Will Full-Spectrum CBD Oil Make Me Fail a Drug Test?
Posted in Frequently Asked Questions last updated on June 16, 2023In this article, we’re diving into the question, “will full-spectrum CBD oil make me fail a drug test?” We’ll also look at the differences between full-spectrum CBD products and CBD isolate because that may make the difference in a drug test too.
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Key Points
Full-spectrum CBD shouldn’t create a positive result for the presence of THC content on a drug test. However, because CBD comes from the cannabis plant, there may be trace amounts of THC leftover from processing.
The 2018 Farm Bill allows for commercial growth and cultivation of the hemp plant as long as it’s under 0.3% THC by dry weight. The products from that plant, like CBD oil or hemp, may have traces of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. However, it’s not enough to create the high that recreational or medical marijuana patients may seek.
What is Full-Spectrum CBD Oil?
Full-spectrum CBD comes from the extraction of CBD from the cannabis plant. There may be small amounts of THC at levels so low it might not make it on the product label. The process doesn’t filter out additional compounds that slip through the manufacturing process.
Often, outside of drug testing, people find this a desirable trait. The entourage effect from cannabis brings along a blend of other naturally occurring compounds that combine to create unique effects.
Researchers still don’t know much about the entourage effect, even if dispensaries are tracking terpene profiles for THC to give customers the type of high they want. For example, you might ask your budtender for edibles that give you some “time to clean the house” energy or a different package of gummies that help you go to sleep. Those are different terpene signatures that come from the entourage effect of tag-along chemicals to the THC.
CBD works similarly, with varying chemicals riding on CBD’s coattails.
Then what’s CBD Isolate?
On the other hand, you can purchase CBD isolate products. They are processed in a different way until there is nothing but pure CBD left.
On the one hand, this should not trigger a drug test positive result. If it’s processed, tested, and labeled correctly, there’s no THC in it at all. Not even the negligible amount of THC allowed by the Farm Bill.
Drug Screenings
There are two types of tests, drug tests and drug screenings. However, the terms are often used interchangeably in general conversation.
Drug tests typically look for specific chemical signatures, like THC. They’re much more accurate because they’re looking for something specific.
Drug screenings are more of a scattershot approach. They’re cheaper, faster, and test for a battery of chemicals. Most companies use this method for workplace drug testing of applicants or employees. Life insurance providers use this as part of the medical exam to see if your application matches what your body tells them.
There are three common types of tests: urinalysis, blood, and follicle.
Urinalysis (also called a urine drug test) is the most common. You’re asked to pee in a cup, and they test the urine. Depending on the drug, chemical compounds can last for several weeks in your body and keep coming out in your waste.
Blood tests aren’t as common. They’re more invasive and require the skills of a phlebotomist. They test what is currently in your bloodstream.
Finally, there is the follicle test. Considered the least invasive. A hair or two is plucked from your head, getting the follicle with it. That’s the part around the base of the hair that kind of looks like clearish skin and comes off if you poke at it.
THC can stay in your hair follicles for up to three months.
False Positives
Drug screenings yield a false positive test result as much as 10% of the time. Unhelpful, right?
You can often request a retest if you believe that your test shouldn’t have turned up those results.
False positives can also be triggered by other things. Something as silly as a poppyseed muffin the morning before your drug screening might produce false positive test results for heroin.
According to the United States National Institutes of Health, known products that can cause a false positive drug test result for THC on a drug test include:
- Dronabinol
- Efavirenz
- NSAIDs
- Promethazine
- Riboflavin
- Ethacrynic acid
- Baby soaps
Life Insurance Drug Test
Life insurance companies are slowly transitioning away from the cannabis stigma of decades past. There are 12 marijuana-friendly companies that have different allowances for how much you can smoke in a week.
No life insurance company (to the best of our knowledge at the time this was published) tests for CBD. They have other fish to fry, and it matters about as much as taking melatonin to get some sleep or ibuprofen if your muscles ache. Which is to say, it doesn’t matter at all.
Whether you use full-spectrum CBD oil or CBD isolate, it won’t matter on your life insurance drug test. However, if you’re worried about it, talk with your insurance agent. They can give you the best advice for your circumstances.
Continue Reading
For more information on what life insurance drug tests look for, read the following articles. You can also give us a call at (888) 987-8447.
