CBD (Cannabidiol) oil has become a very popular natural remedy in recent years. What is CBD? CBD is a cannabinoid that is very active in cannabis. CBD does not produce any cognitive impairment or the feeling of euphoria, or being “high”. In fact CBD is an inhibitor of many of the psychoactive qualities produced by THC, but works in concert with THC to augment many of its medicinal effects. A popular question when going for a drug test is, “Will CBD oil cause me to have a positive drug test?”. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is actually not a straight yes or no. 

CBD is actually not tested for in drug testing, as it does not cause any impairment, the metabolite they test for is THC (Tetrahydrocannabinol). THC is the main component of cannabis, the one responsible for the mind-altering effects, is the cannabinoid called delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, which is abbreviated to THC. Trace amounts of THC may remain detectable in your urine for approximately 1-30+ days after use, depending on the dosage, concentration of THC and frequency of use. Some CBD oil preparations have THC in them, from trace to high amounts of THC, and others may be THC free. You should always do your research before purchasing CBD oil, and understand that these preparations are NOT regulated. This means that some companies may not be truthful about the amount of THC within the preparation. Some workplaces have policies that allow them to do drug testing and may not allow a positive THC test, you should always be aware of your company’s policy on drug testing.

Here are the most common types of labelling used for preparations of CBD and what you can expect to find within them: 

Full-Spectrum CBD

• Likely contains THC as it contains all of the compounds of the cannabis plant.

• Cannabis-derived CBD oils may have different amounts of THC in them.

• Hemp-derived products are required by the Cannabis Act (Industrial Hemp Regulations) to contain less than 0.3% THC.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

• Halfway between full-spectrum and isolate.

• Contains all the compounds of the plant except THC.

• Less likely to contain THC content than Broad-Spectrum.

Isolate CBD

• Pure CBD without the other compounds of the plant.

• Generally made from hemp plants and should not have any THC content.

When looking into buying CBD oils you should research the products you are considering purchasing. If you cannot find out if the product contains THC or if it is a CBD Isolate, consider that the product may contain THC. Try to find products that have the amounts listed, whether it be on the label or some other form of reliable documentation.

Different types of tests have different cut-offs and detection windows. Here are some of the different types of drug testing and some screening levels that could be used.

Urine (Most common in workplace testing)

• Screens at 50ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter).

• Can be detectable for approximately 1-30+ days depending on the dosage, concentration and frequency.

Oral Fluid (Less common)

• Screens at 4ng/mL (nanograms per milliliter).

• Can be detectable for approximately 1-3+ days, depending on the dosage, concentration and frequency.

Hair (Less common)

• Private testing screens at 1pg/mg (pictogram per milligram).

• Can be detectable for approximately 90 days, depending on dosage, concentration and frequency.