Drug tests are a reality for many people in the UK. If you work in transport, energy generation or construction you may be tested regularly to ensure that you meet the necessary safety standard. Cheek swab tests can also be administered to anyone suspected of driving under the influence.
Not knowing if CBD will cause you to fail a drug test, prevents many people from giving cannabidiol a try. When your job, or driving license, depends on passing these tests, it is understandable that you wouldn’t do anything to risk failure. However, CBD is legal in the UK and with the simple precautions outlined here, can be used without fear of a positive screening result.
CBD is one of nearly a hundred cannabinoids found in cannabis plants. It isn’t intoxicating, so it won’t get you high and won’t cause you to fail a drug test. However, most products sold as CBD contain a range of other cannabinoids.
They often include small amounts of THC and CBN which, in larger measures, remain illegal. While CBN is a controlled substance, modern drug tests in the UK only screen for THC. If the level of THC reaches a defined threshold you will fail the test. To prevent this, you must be certain that the CBD products you buy are low in THC or THC free.
Any product that is completely free of THC will not show up on a drug test. However, it is very rare that CBD products are genuinely ‘THC free’ or ‘zero THC’. Even the best extraction methods used on legal hemp strains leave behind tiny traces of other cannabinoids. Unfortunately, some products will be listed as “THC free” or “zero THC” when this is not the case. These claims can be unhelpful and misleading.
Products labelled as ‘broad-spectrum’ or ‘CBD Isolate’ shouldn’t contain any THC but don’t take this at face value. The only way to be sure of what the product contains is to look at the third-party lab tests. These are the results of the analysis carried out by labs not otherwise connected to the company. They will give you accurate details of exactly what is contained in the bottle.
However, a note of caution, cannabinoid analysis will only detect THC if it reaches a certain level. This means that certificates showing ‘none detected’ or ‘below quantifiable level’ (BQL) may still contain tiny traces. These minute amounts won’t cause you to fail a test on their own but if you take it frequently or combine it with other CBD products you increase the risk of failure.
Drug tests can be given in different situations, each with different methods and materials. As a result, there are a range of pass/fail thresholds:
Workplace urine test – These look for levels of THC-COOH which is a substance created when THC passes through your liver. A positive result could be triggered from as little as 20 nanograms per millilitre. A nanogram is a tiny amount, equal to 1 billionth of a gram.
Workplace saliva test – These have a much lower threshold and are usually used when testing for recent drug use. The smallest amount to trigger a positive result is 12ng/ml.
Roadside ‘drugalyser’ test – These are swabs taken when a police officer suspects that you have been driving under the influence of drugs. The lowest amount to fail the test is 2ng/ml.
CBD has a half-life of 3 to 5 days and should have completely left your system after two weeks. The exact time depends on several factors including your metabolism, how regularly you use it, how much you use and how you use it.
Studies have shown that the way you take CBD can have a dramatic impact on how long it stays in your body. Some CBD products, such as soft gel capsules have been found to be undetectable after 6 hours.
THC is affected by the same factors as CBD. It can be detected in blood, urine, saliva and hair but its concentration reaches its highest peak shortly after its use. It leaves the systems of most people between 1 day or 1 week. Some factors, such as an individual’s genetics, can cause it to be present for longer. THC and its metabolites have been detected in fat up to a month later and in hair up to 90 days after use.
By carefully following these steps you can confidently take CBD, even when expecting a drug test. The most important part of this process is finding a trustworthy retailer who stocks genuine products and is transparent with all their manufacturing details. Once you know that you are buying genuinely ‘low THC’ items you can start to enjoy the boost provided by top-quality CBD.
Cunningham, A. (October 2, 2017). Drug test cut off levels for cannabis. Retrieved from https://www.zoomtesting.co.uk/drug-test-cut-off-levels-cannabis/
TUC. (February 25, 2019). Drug Testing in the Workplace. Retrieved from https://www.tuc.org.uk/resource/drug-testing-workplace
Vandergriendt, Carly. (2019). Does CBD show up on a drug test? Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/does-cbd-show-up-on-a-drug-test#cbd-types
Weedmaps. (2019) How long does CBD oil stay in your system? Retrieved from https://weedmaps.com/learn/cbd/long-cbd-oil-stay-system
Weedmaps. (N.D.) How long does marijuana stay in your system? Retrieved from https://weedmaps.com/learn/cannabis-and-your-body/how-long-does-marijuana-stay-system/
I definitely wouldn’t risk taking CBD if you have to take regular drug tests – especially athletes or those working in law enforcement! Which is a shame because it has so many benefits. Thanks for sharing!
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Tim W. Shaw
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Tim W. Shaw writes extensively about CBD oil, cannabis and other groundbreaking food supplements. He and his wife share their home with two daughters and a lifetime’s collection of books.