Cannabidiol or CBD has become a popular ingredient in health and wellness products in recent years. Studies show that CBD provides many significant medical benefits without any serious side effects. Apart from its use for medical purposes and skincare, CBD is also used recreationally through vaping.
As vapers turn to more natural ingredients like CBD in their vape oil and vape juices, there has been an influx of casual users. Because it is safe to ingest and is legal in every state, the use of CBD vape oil has become quite commonplace. However, this has given rise to the question: will frequent, casual usage of CBD vape oil lead to a positive drug test?
To answer this, we must first take a look at the content of CBD vape oil and other CBD-infused products. Read on to learn about the possibility of CBD vape oil showing up positive in a drug test.
Composition of CBD-infused products
CBD-infused products are relatively safe to consume. Not only is CBD legal in all the states, but it also has little to no tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the cannabinoid, which is the primary psychoactive component of cannabis.
Keep in mind that while CBD does not contain THC, other CBD-infused products might. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn’t regulate all CBD products out on the market, so it could be difficult to determine what exactly is in these products. Do they contain only CBD, or do they have THC as well?
Even if the manufacturers did not intend for their products to have THC, lapses during harvesting and processing could result in the presence of THC in their products. Other factors that may affect THC content are the place where the CBD is extracted and the strain from which it is derived. This is because certain CBD strains have more THC than others.
Different types of CBD extracts
CBD extracted from hemp is less likely to contain traces of THC than CBD extracted from marijuana. There are currently three types of CBD extracts from both marijuana and hemp:
- Full-spectrum CBD
- Broad-spectrum CBD
- CBD isolate
Full-spectrum CBD
Full-spectrum CBD products are usually extracted from marijuana plants. Full-spectrum CBD contains all the compounds found in the plant from which they were extracted: CBD, flavonoids, terpenes, and even THC.
Full-spectrum CBD oil from marijuana plants may contain more THC than CBD oil extracted from hemp. Choose full-spectrum CBD products carefully, as some manufacturers don’t disclose where the extracts are from. For this reason, it may be difficult to determine how much THC these products contain.
Full-spectrum CBD products usually come in the form of oils, edibles, topical creams, tinctures, and serums.
Broad-spectrum CBD
Like full-spectrum CBD, broad-spectrum CBD also contains compounds such as terpenes and other cannabinoids from the plant. Unlike full-spectrum CBD, however, the manufacturing process for broad-spectrum CBD aims to remove as much THC as possible. This type of extract is, therefore, less likely to contain THC.
Broad-spectrum CBD products are a little harder to come by than full-spectrum products. This type of extract is more commonly sold as oil.
CBD isolate
Compared to the two other CBD extracts, CBD isolate contains only CBD. It does not contain any other compounds and is typically extracted from hemp plants. This type of extract is usually available as a tincture, oil, crystalline powder, or a small solid slab that can be halved and eaten.
Can CBD vape oil appear on a drug test?
Based on what you know about the different CBD extracts, you can make a reasonably accurate determination as to which CBD-infused product contains traceable amounts of THC . CBD, in itself, should not appear in your drug test. However, if the CBD-infused product you’re using contains significant amounts of THC, your drug test may turn out positive.
Drug tests determine THC levels through one of its primary metabolites, THC-COOH. A positive drug test result indicates the THC-COOH found in your body is above the cut-off value established by federal workplace drug testing.
If you opt for full-extract CBD vape oil, keep in mind that it may contain trace amounts of THC. However, if the manufacturers indicate that it has low THC content, you probably don’t have to worry about getting a positive drug test result. Even so, it is advisable to keep the THC cut off values in mind to stay well below the limit.
Some CBD-infused products could be safer to take or use than others. Be careful with the CBD products that you buy, and make sure these do not contain THC above the legal 0.3% dictated by law. This is the best way to ensure that your drug test doesn’t come out positive.
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