Does CBD Show Up on Drug Tests? Here's What You Should Know 

CBD has become a popular treatment for stress, poor sleep, and everyday aches and pains.* But does CBD show up on drug tests? Because CBD is produced from the cannabis plant, folks who are routinely drug tested may be skeptical to use it. 

According to medical cannabis expert and double-board-certified doctor Dave Gordon, M.D., cannabidiol itself is not the issue.  

"Most drug tests are specifically looking for THC and breakdown products (metabolites) of THC, and CBD is rarely, if ever, being tested," Gordon explains. "Any product that is completely free of THC should never be a problem with passing a drug test. These products are typically labeled as broad-spectrum CBD, CBD isolate, or 'THC-free.'" We'll dive deeper into the various types of CBD below. 

"A 2017 study1 showed that almost 70% of CBD products sold online are improperly labeled," says Walker. "Forty-two percent had more CBD than described on the label, and 26% had less CBD than indicated. Some products also had too much THC—this is a good argument for independent third-party testing."   

Hemp-derived CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol2) come from the same plant, Cannabis sativa3. These leafy green plants contain hundreds of compounds, including terpenes, flavonoids, and cannabinoids. Cannabidiol and tetrahydrocannabinol are two of the 113 cannabinoids recognized in cannabis. 

So, what's the difference between THC and CBD? While both can have an effect on our bodies and minds, THC is intoxicating, while CBD is not.* 

Although cannabis has been increasingly legalized for medical and recreational use, the Food and Drug Administration4 (FDA) still considers it a Schedule 1 controlled substance. That's why hemp-derived CBD products have been filtered to only include the federal legal limit of THC, which is 0.3% or less. 

Remember, CBD is still largely unregulated. There are a few terms that have come to represent the various types of hemp-derived CBD and how they're processed. 

Full-spectrum: 

Full-spectrum hemp products contain cannabidiol and other compounds, including 0.3% or less tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). This trace amount is within the federal limit. CBD researchers5 believe full-spectrum hemp benefits from the "entourage effect," a theory that the combination of compounds has a more powerful impact. 

Because it includes trace amounts of THC, full-spectrum hemp CBD is the most likely to trigger a positive drug test. 

Broad-spectrum: 

While this type of hemp contains other compounds such as terpenes and flavonoids, it is filtered to contain 0.0% THC. 

THC is filtered out of broad-spectrum products, so they're less likely to produce a positive drug test. Still, it's not impossible. Broad-spectrum users should take extra care to read third-party lab results. These results will confirm whether the product label is accurate.  

Isolate: 

Isolate is the most basic form of CBD. It's been filtered to contain only cannabidiol without any additional compounds. 

As Gordon explained, drug tests screen for THC or its metabolites6, particularly THC-COOH. These tests look for a concentration cutoff of THC or THC-COOH. The levels that trigger a positive result will vary based on the type of drug test. 

We should call out that hemp CBD's impact on a drug test should only be a concern for ingestible products such as capsules, gummies, and tinctures. 

While drug tests don't screen for CBD, they do screen for THC. If you're concerned CBD will impact your drug test, it's best to stick with third-party-tested CBD isolate products that don't contain THC.