CBD 101: Understanding CBD's Psychoactive Properties and Drug Testing

 When consuming any substance, people have several concerns they want to address for their satisfaction and peace of mind. These concerns are elevated in substances with an ambiguous legal status, such as cannabidiol or CBD. Although the CBD industry is growing swiftly and gathering more and more followers who advocate for the complete legalization of the cannabinoid, you need to be somewhat careful while using it in its current state.

Given the origin of CBD and the fact that it stems from marijuana, the most common question people have is 'Will it get me high?' and the question that accompanies this query is, 'Can CBD show up on a drug test?' In this article, you will find a detailed answer to both questions, so read ahead to satisfy all your concerns!

What is CBD, and how many types are there?

CBD or cannabidiol in isolation is one of the hundreds of cannabinoids present in the cannabis plant. Cannabidiol is one of the most abundant compounds in the cannabis plant and is by far the fastest-growing in popularity in the cannabis industry.

On the other hand, CBD products are made of more than just this one cannabinoid, and one type of CBD product even contains 0.3% or less delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol or THC. Since this is the compound that causes the psychoactive effects of marijuana, its concerns arise due to its presence in CBD products. The three types of CBD products include; Full Spectrum CBD, Broad Spectrum CBD, and CBD Isolate.

Full Spectrum CBD: Contains all the cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids, including THC.

Broad Spectrum CBD: Contains all cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids except THC.

CBD Isolate: Only contains one cannabinoid, which is CBD.

Now that we are familiar with CBD types and their composition, we can answer your questions!

Can CBD induce Psychoactive Potential effects or get me high?

The answer to that question is a resounding negative. Although full spectrum CBD contains THC, it cannot contain more than 0.3% of it due to legal regulations and limitations. This negligible amount of CBD is not enough to get you high or to produce psychoactive effects. The purpose of THC in full-spectrum CBD is not to get you high; instead, it is to produce the 'entourage effect.' To put it simply, the entourage effect means that CBD works best in synergy with the rest of the compounds, terpenes, and flavonoids in the cannabis plant, including THC.

Is it possible for CBD to make me fail a drug test?

You don't necessarily need to have a run-in with the law for you to be tested for drugs, as there are several other reasons why you might get tested. For instance, various businesses and corporations have regular drug tests conducted for their employees. Simultaneously, if you are an athlete or are involved in professional sports, you are bound to get drug tested.

While employers won't test you for CBD metabolites, they will test you for THC, the intoxicant present in cannabis. Similarly, although the World Anti-Doping Agency and the US Anti-Doping Agency removed CBD from their prohibited substances list in 2018, THC is still on their list.

Consequently, while CBD itself won't cause a positive drug test, the THC content in your CBD most certainly can, and here are a few ways in which it can;

If the vendor you get your CBD from also manufactures products with THC in them, your CBD may be cross-contaminated with THC. Simultaneously, this can also occur if you have CBD at home. While this is a rare circumstance, there is still a chance of your CBD isolate product containing traces of THC in it due to cross-contamination with other products such as full-spectrum CBD. Most well-reputed vendors account for this possibility and have mechanisms in place which prevent such an occurrence, for instance, Honey Gold Botanicals and its intricate and well-rounded manufacturing process.

• Type of Product

Naturally, the type of product you purchase is consequential for your drug test. If you are using full-spectrum CBD, there is always a chance that you will fail the drug test due to the presence of THC in your CBD and, consequently, your body. On the other hand, you can benefit from CBD and reduce your chances of failing your drug test by using CBD isolate instead. For a clearer picture of what you are consuming and whether or not it has THC, always get your hands on the certificate of analysis that any renowned vendor like Honey Gold Botanicals will provide for its lab tests.

• Frequency of Use

Everyone's body processes THC differently. While the chances of you failing a drug test even after consuming full-spectrum CBD are less, the subjectivity of your body creates ambiguity. This means, even if you stop consuming full-spectrum CBD before your test, there is still a chance that you may fail it. The reason for that is the fact that, at times, it takes your body days or even weeks to rid itself of the remaining THC in your body. However, all of this depends on how frequently you consume CBD, your dosage, and how long you have been consuming it.

What should I do?

There are various precautions you can take to prevent yourself from failing a drug test, and some of them are as follows;

• Consume THC-free CBD; 

If you are in an environment where drug tests are a probability, it is best to steer clear of the risk and consume CBD isolate or broad-spectrum CBD.

• Buy from Reputable Vendors; 

You should always purchase CBD from a well-known brand with an up-to-the-mark manufacturing process. Not only will this prevent instances of cross-contamination, brands such as Honey Gold Botanicals will also give you access to lab tests. These tests will let you know the contents of what you are consuming.

Conclusion

All-in-all while CBD can cause a drug test failure, it is an easily avoidable circumstance. You have to be more vigilant regarding your CBD purchases and the frequency of your intake. As long as you do your research when it comes to your vendor and time your CBD consumption according to any possible lab tests, you should not encounter any problems.