Whether you are and athlete or simply just work for an agency that mandates random drug testing, there is also going to be a concern about the products you use and how it can affect your drug tests. Because of its relation to the marijuana plant, and marijuana’s status with many global drug regulatory bodies, questions will often arise about drug testing and CBD. If you are concerned about CBD showing up on your next drug test, you are in the right place.
Why Are Drug Tests Done?
Drug testing are generally done in one of two instances, sports or by employers. Drug tests in sports are primarily used to check whether athletes are using substances which can give them an unfair competitive advantage. As for employers, drug tests are typically done to screen for illicit drugs and may be required prior to or during the course of an employee’s contractual relationship with a company. Drug testing is often explored by employers for the following reasons:
- Productivity – Drug abuse may impair an employee’s ability to perform therefore reducing his/her productivity, affecting the company’s bottom line. Additionally, it has been shown that drug abuse can be linked to as much as 40% of employee theft.
- Safety – Drug abuse may negatively impact an employee’s judgement and therefore make him/her a hazard to the workplace. It is key to note that up to 50% of workplace accidents have been attributed to drug use.
It can safely be said that drug testing is done as a means to not only aid the company’s bottom-line, but also to help ensure employees work in a safe environment.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD is not listed among the schedule of UN Convention of Psychotropic Substances drafted in 1961 or 1971. A review was requested by the Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a letter written to the Secretary General at the United Nations in 2018. A decision was made at the sixty-second session of the Commission on Narcotic Drugs in Vienna (2019), that pure CBD containing no more than 0.2% THC would not be scheduled as a controlled substance.
Additionally, the United States’ Substance Control Act does not list pure CBD among the schedule of controlled substances in the United States of America. The Farm Bill which was passed in 2018 legalized CBD derived from Hemp plants providing it contained less than 0.3% THC. It is still key to note however that it is strongly advised that you consult with authorities in your legal jurisdiction to determine the legal status of CBD.
Does CBD Show Up on Drug Tests?
So on to the big question, does CBD show up on drug tests? The answer is not as clear cut as one would like it to be, it depends on the purity of the CBD being used. Usually, drug tests are designed to detect THC or THC COOH (a metabolite of THC). THC is the primary psychoactive component of the hemp plant. Pure CBD should not result in a positive drug test, but some CBD extracts contain trace amounts of THC and can result in a positive drug test.
How Can I Ensure My CBD Is Pure?
Reducing your chances of a positive drug test can be done by choosing the right CBD brand and identifying a brand that uses the most ideal harvesting methods. When CBD is harvested and refined, one can get full spectrum CBD, broad spectrum CBD and CBD isolate. For the sake of being safe, your best bet is CBD isolate. As the name suggests, this should be pure CBD from which all impurities are removed. CBD isolate should not result in a positive drug test, as there is absolutely now THC present.
CBD products are not regulated by the FDA and therefore, it can be hard to verify whether the claims made by products are true or false. To help with this, be sure to identify brands that use third party testing labs to verify their claims. This is one of the most reliable ways for you, the consumer, to verify the claims made by your favorite CBD brand.
Conclusion
If you are considering the use of CBD be sure to consult your physician to determine if CBD is right for you. Additionally, be sure to conduct your necessary research, and ask all the necessary questions before trying any CBD product.