Benefits with Commonwealth of Virginia

CBD and Drug Screening: Take Note

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil, a chemical compound extracted from the cannabis plant, has become popular in recent years as a treatment for anxiety, insomnia, and other health complaints, though many of the health benefits claimed for CBD remain largely unproven. CBD, in its pure form, does not have the intoxicating effect of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), another cannabis compound. The challenge for consumers is that, in the current, largely unregulated market for CBD, it can be hard to know if the product being sold is pure CBD or if it contains other compounds from the cannabis plant—in particular, THC.

Any cannabis-derived product with a significant concentration of THC (more than 0.3 percent) is classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Use of these products is prohibited under federal law, even if allowed under some state laws. The presence of THC is checked for in many employer drug-screening tests, and a positive test result can lead to termination from a job or withdrawal of an offer of employment.

The Problem of CBD and Drug Screening

The presence of CBD is not typically tested for in employer drug screenings, but this does not mean that CBD use won't trigger a positive drug test result. That's because CBD products may contain THC—and THC can remain in your system at detectable levels for weeks. While CBD is often marketed as "pure," consumers have little ability to verify that claim. Only one CBD product has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA): a prescription drug used to treat certain seizure disorders. This drug is manufactured with precision, under carefully controlled conditions, and its chemical makeup is known. Other uses of CBD fall under the loose regulation of supplements, which means that the chemical composition of products sold as CBD can vary widely.

If you have or might be applying for a job that requires drug screening and you use or are considering using CBD products, you should be aware of your risks. If you use CBD that contains THC, whether you realize it or not, you could have a positive drug test and lose your job or the opportunity to be hired for one. Even if you explain that you take CBD for medical reasons, the positive drug test can disqualify you from employment.

How to Reduce the Risk of Using CBD That Contains THC

The surest way to avoid triggering a positive drug test from CBD use is not to use it at all. If you choose to use CBD and are subject to drug testing for your job, shop carefully for products that are less likely to contain a significant concentration of THC:

• CBD can be extracted from cannabis as full-spectrum oil or an isolate. Full-spectrum CBD products include other cannabis plant compounds. Isolates should include only CBD, so they are the safer choice if you want to avoid THC (assuming the product you buy is labeled correctly).
• CBD is extracted from hemp, rather than marijuana, and is less likely to include excessive concentrations of THC. Hemp is defined as a cannabis plant containing less than 0.3 percent of THC.
• Be alert to the risk of cross-contamination, which can occur with CBD sold at a marijuana dispensary or stored with marijuana products.
• Don't trust the label. One study found that up to 70 percent of the CBD products sold online were not labeled properly. Look for products that have undergone independent testing to verify their chemical makeup.

For More Information

"Can CBD Make You Fail a Drug Test?" Medical News Today (Last medically reviewed June 12, 2020)
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/does-cbd-show-up-on-a-drug-test

"CBD & Drug Testing: Your Questions Answered" (August 18, 2020), DNA Legal
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.dnalegal.com/blog/cbd-drug-testing

"Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test?" (Medically reviewed by Alan Carter, Pharm.D. & Written by Carly Vandergriendt; April 24, 2019), Healthline
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.healthline.com/health/does-cbd-show-up-on-a-drug-test

"DOT 'CBD' Notice" (February 18, 2020), U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT)
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.transportation.gov/odapc/cbd-notice

"What You Need to Know (And What We're Working to Find Out) About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds, Including CBD" (Current as of March 5, 2020), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/what-you-need-know-and-what-were-working-find-out-about-products-containing-cannabis-or-cannabis

"What You Need to Know About CBD and Drug Tests," (Medically reviewed by Femi Aremu, Pharm.D. & Written by Sherry Christiansen; September 3, 2024), VeryWellHealth
Link opens in a new windowhttps://www.verywellhealth.com/cbd-oil-and-failing-drug-tests-4580277