Can CBD Ruin a Drug Test?

• Drug tests look for THC, not CBD
• Full-spectrum CBD products should be avoided if you have an upcoming drug test
• Topical CBD products are a safe option as they do not contain THC

Whether you have used CBD products before or not, you may be wondering if they can ruin a drug test. At BATCH, we always recommend that our customers play it safe. If you do have an upcoming drug test, you will want to avoid full-spectrum ingestibles and use topical CBD products instead. 

Full-spectrum CBD products include all of the naturally occurring cannabinoids in the cannabis plant, which does include THC. When you ingest full-spectrum CBD products, THC is also entering your body, and it may stay there for a few days or a few weeks. 

Let’s go through some need-to-know information about cannabinoids, drug tests, and product options to determine which CBD products are the right fit for you.

If you are interested in trying quality delta products, check out our sister brand, Otterspace. 

For starters, CBD and THC are two of the most well-known cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. The National Institute of Health recognizes over 60 different cannabinoid compounds that interact with the endocannabinoid system in the human body. 

Even though CBD and THC are both chemical compounds found in cannabis, they each have different effects on the mind and body. These key differences impact how they’re used and the laws that govern them. 

One of the most important things you should know about CBD is that it is a cannabinoid that does not produce a psychoactive high. CBD products are derived from hemp, which is considered a “cousin” of marijuana. Essentially, hemp is a cannabis plant that has very low levels of THC. 

In 2018, hemp became federally legal to grow and sell in the United States; this led to the explosion of CBD products that we see on the market today. All 50 states have varying laws regarding CBD, though it is technically legal in each state under certain circumstances. 

On the other hand, THC is a psychoactive cannabinoid that produces a “high” when smoked or ingested. Cannabis plants that have 0.3% THC or less are considered hemp, whereas cannabis plants with higher concentrations of THC are considered marijuana. 

Most drug tests screen for THC or its main metabolite, which is a compound created by the body as it breaks down and processes the THC. 

When you take a drug test, they are screening for particular chemical compounds in the body. While urine tests are the most widely used, your hair, blood, and saliva could also potentially be used for a drug test. 

Drug tests look for THC and THC metabolites, but they do not look for CBD. This is primarily because CBD does not produce a psychoactive high like THC does. Certain CBD products do contain trace amounts of THC, however, and even those that do not might produce a false positive. 

To pass a urine test, your THC levels do not have to be at zero, but they do have to be below a pretty low threshold. THC is detectable in urine for 3-15 days for individuals who smoke or ingest THC infrequently. For heavier users of THC, it can be detected for up to 30 days after the last use. 

If you are asked to do a hair test, you should know that THC can be detected in a hair strand for up to 90 days. On the flip side, THC is detectable in the blood for up to a week and in the saliva for up to three days. 

There are so many CBD products out there, and it can be tempting to try them all. We’ll guide you through some of your main options and the most essential information to help you choose your best product options.

Topical CBD products are a good option if you have an impending drug test. These types of products are applied externally onto the skin as CBD oils, lotions, balms, salves, and creams. BATCH’s Fire and Ice Balm offers many of the benefits of CBD without the risk of failing a drug test. 

You also have the option to use CBD Isolate products. CBD isolate means that the product has been refined to the extent that only the CBD remains. Many of these products guarantee 0.0% THC and are tested by a third party to ensure efficacy. 

Since CBD isolate products do not contain THC, it is unlikely that you would fail a drug test after using them. However, mistakes can be made, such as cross-contamination or mislabeling during packaging. That’s why is so important to go through a trustworthy company with a strong reputation for high-quality products. 

Lastly, CBD products that are labeled as “Full-Spectrum” do contain trace amounts of THC and should be avoided in the case of an upcoming drug test. Full-spectrum CBD products are not stripped of other compounds and contain other cannabinoids, terpenes, and flavonoids.

Legally, full-spectrum products can contain up to .3% THC, so if you inhale or ingest any full-spectrum CBD products, you may test positive for THC on a drug test.

We recommend avoiding ingestible full-spectrum CBD products in the weeks leading up to a drug test. You can check the label on any CBD product to see if it is a full-spectrum product. 

Overall, if you are concerned about passing a drug screening, the best thing you can do is take a break from ingesting any full-spectrum CBD products. You can safely use topical products in the meantime without testing positive for THC. 

We offer a wide range of product options at BATCH and want to empower you with the information you need to make the right selection. Even if you don’t have a drug test to worry about, it is essential to be aware of the key differences between CBD and THC and to be able to identify which products contain one or both of these compounds.