Leonard Frieling
©Leonard Frieling, Lafayette Colorado 2018
12/14/2018
The answer is clear. Absolutely maybe.
CBD and THC (the chemical that gets us high) both come from the same plant. The cannabis plant has both present all of the time. I believe there is currently no “non-natural” source of CBD. It all comes from cannabis.
Unlike THC, which is the primary psychoactive component in cannabis, CBD is generally accepted as having no psychoactive effects. CBD is generally considered non-psychoactive, although it’s anxiolytic (anxiety-reducing) impact, as well as potential anti-psychotic impact are technically “psychoactive” properties. It does not get anyone “high.” It is widely accepted as having a range of medical benefits. It will not cause anyone to fail a properly done test for THC. Blood testing can differentiate between the THC cannabinoid and the CBD cannabinoid. Sadly even testing positive for CDB alone may not guarantee any particular result, BUT! There’s more to it than that.
A particular CBD product may not chemically match the label. Both CBD and THC are found in the same marijuana plant, all of the time. A label that says “little or no” THC may be accurate. Or not.
Some CBD products have been found to have trace amounts of THC. It is present in tiny insignificant amounts, and cannot get anyone high. CBD itself is probably not psychoactive at all. BUT the label claim of the % of THC may be wrong. The actual level may be higher because of incorrect labeling, poor production methods, poor testing protocols, or poor lab work.
The chemical that is identified in urine testing is produced by THC and not by CBD. This is well-established chemistry. So the less THC in the product as used, the safer for the drug-tested user of the medicine. Some claim to have found that under specific circumstances, CBD may produce trace amounts of THC in stomach acid. Their results are not generally accepted. This suggests that CBD tinctures and salves may be safer by avoiding stomach acid.
So someone using a product which is labeled “CBD” “THC FREE” or CBD with a tiny % of THC, under 1% or less perhaps, is at risk to flunk a urine drug test for marijuana. I believe the risk to be quite low. I suspect that the failures will be when someone uses an improperly labeled or improperly tested CBD product, perhaps in larger amounts than normally used, or is a victim of poor “blunt instrument” drug testing. I suspect that for most, especially using salves and tinctures, the risk is extremely low.
Be healthy. Be safe.