Scientists aren’t ready to give consumers a definitive “yes” or “no” about whether CBD can show up on a drug test. Like many aspects of the hemp industry, the issue of drug screening for CBD is complicated.
The work environment, in particular, is one of these aspects. From mandatory drug tests, employer medical release forms, and break-room discussions, there are still many grey areas with respect to cannabis in the work environment. Whether you agree or disagree, the point is that we should all have some understanding of these sensitive areas.
Cannabis In The Work Environment
Following a 100 year prohibition on cannabis, there are still many aspects of cannabis legalization that require integration into the new paradigm of wellness we are entering.
CBD stands for Cannabidiol. It is a cannabinoid that is extracted from the hemp plant. CBD can be a healing hand to those who work in high intensity, high stress work environments. From Wall Street Brokers, three job jugglers, and your insta-famous entrepreneurs, we can all benefit from this healing plant in one way or another!
Work Stress
Stressed out at work? You’re not alone!
58% of Americans say work is a significant source of stress. According to the American Psychological Association (APA), almost 60% of Americans say work is a significant source of stress.
Long-term exposure to work-related stressors like these can affect mental health. Research links burnout with symptoms of anxiety and depression. In some cases, this sets the stage for serious mental health problems.
High levels of stress at work can affect physical health, too. Repeated activation of the fight-or-flight response can disrupt bodily systems and increase susceptibility to disease.
Work stress can also harm companies or organizations. Burnout reduces job productivity and boosts absenteeism and job turnover. This can all lead to conflicts between coworkers, causing stress to spread within a workplace.
That is why many companies are putting ‘wellness plans’ into place to help employees manage stress. Yoga, mediation, and mindfulness fall into this stress-reducing category. Now the question is if CBD can join this powerful wellness formula without falsifying a drug test.
Will CBD Show Up On Drug Test
As CBD becomes legal in all states, the most common work related question that arises is if this healing plant will cause a positive to the routine drug test like its well-known psychoactive cousin THC.
Employers, parole officers, parents, and other people who commonly administer drug tests usually focus on detesting chemicals that cause impairments. According to the World Health Organization, CBD does not cause physical or mental impairment.
In the most common workplace drug screen – a urine test – employers aren’t looking for CBD, because CBD has never been found to impair judgement or motor skills. Instead, individuals fail workplace drug testing for marijuana’s main active ingredient, THC, which can exist in low amounts in some CBD products and then persist in the human body for weeks.
CBD vs THC
THC and CBD are both cannabinoids derived from the cannabis plant, but they’re different in many ways.
CBD and THC have the same chemical formula – 21 carbon atoms, 30 hydrogen atoms, and two oxygen atoms. The difference lies in the way the atoms are arranged. That gives CBD and THC different chemical properties, and they affect your body differently.
While they both affect things like pain, mood, sleep, and memory, the key factor that sets them apart is the receptors within your body that they bind to. We have two types of cannabinoid receptors in our bodies. THC binds with receptors mostly in the brain that control pain, mood, and other feelings. That’s why THC can make you feel euphoric and give you that so-called high.
CBD doesn’t cause that high. Instead, it’s thought to work with other elements in the body linked to feelings of well-being.
An easy way to think about the difference is that THC is defined by what cannabis makes you feel, while the effects of CBD can’t be felt. The important distinction is that, unlike THC, CBD will not intoxicate you. This addresses one of the most common reasons people choose to use CBD – stress management.
The Poppy Seed Effect
Another common positive drug-test misconception is the poppy seed effect. Poppy seeds come from the seedpod of the opium poppy. When harvested, the seeds can absorb or become cited by opium extract. Opium extract is used to make opioid drugs.
Poppy seeds may still contain trace amounts of opiate residue even though they a cleaning before being processed for consumer use for baking and cooking.
The concentration isn’t enough to give you any of the effect of opioids, but it can be enough to produce false positive drug tests.
Similar to CBD, a hemp product has the potential to cause false positive drug tests if the extraction process is not done properly from the other cannabinoids.
Final Thought
CBD is classified as a supplement and is not regulated by the FDA. While we go to great lengths to ensure the safety, quality and efficacy of our products, there are companies out there mislabelling their products or making false claims. Thankfully, any reputable company WILL have test results to back up their products. So, whether you purchase from Cured or not, always ask for lab tests to understand the compound breakdown of the product you are purchasing.
