
Before we dive into the details, first things first: When you use CBD without any amount of THC - so for example CBD isolate products - it will not result in a false positive drug test for THC! This is true for all the methods mentioned above: Oral fluid, urine and hair follicle drug test. Drug tests don't pick up CBD alone.
In a recent study, volunteers were taking CBD isolate oils in doses up to 1500 mg before they were asked to take a drug test. The concentration of CBD in the participant’s oral fluid was highest 20 minutes after receiving the dose. Despite this high CBD use, the treatment did not result in a false positive result when tested with both of the most commonly used roadside oral fluid tests. Samples were taken 20, 145 and 185 minutes after consumption [1].
In another study, researchers investigated urine samples. Volunteers were given 100 mg of an oral CBD isolate preparation, and samples were taken 58 hours after consumption. The investigators did not get a positive test result for THC in any of the samples, meaning products that contain CBD only are unlikely to impact this drug testing method [2].
And there is also data on hair follicle testing. Research revealed that after 26 consecutive days of consuming CBD and a 1-week wait, head and pubic hair strand samples came back negative for THC [3]. So no matter which drug test is used - THC and CBD are fundamentally different. Drug tests can detect THC, but pure CBD products do not show positive on a drug test.
CBD Products that Contain THC Traces
Proceed with caution if you’re a fan of full-spectrum CBD products or CBD buds! Especially if you consume this type of CBD with trace amounts of THC very regularly. In the EU and UK, these products can legally contain levels of THC up to 0.2% – which can, under some circumstances, be enough to result in a positive drug testing result.
Researchers detected THC in an oral fluid sample after a study participant smoked a CBD bud joint. The levels were highest 3 hours after consumption and decreased from there. When one such joint was smoked daily, urine samples started returning positive after 8 days, surpassing the legally relevant limit of THC after 15 days. However, hair follicle analysis after a one-week wait turned out negative for THC. This means that this type of testing could be a suitable method to distinguish between the long-term use of low-THC and high-THC products [3].
Will CBD Oil Make You Fail a Drug Test? The Takeaway
If you are consuming CBD isolate products, even regularly, there seems to be no need to worry about drug testing ever coming back with a false-positive. On the other hand, you should be cautious with CBD products including THC traces (such as full-spectrum products) depending on the type of test you take. These products, even if they are made with hemp-derived CBD, can produce positive short-term results in oral fluid testing - or urine analysis after long-term use.
While there are no specific studies on broad-spectrum CBD products, it’s safe to assume that it will not cause any issues if the THC levels are truly below detectable levels in the product formulations. Unfortunately, many CBD products on the market that are labeled as “THC-free” still contain significant levels of the prohibited substance [4]. So make sure to only use CBD products from a CBD brand you can trust, and check their Certificates of Analysis!
If you have more questions on this or any other topic, don’t hesitate to reach out! We love to hear from you.
written by
anna falk - head of product
As the Head of Product at Harmony, Dr Anna Falk leads the development of our products and provides expert tips for your wellness. With over 10 years of experience in the research and development of natural products, her work is based on rigorous scientific studies.
Anna is an award-winning, internationally published researcher with a PhD in Organic Chemistry. She applies her expertise to develop Harmony's certified products that support your overall well-being. From research to development, she ensures that our products are of the highest quality and meet the highest standards.
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[1] McCartney D, Kevin RC, Suraev AS, Irwin C, Grunstein RR, Hoyos CM, McGregor IS. Orally administered cannabidiol does not produce false-positive tests for Δ9 -tetrahydrocannabinol on the Securetec DrugWipe® 5S or Dräger DrugTest® 5000. Drug Test Anal. 2022 Jan;14(1):137-143. — link to source
[2] Sholler DJ, Spindle TR, Cone EJ, Goffi E, Kuntz D, Mitchell JM, Winecker RE, Bigelow GE, Flegel RR, Vandrey R. Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Their Metabolites following Oral and Vaporized CBD and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis Administration. J Anal Toxicol. 2022 May 20;46(5):494-503. — link to source
[3] Gerace E, Bakanova SP, Di Corcia D, Salomone A, Vincenti M. Determination of cannabinoids in urine, oral fluid and hair samples after repeated intake of CBD-rich cannabis by smoking. Forensic Sci Int. 2021 Jan;318:110561. — link to source
[4] Johnson E, Kilgore M, Babalonis S. Cannabidiol (CBD) product contamination: Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentrations found in commercially available CBD products. Drug Alcohol Depend. 2022 Aug 1;237:109522. — link to source
