Will CBD Make Me Lose My Job?

Yes, it is very possible that after using CBD infused products, you may show up positive for THC in a drug test which can result in unemployment. CBD oil, or other products derived from hemp, is still cannabis and anytime you are using cannabis, if your employer has a policy against it, you are breaking that contract and they may have grounds to fire you. But before you start losing your head here are a few things you should keep in mind.

What type of CBD are you using?
There are generally two types of CBD products:

Pure CBD Isolate contains 99.99% CBD, with only residual terpenes left over. Products made of CBD isolate will contain NO THC what so ever. So if this is the type of product you use, then you will not show up positive for THC on a drug test. I have sold this type of the product to police officers, professional athletes, people on parol and so many others who could absolutely have NO THC in their system and have never heard of one failing any tests. That's because, at every CBD company I've worked with would take the time to ensure all their products were properly tested and had the COA's on hand for the customers- very transparent.

Full Spectrum/ Whole Plant Hemp Extract can, legally in America, contain less than 0.3% THC. This low level of THC is considered non-intoxicating and is still federally legal under the 2018 Hemp Farm Act which is why it can be purchased online or in non-dispensary retail stores. Though many consumers think that with such a small amount of THC it wouldn't show up on a drug test, but would be wrong. Some products can legally have up to a 10:1 ratio of CBD: THC and you can be consuming multiple milligrams of THC without knowing it. It may not make a huge difference with a single use, but if you are ingesting it daily, as you should for best results, the THC can stack in your system.

The amount of THC in your system will be determined by: 

• How often you are using a full spectrum product
• How much you use
• Your BMI (THC latches on to fat cells) 
• How often you exercise
• How often you sweat
• How often you drink water
• Your individual metabolism

What to do if you have been using a product that contains THC and have a drug test coming up: 

1.  Start drinking as much water as you safely can.
   
2. Purchase a THC testing kit. These are available at drug stores or you can buy them online. 
3.  If you bought a test kit and you show up positive for THC you can buy a detox kit and hope it works or talk to your boss about your use of CBD.  Come prepared with the testing results and explain the reasons you are using it if you feel comfortable enough doing so. The more people talking about it and normalizing the use of non-intoxicating cannabis the more likely it will be widely excepted in the future.

What to do to avoid the risk in the first place: 
Before even sampling a CBD product, ask for the testing results (example below). If it is truly a pure CBD isolate product, you will have the lab work to prove that no THC is detected. DO NOT just trust the packaging or seals person!

Pure CBD Isolate Testing Result

Full Spectrum Tincture Testing Results 

I truly hope that in the future people won't have to choose between keeping their jobs and finding natural relief with cannabis. With the opioid epidemic on the rise, and so many people suffering from alcohol abuse that cannabis should be the least of our concerns. So much has changed in the last 10 years and in the future, I'm sure cannabis will be federally legalized and this will no longer be an issue. But that does nothing for the hard working Americans that need it today.