You’ve heard and read about the therapeutic benefits of CBD oil. But there’s that one nagging thought that won’t leave you –
Does CBD oil show up on a drug test in the UK?
You have that job interview coming up and you want to be sure before you start using CBD oil. After all, who would like to be disqualified for the use of illegal drugs, right?
Let’s put your worries to the rest with this article. CBD oil does not show up on a drug test in the UK. However, if you’ve heard of people failing their drug test, here’s explaining why that may have happened.
People across the world have been using CBD oil to address a host of symptoms. They include but are not limited to anxiety, pain, insomnia, inflammation and neuroprotection. This non-psychoactive compound is also an FDA-approved treatment option for seizures.
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Standard Drug Tests for CBD Oil
Many job roles include the handling of heavy machinery or attending to vulnerable groups. Hence, such tests are mandatory in the workplace.
Anti-doping evaluations test urine or blood samples for the presence of controlled substances. Complex screening methods also examine hair and saliva samples collected from participants.
Drug tests look for scheduled substances as these illicit or recreational drugs impair essential body functions. Cannabis qualifies as one of them. There are over 400 compounds present in cannabis. The drug test tests the samples for the presence of Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and its metabolites, not CBD.
THC, The Culprit!
THC is the cause of most failed drug tests.
CBD or Cannabidiol is one of the active compounds present in Cannabis. Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the other. CBD is non-intoxicating; that is it does not alter mental state. THC is a psychoactive compound in cannabis; it causes a high when ingested. The chemical structures of CBD and THC are very different. CBD, when consumed, it is broken down by the body. THC is stored in the fat cells in the body. It is released when the body metabolises fat.
Medical grade CBD oil contains THC in regulated quantities or none at all. It varies based on the specific CBD blend. 0.3% THC is the permitted concentration by the federal law for medical CBD. Anything above that is classed as a Schedule 1 substance. Higher traces of THC result in a positive drug test.
CBD is hemp-derived or extracted from the cannabis plant. While the former is obtained from specially cultivated industrial hemp plants, Cannabis-derived CBD is sourced from the marijuana plant. Marijuana is cultivated primarily for recreational purposes. The concentration of THC in hemp-derived CBD is negligible and hence approved by federal law.
Can you test positive for CBD Oil?
The quantity of THC in UK-regulated CBD oil is so less that it does not show up on a drug. Nevertheless, the chances are high if:
- If the THC traces are above the permitted concentration levels stipulated for a drug test.
- If you have been consuming CBD oil in very high doses.
- Inaccurate product labelling.
- THC contamination during distillation and manufacturing
- Drug interactions- THC may interfere with selected prescription drugs.
The test could be a false positive. Therefore, a positive test result is always followed up with another test.
What are the solutions?
- Source your CBD oil and other consumable products from a regulated seller.
- Check the quantity of THC in the product you intend to buy; it should not be more than the approved levels. This applies especially to CBD oil sourced from outside the UK.
- Check the product’s composition and quality. There have been cases of CBD-products containing THC above the permitted thresholds.
- Brands selling authentic products won’t hesitate to offer a Certificate of Analysis; it is a lab test report confirming the product’s contents.
Final Verdict
CBD is a safe and non-psychoactive compound. And if you take the right precautions with choosing your CBD product, you should not be worried about being pulled up for the use of controlled substances. CBD oil will not show up on a drug test in the UK.
