While it is becoming common knowledge that many CBD products could contain trace amounts of THC, what is less clear is if THC in these amounts could cause you to fail a drug test. Let’s look at the facts.
CBD products contain THC?
In case you didn’t know, we’ll start with the trace amounts of THC. Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol is one of the cannabinoid present in the Cannabis plant which causes you to get high. While THC is a controlled substance in the UK, products are legally allowed to contain small amounts of the cannabinoid.
According to Home Office legislation, products are allowed to contain 1mg of THC (or other controlled substances) per container. This can get confusing, as the size of the container does not affect this 1mg limit.
Some companies deliberately keep small amounts of THC in their products. This is because it is thought that the combination of cannabinoids can boost the effects of the product. Extracts that contain a mixture of cannabinoids, flavonoids and terpenes are known as full spectrum extracts.
Enough to make me fail a drug test?
The amount of THC in CBD products such as oils, tinctures and vape solutions should not be high enough to cause a failed drug test. However, there may be some exceptions to this rule.
Despite being an increasingly popular supplement and health ingredient, CBD products are still extremely under-regulated in both the UK and the USA. This can be put down to many shortcomings, including from legislators and regulators.
As the cannabinoid industry has grown, legislation and regulations have struggled to keep up to date with the products on the market. With products being available online that have had no testing or quality checks, it is possible to receive products that contain more or less of what is advertised.
An example of this was a study commissioned by the Centre for Medicinal Cannabis, which was widely circulated in the UK media. The study found that almost half of the oils tested contained an illegal amount of THC.
How can I ensure a product is what it says it is?
The best way to ensure that the products you purchase fall under the legal limit of THC (and to avoid a potential failed drug test), is to check lab results. Legitimate CBD products will often be tested by third-party labs. You can find these results either on the seller’s website, or by contacting the seller.
Products by companies who are members of a self-regulatory body will also be much more likely to sell legitimate products.
CBD Isolate is also more likely to contain little to no THC, as it is the purest of CBD products.
To conclude
Although it is unlikely that CBD products could cause you to fail a drug test, it is technically possible. The best way to ensure that this doesn’t happen, is to try and buy quality, trustworthy products. Remember, always look for lab results!
