Will Using Cannabinoids Impact My Drug Test Results?

Cannabinoids like CBD offer tons of great benefits -- you may have heard of their abilities to relieve pain, treat anxiety, and even promote a better night’s sleep. However, although most of these naturally-occurring compounds found in cannabis are non-psychoactive and won’t get you high, certain products can sometimes put you at risk of failing a drug test. 

Luckily, drug tests don’t have to be a dead end if you still want to explore the benefits of cannabinoids. As long as you know what to look out for and what precautions to take when you’re choosing the right cannabinoid product for yourself, you can greatly minimize the possibility of testing positive for marijuana use. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

Be Careful with THC Levels

When it comes to passing a drug test, the thing you really need to look out for when choosing cannabinoid products is THC. While drug tests don’t check for non-psychoactive cannabinoids like CBD and CBG, they do generally pick up on by-products of THC. So, as one article on leafly.com explains, “you won’t fail a drug test for CBD, but you could potentially fail a drug test for any residual THC in that CBD product.” The same goes for most other cannabinoids as well. The best way to avoid this is to make sure you’re using THC-free cannabinoid products -- like the ones we offer at Barker Wellness! 

THC-FREE CBD Passes the Test

Full-spectrum CBD products contain all of the naturally occurring compounds found in cannabis -- including THC. And while they aren’t supposed to contain any more than 0.3% THC, which wouldn’t be enough to get you high or to show up on a drug test, CBD products are generally unregulated, so there’s no way to ensure that they won’t contain more and potentially lead to a failed drug test. 

On the other hand, though, CBD isolate and broad-spectrum CBD (like the kind found in all of our products at Barker Wellness) are not supposed to contain any levels of THC at all. Broad-spectrum CBD contains all of the compounds from hemp besides THC, while CBD isolate is pure CBD. Using either one of these over a full-spectrum product will greatly reduce your chances of failing a drug test. 

CBN and Drug Tests

While most cannabinoids like CBD, CBG, and CBC typically won’t lead to a failed drug test as long as they’re THC-free, you might want to be a little more careful when it comes to CBN products. One study from the University of Utah found that this sleep-promoting cannabinoid was more likely to cause a false positive for marijuana than other cannabinoids. This is likely because CBN comes from aging THC, and therefore could be mistaken for it by a drug test. So if you’re anticipating a drug test in the future or just want to stay on the safe side, you might want to stick with other cannabinoids for the time being

The Bottom Line

At the end of the day, most cannabinoid products should contain only trace amounts of THC and therefore should not put you at risk of failing a drug test. However, the best way to ensure you pass is to stick with THC-free products (hint: all Barker Wellness products are made with completely THC-free hemp extract!) and avoid taking large doses of CBN. As long as you stick to these guidelines, you can have peace of mind knowing you’ll be in the clear on your next test.