As states legalize marijuana (recreational and/or medical) and CBD products are becoming more prevalent, people are experimenting with various products. Use of popular products, including those containing CBD, are resulting in positive drug screens for marijuana. Cannabidiol, usually marketed as CBD, is an active ingredient in cannabis/marijuana. This is different from Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana that has psychoactive components.

Cannabidiol (CBD), itself, will not show up on a drug test, but many CBD products that are not in their pure forms contain trace amounts of THC, resulting in a positive drug screen result.

The FDA does not regulate CBD. This means it is impossible to know exactly what you are getting when you purchase a CBD product. You will not know how much CBD is in the product regardless of claims and you will not know what else is in the product.

Healthcare Professionals have tested positive for marijuana after using products such as: tea with CBD for weight loss, lotions/creams/oils with CBD, edibles claiming to have only CBD, and other products from questionable sources.

Several factors affect the length of time CBD/THC is detectable in your system after using it. This is typically around 30 days. These factors include dosage, frequency of use, individual makeup (BMI, metabolism) and method of ingestion. You can ingest CBD via oils and tinctures, edibles, pills, creams and lotions, and vaping. Vaping CBD allows for the fastest elimination, while oils and tinctures, creams, and edibles remain in the bloodstream longer.

Accountable Healthcare Staffing Inc.’s recommendation is to avoid using products containing CBD. While Accountable as your employer (or potential employer for applicants) complies with all state legal requirements, please keep in mind that most of Accountable’s clients will not move forward with a Healthcare Professional who has a positive drug screen result.