Does CBD Vape Oil Show Up On A Drugs Test?

Even though nine states and Washington, D.C. have legalized the recreational use of marijuana and another 29 states have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis, many employers still require pre-employment drug screening. A few more may require random drug screening as a condition of continued employment. This can mean bad news for the recreational or the medicinal consumer of cannabis. But what about cannabidiol (CBD)? CBD is like the little sister of THC. While THC gets people high and does have some medicinal value like the treatment of glaucoma, CBD has no psychoactive effect, but can treat a variety of conditions from pain and inflammation to anxiety and depression to epilepsy. But, will CBD oil show up positive on a drug test?

What Is CBD Vape Oil?

CBD vape oil, simply put, is a concentrated form of CBD that is rendered into an oil that is then placed into a vaporizer cartridge. These cartridges can be disposable or they can be refillable. Some people even add a few drops of CBD vape oil to their favorite vape juice or fill their atomizer with CBD vape oil and use their personal vape mod.

Ways to Consume CBD Oil

CBD vape oil can be consumed in a variety of ways. Many people use the methods described above, but CBD oil can also be used in the preparation of food, as a tincture, or combined with a carrier such as coconut oil and made into a topical preparation. CBD oil can also be placed into a pill form and taken this way.

How do Drug Tests work?

When an employer has mandatory drug tests as a condition of employment, they must follow the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) guidelines. Because THC is the recognized euphoria-causing compound of cannabis, many drug tests are looking for the THC-COOH metabolite. This metabolite shows up in urine, blood, and even in the hair of a person who uses marijuana. A drug test is designed to detect this metabolite.

What Is A Drug Test and What Exactly They Are Detecting?

As stated above, most drug tests are looking for the metabolites of certain drugs. When it comes to marijuana, it is looking for the THC-COOH metabolite. The SAMHSA cut-off for a positive result is 50 mg/ml in urine. Once a positive result has been obtained as positive, then it must go on to another test. This second test is a Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry test. A positive result in this test occurs when the THC-COOH metabolite registers at 15 mg/m. Keep in mind that the length of time the metabolites can stay in a person’s body can vary greatly. It can stay longer or less time depending on individual metabolism, physical activity, and body make up. THC is a fat-soluble compound, so individuals with higher amounts of body fat may hold on to the metabolites longer. The average length of time marijuana metabolites stay in a person’s system is 28 days.

Does CBD Hemp Oil Show on The Drug Test?

Here is where things get a little complicated. The answer to this question is simple: it depends. Here’s why. Legally, CBD oil derived from hemp has to contain less than .03% THC. However, at high enough doses of CBD, this can trigger a false positive result on a drug test. If the CBD oil is derived from the cannabis sativa plant – which differs from the cannabis plant used for hemp – there can be greater amounts of THC found in the oil or in the dry herbs. However, it is important to keep in mind that THC and CBD compounds, along with all of the other beneficial cannabinoids in marijuana, work better when in conjunction with one another. This is called the “entourage effect.” Therefore, a good CBD vape oil will contain amounts of THC. If drug tests are a concern, make sure that you are getting a CBD vape oil with the smallest amounts of THC possible. You may want to avoid using high-CBD dry herb in a dry herb vaporizer. Even strains that contain high amounts of CBD also contain enough THC to cause a positive drug test result. Stick with low-THC CBD oil and be sure that the manufacturer lists the amount of THC that can be found in the produce.