Does CBD Show Up On a Drug Test? Here Is The Shocking Truth!

CBD (cannabidiol) may show up on a drug test.

The good news?

CBD use isn’t illegal in the UK and most countries.

It’s NOT a restricted drug and a positive drug test for CBD is no concern. 

But there’s a catch. 

Some CBD products contain THC (the ‘high’ compound), which is illegal in the UK and other countries. 

Bottom line: You’ll be in trouble if you test positive for THC (and not CBD alone). 

Confused?

Read on for the low-down on CBD, THC, and drug tests.   

Jump To:

• Does CBD Show Up On A Drug Test? Should You Be Worried?
• What Causes THC To Appear On A Drug Test? 
  • You Use a Full Spectrum CBD Product
  • Your CBD Product Was Made Using Poor Extraction Methods
  • You Use an Expired CBD Product
  • Your CBD Product Has Inadequate Testing or Inaccurate Labelling
• How To Ensure A CBD Product Is THC-Free 
• 4 Types of Drug Testing (And Their THC Cut-Off Levels)
• 3 CBD Drug Test FAQs

Does CBD Show Up On A Drug Test? Should You Be Worried?

As we said, CBD use MAY result in positive drug tests, whether you use:

• CBD oils
• Edibles like CBD gummies or capsules
• CBD topicals like CBD cream or CBD patches
• CBD vapes and tinctures  

Worried?

Don’t be!

Since CBD is legal in the UK and other countries, a CBD user shouldn’t face any problems.  

Even better?

The World Anti-Doping Agency lists hemp derived CBD as a permitted substance.

But here’s the exception.

You should be worried if your CBD product contains THC (even a trace amount). 

Why does THC matter?

THC is a major psychoactive compound in cannabis plants (Cannabis sativa or indica). It gives you the ‘high’ feeling’ and is illegal in the UK and other countries. 

You’ll be in trouble if you use a CBD product with traces of THC and a drug screen detects them.

What Causes THC To Appear On A Drug Test? 

Here’s why you may have a positive result for THC while using a CBD product:

1. You Use a Full Spectrum CBD Product

There are three types of CBD products: 

1. CBD isolate (pure CBD) products only contain the cannabinoid CBD (cannabidiol). There are NO trace amounts of THC or other cannabis plant compounds in isolates, making them the safest form of CBD.
   
2. Broad spectrum CBD products contain CBD, terpenes (aromatic compounds), fatty acids, and other plant material. They include cannabinoids, but they have 0% THC concentration. (They are legal in the UK!) 
3. Full spectrum CBD products include all the same compounds as broad spectrum CBD, but also includes THC (tetrahydrocannabinol).

Bottom line: You will NOT test positive for THC if you use CBD isolate or broad spectrum CBD, but you will test positive for THC if you use full spectrum CBD.

Full spectrum CBD products are illegal in the UK as they have THC content. However, some retailers sell them since the CBD industry is largely unregulated.  

2. Your CBD Product Was Made Using Poor Extraction Methods    

Manufacturers use various extraction methods to separate CBD from other cannabinoids (think: THC) in the cannabis plant.  

The bad news?

THC is quite hard to extract. 

If the seller uses poor manufacturing processes, there could be higher amounts of THC in the finished CBD product. 

Bottom line: If you use poor-quality products, you may get a positive drug test for THC.

3. You Use an Expired CBD Product 

Whether you use CBD vapes, CBD patches, CBD gummies, or a CBD cream, the product’s shelf life depends on several factors: 

• Quality of hemp
• Extraction techniques
• Packaging 
• Storage 

Over time, the CBD extract in these products might deteriorate and convert into THC.

Bottom line: Even if the product originally had 0.0% THC, it may have some THC content if kept beyond its expiry date. 

(More on CBD products and expiry dates in a minute.)

4. Your CBD Product Has Inadequate Testing or Inaccurate Labelling

CBD products that are tested by an accredited third-party lab guarantee their authenticity. 

They use the best testing practices to detect the smallest amounts of THC (think: 0.001% THC).

But here’s the bummer…

Not every manufacturer uses accredited labs and high-quality testing kits.

The result?

Trace amounts of THC go undetected in the finished product. 

The product label may say it’s “THC-free” when it’s not. 

Bottom line: You could be consuming an incorrectly labelled CBD product, which may cause you to fail your drug test for THC.

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How To Ensure A CBD Product Is THC-Free 

Follow our insider tips to ensure your CBD product is safe, effective, and THC-free:

1. Check The Product Description

The product label should tell you two crucial things:

• The product’s CBD type (full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD, or CBD isolate) 
  
• The CBD extract used (hemp or marijuana extract) 

Avoid purchasing the product if this information isn’t available in the product description.

2. Review The Certificate Of Analysis

Reputed CBD manufacturers provide a Certificate of Analysis (COA) detailing the compounds in the finished product.

The lack of a COA could mean the company is not testing its products, or the results don’t meet the industry standards. 

We suggest staying away from such CBD brands.  

3. Avoid Buying Nearly-Expired CBD Products

CBD’s potency and effectiveness reduce over time — especially if it’s a poor-quality product or stored incorrectly. 

More importantly, it could become THC.

How can you tell if a CBD product has expired?

An expired CBD product will have an unpleasant smell and taste. Always check the expiry date to avoid this.

4 Types of Drug Testing (And Their THC Cut-Off Levels)

Still worried about THC and drug tests?

Let’s look at four common drug testing methods with their THC cut-off levels and detection timeframes: 

1. Urine tests 

A urine drug test is the UK’s most common workplace drug testing method.

These tests can detect THC content or drug use in your urine 3 to 15 days after consumption.

The catch?

High levels of the THC metabolite could result in a positive drug test even 30 days after consumption.

The standard cut-off THC level for a urine test is 50 ng/mL (nanograms per millilitre).

2. Saliva tests

A saliva test detects the THC metabolite levels for the past 24 hours.

It’s suitable for monitoring recent cannabis use. 

The cut-off levels of THC range from 12-50 ng/mL based on the saliva drug testing type — such as instant oral fluid testing kits or devices and lab tests. 

3. Blood tests

Using blood tests for drug screening is uncommon.

Why?

Usually, THC is eliminated quickly from the bloodstream (within 12 hours).

4. Hair tests

Did you know hair tests can detect THC metabolite for up to 3 months?

However, they’re rarely used for drug screening because they can cause false positive results. 

For example, coming in contact with marijuana smoke is enough to cause a false positive in a hair drug screen result.

3 CBD Drug Test FAQs

Commonly asked questions about CBD and drug tests include: 

1. CBD Derived From Hemp Vs Marijuana: What Is The Difference?

The key difference between hemp and marijuana lies in the THC level and CBD content. 

• Hemp plants have higher CBD levels (less than 0.2% presence of THC) and are typically legal in most countries. 
• Marijuana plants have a higher THC concentration and lower CBD levels and may be illegal in many countries.

2. How Can You Clear THC From Your System? 

Try these home remedies to clear the presence of THC from your system:

• Drink plenty of water
• Reduce or eliminate fatty foods and caffeine
• Exercise daily
• Take warm baths

P.S. These are NOT guaranteed to work for everyone. 

3. Can CBD Turn Into THC After Consumption?

Some studies indicate that CBD can convert to THC under acidic conditions (like in the stomach). 

The good news?

The experimental study used simulated gastric fluid (read: stomach fluid). 

This artificially created fluid differs significantly from typical physiological conditions in our stomach. 

Essentially, it may be too early to predict if CBD converts into THC in the human body.

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Get The Safest & Best CBD Products With GreenBox

CBD can show up on a drug test.

But don’t worry, that shouldn’t be an issue.

As long as you use THC-free products from trusted CBD companies.

And that’s where GreenBox comes into the picture. 

We review lab reports for every CBD product, guaranteeing quality, safety, and purity. 

Choose from our wide range of the best CBD products to enjoy your CBD journey worry-free!