Failing Pre Employment Drug Test
As the market for cannabidiol (CBD) and other hemp-derived products continues to expand, work professionals are wondering can you fail a drug test with CBD? Many employers screen potential applicants by testing for illicit substances, including tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the psychotropic component in cannabis.
Drug Testing for THC
Cannabis contains hundreds of compounds that are known as phytocannabinoids. CBD and THC are the most prevalent phytocannabinoids that are found in cannabis, but each work very differently within the body.
While hemp is a type of cannabis, it is differentiated from recreational marijuana because its primary compound is CBD, as opposed to THC. Hemp was federally legalized in 2018, but cannabis that contains more than 0.3% THC is still prohibited, presumably for its mind altering effects. Pay close attention to the THC content in what you are seeking to take or are currently taking now, this is what conventional drug screening tests closely look for today.
Marijuana and Drug Testing
While more than 30 states have currently enacted legislation that allows for the medicinal use of cannabis, regardless of THC content, it is still not federally legal. This means that medical marijuana patients are not protected by federal laws and can be subject to discrimination by their employers. This includes termination from employment if they fail a drug test, even if they have a valid doctor’s prescription.
Can you Fail a Drug Test with CBD?
Many people who take or are considering taking a hemp extract or CBD product are left to wonder if they can fail a drug test with CBD. Though rare, it is possible, as there have been cases where people spoke out about failing a drug test even though they only take hemp extract.
In order to fail a drug test, the product must contain THC. This is only the case with full spectrum hemp extract, which can legally contain up to .3% THC, which is still a trace amount. Broad spectrum and isolate CBD products should not have any THC, so they would not cause a false positive.
What is SAMHSA?
Most companies follow the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) standards for testing, which means their cutoff level for THC is 50 ng/mL.
This indicates that a typical person using full spectrum CBD would have to consume at least 2000 mg of hemp oil per day in order for there to be even the slightest possibility of testing positive for THC.
Not All Drug Tests Are The Same
However, not all tests are calibrated the same and everyone has different biochemistry, so what holds true for one person may not for another. Another interesting thing to note is that CBD can influence the body’s ability to metabolize certain compounds, so people who use marijuana in addition to hemp oil may show higher levels of THC in their blood than those who use marijuana on its own.
The biggest problem is not whether CBD will cause a failed drug test, it is that medical marijuana patients should not be discriminated against because they are taking a substance that was prescribed to them by a licensed medical professional.
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana patients are treated like second class citizens, and face losing their jobs because of it.
The FDA approved a drug called DSUVIA, which includes the warning that just ONE dose can result in respiratory depression and death.
How is such a deadly drug officially sanctified instead of medical marijuana, which has no known related overdoses or fatalities on record?
Hemp Extracts
With regard to hemp extract, a person should not have to worry about losing their job because they use a legal, non-addictive, non-habit forming substance that humans have been cultivating throughout the last ten thousand years. It is long past time to repeal these barbaric restrictions. If you are really worried about failing a drug test and you are using a full spectrum hemp extract, it’s suggested that an over the counter drug testing kit might be what you should seek to determine if you are at risk.