Unregulated CBD: Contamination, Adulteration, and Failed Drug Tests

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Unregulated CBD

Have you looked into the source of the CBD you are using? The ingredients in some unregulated CBD products might surprise you and even result in failing a drug test! Without a COA, buying CBD products risks adulteration and test failure.

Mislabeled CBD products that may be contaminated with THC or other chemicals flood the wellness market. Legitimate CBD products originate from American farms and include a certificate of analysis from a third-party testing lab. In an unregulated field, this is proof that you know what you are getting. 

Keep reading to find out how CBD might show up on a drug test.

Will CBD Show Up On a Drug Test?

CBD products test

Passing a drug test when you use CBD products largely depends on the purity of the product. So many CBD products you can buy on the market often contain trace amounts of THC

CBD with over 0.3% THC can lead to failed drug tests, catching users off guard. Misleading labels and lack of FDA regulation allow for hidden THC content in CBD products.

Mislabeled CBD: More To Worry About

Mislabeled CBD products have caused more panic than failed tests. Studies have been done to test what is in the CBD products on shelves at our local stores, and the results have been shocking! 

Here are three unacceptable ingredients forensic toxicologists have found in CBD product testing:

  • Dextromethorphan (DXM): an addictive ingredient in over-the-counter cough medication that may cause drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting 
  • K2/Spice: a synthetic cannabis-like chemical that is sprayed on plants. Experiences are mind-altering side effects that may raise heart rates, increasing the chances of heart attack and even death.
  • Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 0.3%: The active ingredient in weed that gets users high, with adverse psychotropic effects such as paranoia. Amounts greater than 0.3% are considered federally illegal and may result in a failed drug test.

Mislabeled CBD risks harming kids and pets, leading to legal consequences. Buy from vetted suppliers with lab-tested products to ensure safety.

Can CBD Lotion Make You Fail a Drug Test?

CBD Lotion

Topical CBD offers relief for skin conditions, arthritis, and muscular pains without entering the bloodstream. Efficacy depends on ingredients, extraction, and production methods.

There are three extraction methods for CBD in a topical:

  • Isolate: This is the process that filters out everything from hemp except cannabidiol (CBD). This is the purest means of extraction and has no smell or taste.
  • Distillate: This process retains the beneficial terpenes, cannabinoids, fatty acids, and vitamins from the hemp plant while filtering out the THC into negligible amounts. Authentic distillates will not get you high or show up on a drug test when consumed.
  • Broad-Spectrum: Preserving the whole plant’s benefits, including terpenes, cannabinoids, and vitamins, with a small amount of THC, can result in failed drug tests if consumed internally where it’s illegal.

Topical creams and lotions cannot penetrate the thick dermis to reach the bloodstream.

Does the Military Test For CBD?

The military allows drinking and tobacco use but no use of marijuana, including CBD. Without a medical prescription, CBD is banned from use in the Military. 

Military Test For CBD

Mislabeling of THC content in CBD creates a risk for military personnel, as testing positive for THC can lead to discharge.

How to Cleanse Your System for a CBD Drug Test

If you are unaware of the source behind your CBD or have used a CBD product you know has a 0.3% THC level or greater, there are some tried and true methods to detox the THC out of your body.

Here are the best three ways to cleanse your system according to CBD users:

  • Ramp up cardio activity by sweating purges toxins from the body.
  • Replenish your body with low-fat, whole foods containing antioxidants like turmeric and activated charcoal.
  • Pee a lot! Drink two gallons of water a day, and use over-the-counter diuretics or diuretic herbal teas (dandelion, ginger, parsley, and hibiscus are user favorites). 

Users have found detoxing helps them pass a test when done at least three days in advance after CBD.

Does CBD Oil Make You Sick Before a Drug Test?

CBD oils are a very potent distribution of CBD to the body, and they sink right in, so adulterated oils may be the cause of sickness. The poison control center has seen a rise in calls related to unexpected and undesirable effects of CBD. 

The oils sink in faster because CBD’s fatty acids closely resemble our lipids. If these oils contain any harmful amounts of the substances DXM or synthetic cannabinoids, then there is a good chance you may be sick from them. 

Is a Urine Test Safer Than a Hair Test?

If you are a combined CBD and cannabis user, THC metabolites that may be present in CBD products can pass out of your urine in as little as three days or up to thirty days. On the other hand, a strand of hair can show trace amounts of THC from 90 days after the last ingestion!

Urine Test

Small blood vessels absorb THC into hair follicles, where it can permeate and remain in your hair permanently. The section of hair tested is only about 4cm from the scalp for most people and is around 90 days of hair growth time. No product can strip your hair of THC; it can only be grown out or shaved off.

A urine test is safer for CBD users because it may be easier to pass. By cleansing and detoxing your body, you can prepare for a urine test, but you cannot clean or strip your hair of the THC it has absorbed. Fortunately, a urine test is the most common.

Do Lab-Tested CBD Products provide the best results for a drug test?

Always buy from vetted CBD vendors. In this unregulated industry where CBD products for every little thing – face masks, coffee, pet food, honey, toothpaste, and you name it – inundate us, an educated consumer remains safe.

When searching for the CBD product that is right for you, look for products that have a certificate of analysis from a third-party lab. These are safety precautions that ensure exactly what’s in your CBD and that it’s not over the amount of THC that shows up in a standard drug test.

Ralph Gary
Ralph is a passionate author at tooslick.com, a leading drug education website. With a background in public health, he combines research and empathy to create informative content that empowers readers with knowledge on substance abuse. Ralph's mission is to foster a safer and healthier community through education.

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