What is CBD?
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. The product comes from a family of plants called cannabis, which includes hundreds of natural substances, including terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids.
Does CBD Affect DOT Testing Results?
Drug tests, including DOT drug testing, look for THC or THC-COOH, which is a metabolite of THC. The federal government sets the parameters of drug tests at a level that won’t pick up trace amounts of these substances. Therefore, a negative drug screen result means you have less than the cut-off level of THC or THC-COOH in your system. Each type of test has its own acceptable and failure levels.
Pure CBD should not show up on a drug test. However, CBD products sometimes contain small amounts of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the active ingredient in marijuana that gives you the “high” when you smoke or vape. If it’s present in sufficient amounts, THC will appear on a drug test, so in that manner, CBD use could cause a positive result. That means that the quality of your CBD products is critical.
Why Do Some CBD Products Contain THC?
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate CBD products. Even in states where CBD is legal, you may have a hard time figuring out just what is in the items you buy. The purity of CBD varies by type of plant, source location, and harvest method, and it can get contaminated at any phase of production. To complicate the question, manufacturers don’t always tell you where their extracts come from, so calculating the THC is difficult or impossible. Here are a few other reasons CBD products might contain THC:
- Cross-contamination during manufacturing, transportation, or storage
- Product mislabeling
- Lack of third-party testing to confirm the composition
Are Some Types of CBD More Likely to Contain THC?
Marijuana and hemp both come from the cannabis family, but they differ in the level of THC they contain. Hemp products, by legal definition, contain less than 0.3% THC. Therefore, CBD products derived from hemp are less likely to contain THC than those derived from marijuana. When purchasing CBD products, consider the types of extracts:
- Full-spectrum CBD products like oils and edibles contain everything that naturally occurs in the source plant, such as terpenes, flavonoids, THC, and other flavonoids. Full-spectrum CBD products usually come from marijuana subclasses. Full-spectrum CBD oil that comes from marijuana may contain amounts of THC. Full-spectrum CBD oil derived from hemp must adhere to the laws requiring less than 0.3% THC.
- Broad-spectrum CBD products contain the compounds from the source plant, but the THC is removed, making it less likely to cause a failed drug screen than a full-spectrum derivative.
- CBD isolate is the purest form of CBD and contains no other compounds from the source plant. It usually comes from the hemp plant and should not contain THC. You may find this kind of CBD sold as a crystal powder, an edible slab, an oil, or a tincture.
How Do I Choose CBD Products That Don’t Contain THC?
If you are concerned about drug screening, here are some steps you can take that may help you avoid THC:
- Read the product information available on your CBD products. Look for those made from hemp, and then look for those made with pure CBD isolate. Avoid products that don’t offer clear or complete product information.
- Choose products that list the amount of CBD present in each dose, and start with a small amount.
- Research the sources from which the CBD products come from. Hemp standards vary by state. Locations where the hemp industry has existed for many years with strict testing rules, such as Oregon and Colorado, are more reliable than others. You may be able to get this information from the seller if it’s not on the packaging.
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