Can CBD cause a positive drug test? Your questions answered

The use of CBD products to address various everyday problems has gained popularity in recent times. From regulating sleep patterns to decreasing stress and contributing to pain management, the information available on the properties of CBD is becoming more and more prevalent.

With more and more people buying CBD online, one question keeps coming up: Can CBD be detected in drug tests? This question is especially relevant in contexts such as public-sector entrance exams, security professionals or anti-doping tests.

The 3 key takeaways

• CBD does not cause a positive drug test: these tests specifically look for THC metabolites, not cannabidiol.
• Things are a little more complex because of three factors: the THC content of some products, the test’s “cut-off point” and false positives, which exist in any test.
• At the recommended doses of CBD products, such as CBD oil, a positive result on a cannabis test is unlikely.

What is CBD and why isn’t it what drug tests look for?

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a natural compound found in the cannabis plant (Cannabis sativa). Unlike tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid in cannabis with psychoactive effects, CBD doesn’t get you high. The two compounds are also chemically different from each other.

In short, CBD does not cause a positive cannabis drug test, as these tests specifically look for THC metabolites. But in reality things are a little more complex than a positive or negative result. There are specific considerations and details worth looking at in depth, such as the THC content of some CBD products, the characteristics of the tests used and pharmacological concepts such as the “cut-off point” or “false positives”.

In addition, the particularities of a routine roadside saliva test are different from those of anti-doping tests. In this post, we address common questions about drug tests related to cannabis and CBD, to give you clear and accurate information on the subject.

At Cannactiva we lab test every batch: both our CBD flower and our CBD oil have a THC content below 0.3%.

What is a drug test and what does it really detect?

A drug test is a tool used to identify the presence of psychoactive substances in the body. In general, tests do not detect the drugs themselves, but their metabolites.

The metabolites of a drug (or of any medicine in general) are the chemical compounds that substances break down into as the body eliminates them. So there are tests available for different drugs (cocaine, cannabis, amphetamines, MDMA…).

When are drug tests carried out?

In principle, and from a theoretical point of view, drug tests are practically unnecessary. There are tests for diabetes, pregnancy or infectious diseases because the subject/patient does not know whether they are diabetic, pregnant or infected with HIV. However, the simplest and most effective way to find out whether or not a person has used a particular substance is to ask them.

Sometimes the person cannot give us this information because they are unconscious or very agitated. That is why drug testing is indicated in emergency medical care.

In other circumstances, the person does not want to admit to drug use because of the potential negative consequences: disciplinary action or job loss, motoring fines, a ban from professional sport… This aspect, which is sometimes ethically debatable, is the one that causes the most problems and conflict around drug testing.

Drug tests are used in a wide variety of contexts: medical care, road safety (roadside checks), sport (anti-doping tests), court assessments… The techniques and procedures vary greatly depending on the purpose of the test and where it is used.

Routine blood and urine tests, such as health and preoperative checks, do not routinely include this type of test.

Does CBD affect driving?

If you’re worried about getting behind the wheel after taking CBD, we explain it all in Driving and CBD: does it affect your driving?.

Types of test for detecting cannabis (urine, saliva and others)

There are many analytical procedures for detecting drugs in body fluids. Some are quick, cheap and simple to use, such as enzyme immunoassay tests (similar to the pregnancy tests available in pharmacies). Others, such as gas chromatography, involve large equipment and need specialised staff.

In general, the most common types of tests are:

Rapid enzyme immunoassay tests are “similar to pregnancy tests”, whereas gas chromatography needs “large equipment and specialised staff” (in the author’s words).

The saliva test for detecting THC

If you’ve tested positive in a saliva test, we go through what to do step by step in THC saliva test: what to do if you test positive.

How do cannabis drug tests work?

All tests designed to detect the presence of cannabis look for metabolites of tetrahydrocannabinol or THC, which is responsible for the substance’s psychoactive effects. Specifically, THC-COOH (11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) and 11-OH-THC (11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol) are two of the most widely used in both rapid saliva tests and urine tests (2).

Detecting recent use through exhaled air

The first devices that can detect recent cannabis use through exhaled air are being tested (3). These instruments are similar to the breathalysers used at routine roadside checks to catch drivers under the influence of alcohol.

Why they only give a qualitative result

One of the drawbacks of cannabis tests is that they provide a qualitative result (positive or negative). This gives no information about the user’s context, pattern of use, motivations, beliefs, experiences or problems.

Differences between THC and CBD

THC and CBD are different cannabinoids; we explain the differences between THC and CBD.

Cut-off point, sensitivity and false positives

Test sensitivity

The sensitivity of a drug test refers to its ability to detect true positives. In other words, it measures the proportion of people who have actually used a substance and are correctly identified as positive by the test. A high sensitivity means that the test is less likely to give false negatives, i.e. to miss people who have actually used the substance in question.

The cut-off point

Drug tests detect the presence of these compounds above a certain concentration, called the cut-off point. Samples with concentrations equal to or greater than this point will be considered positive, while those with lower concentrations will give a negative result. Therefore, the probability of testing positive on a cannabis test depends not only on its sensitivity, but also on the cut-off point set for the test.

False positives

However, it is important to note that as the cut-off point decreases (i.e. tests that detect the presence of drugs at lower concentrations), the number of false positives is likely to increase. This means that some people may test positive for cannabis without having used the substance. This may be due to other factors, such as the influence of medicines, dietary supplements, drug interactions or even errors in the sample collection and processing procedure, which can contribute to false positive results.

How long is cannabis detectable? Factors that play a role

In any case, the characteristics of cannabinoids mean that there is great variability in detection times (which in exceptional cases can last up to three months). Some important factors are:

Products to test negative on drug tests: do they work?

Online, it is easy to find various types of products that supposedly let you get a negative result on drug tests. From “detox” liquids and pills to more or less ingenious gadgets with synthetic urine.

Generally speaking, we can distinguish between saliva cleansers (sprays) and urine cleansers (diuretics). Each of these products has its own method of action, often involving dilution or masking. But do they really work? In short, none of these options are effective.

Products to test negative on saliva tests

As for sprays or saliva cleansers, there are simply no scientific references to support their efficacy. In any case, for physiological reasons, their supposed efficacy would only last a few seconds after use. Saliva tests are mostly used at roadside drug checks, so they are unlikely to be useful in practice, since the officer is present throughout the process.

Products to test negative on urine tests

The use of “urine cleansers” may be more problematic. These are products taken orally that claim to speed up the elimination of drugs. This idea is unfounded, since under normal conditions the speed at which a drug is eliminated from the body depends on a series of pharmacological parameters that cannot be influenced.

Firstly, the use of diuretics (especially of undetermined origin, composition and quantity) can have serious health consequences. Secondly, urine drug tests are always accompanied by a basic urinalysis, which would be clearly altered by the use of diuretics (15).

Other types of “urine cleansers” are products added to the sample that alter the cannabis metabolites until they are undetectable. They are effective, but have the same drawbacks as those just mentioned: changes in parameters such as pH, density or protein in the urine would make the attempted fraud obvious (15, 16).

In any case, we stress again that there is no need to resort to tricks when using CBD products such as CBD oil at the recommended doses. A positive result on a cannabis test is unlikely.

We look in detail at why these “detox” products don’t work in Products to test negative on a drug test: do they work?.

I tested positive for cannabis after using CBD. What can I do?

As we have explained throughout this article, testing positive on a cannabis test after using CBD products is unlikely. But in biology few things are impossible, and we have also pointed out that false positives are an intrinsic problem with any diagnostic test.

First step: review your recent use

So, in this situation, the first recommendation would be to try to remember everything you have taken in the previous weeks to see whether there may have been any exposure to cannabis. Am I sure I haven’t used any amount? Am I sure that the joint I was offered last week only had CBD in it, as its owner said?

When to turn to a quantitative analysis

If you are sure you have not used THC and the positive result has significant negative consequences (being barred from work, anti-doping tests, legal consequences, etc.), it is worth knowing that there are analytical procedures that can precisely quantify the amounts of THC, CBD and their metabolites (16, 17). This makes it possible to tell whether the positive result can be attributed to the use of THC or of CBD products. These are complex and costly procedures that would probably involve a lengthy legal process, although the effort may be worthwhile in certain circumstances. In these cases, it is advisable to seek expert legal advice.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, prevent or cure any disease or symptom. Its content can complement, but never replace, the diagnosis or treatment of any disease or symptom. Cannactiva products are intended for external use. We recommend responsible use of CBD products. Consult a professional if you have any doubts about their use.