CBD is almost like THC’s legal little sister—but we love her just as much. Along with the accessibility of CBD, it helps soothe a range of symptoms like chronic pain, anxiety or insomnia. And the best part: you can take it any time of day for relief since it does not produce any psychoactive effects.
Even though CBD is federally legal, many who hold positions where they’re randomly drug tested have to ask the question: does CBD show up on a drug test?
The quick answer is that it most likely won’t, but it can, depending on what type of CBD product you’re using as well as how frequently. Drug tests screen for tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) and not so much other cannabinoids like CBD. This means that if there are trace amounts of THC in your CBD product and you’re using it every day, that THC could accumulate in your system, resulting in a positive drug test result.
So how do you know if there’s THC in your CBD oil? Simply be aware of what type of product it is out of three: full-spectrum, broad-spectrum and isolate. Full-spectrum CBD contains a range of cannabinoids, including THC. However, to be considered legal, CBD products must contain less than 0.3% THC. So, if you’re only consuming a full-spectrum CBD product once a week, that very small amount of THC isn’t as likely to accumulate.
Broad-spectrum CBD includes other cannabinoids and flavonoids, but should not contain any THC that could result in a positive test result. Your other best option if you have to pass frequent drug tests is CBD isolate, which is just plain CBD and nothing else. You can’t go wrong with that!
No matter what, it’s always best to be honest before taking a drug test. CBD is a legal substance, and being up front with your employer (especially if you do use full-spectrum CBD daily), is your best bet.