Have you been vaping and worried about it being detected in a drug test? Do not panic. This article explains more about vaping CBD and drug tastes and how the two are related.
Drug tests usually test for the presence of THC or related metabolites. That means if you vape CBD with traces of THC in it, you are likely to fail the drug test. The presence of THC or its metabolites makes you fail a drug test. Therefore, whether or not you’ll pass the drug test depends on the CBD strain you are using. All CBD products derived from industrial hemp are legal and always have low to negligible THC percentages. Although some products have less than 0.3 percent or no THC, accidents occur during processing; hence that might not be the case. Moreover, some manufacturers may mislabel the product, misleading you. Read on to determine whether or not vaping CBD will show in your drug test.
INTRODUCTION TO CBD
CBD is one of the main compounds harvested from Cannabis Sativa. Cannabis is a versatile plant cultivated for numerous objectives, such as hemp seed for food, recreational uses, therapeutic benefits, and construction materials. According to research, cannabis contains more than 400 organic chemical compounds, of which 80 are biologically active. The main bioactive compounds in cannabis are cannabinoids such as CBD and THC. These cannabinoids are unique to cannabis, and no other plant contains them. Other abundant cannabinoids besides THC and CBD are cannabinol (CBN), cannabigerol (CBG), and Cannabichromene (CBC).
THC is the main bioactive ingredient in cannabis. It is psychoactive and intoxicating hence bringing euphoric and addictive effects, respectively. However, CBD does not have such an effect. Campos et al. (2012) showed the therapeutic benefits of CBD in treating anxiety and depression. According to the food and drug administration, CBD compound containing more than 0.3 percent THC is illegal. It is scheduled as a Schedule I Drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States of America. When you take THC, it attaches itself to numerous receptors in the brain, bringing different effects. The main areas where CBD binds in the brain and the crispening effects.
| Brain area | Effects |
| Hippocampus | Impairs short-term cognitive abilities such as memory |
| Neocortex | Impairs the user’s judgment and sense of pleasure |
| Basal ganglia | It affects reaction time and movement |
| Hypothalamus | Increases overall appetite |
| Nucleus accumbent | Causes euphoric effects |
| Amygdala | This leads to panic and paranoia |
| Cerebellum | The user feels being drunk |
| Brainstem | Mitigates nausea and vomiting |
| Spinal cord | Reduces pain |
When you take CBD, it does not bind the same receptors in the brain as THC. Therefore, scientists are not yet sure how this compound interacts with the body to exert its effects. Yarar (2021) stated that CBD binds to the endocannabinoid receptors, bringing it to balance. Devinsky et al. (2014) discovered the following potential CBD benefits:
- It reduces inflammation
- It controls mental state disorders such as anxiety
- It is a chronic pain reliever
- It prevents vomiting and related effects
- It controls psychosis
- Promotes neuroprotection
HOW DOES CANNABIS DRUG TEST WORK?
When a person is under urine test, the following substances are targeted:
- Alcohol
- Amphetamines
- Benzodiazepines
- Opiates
- Cocaine
- Cannabis
Therefore, a urine test is one of the main tests for cannabis. Urine screening acts as an immunoassay test using the antibodies to attach themselves to specific drugs and metabolites. These antibodies target THC and its metabolites in a cannabis drug test. A positive signal will be portrayed when the antibodies bind to the targeted substance, meaning you haven’t passed the drug test.
According to Kulak & Griswold (2019), the United States Government sets certain concentration values during the drug test. However, if the test returns a concentration value under the one required by the federal government, the drug test shows negative, and you’ll have passed it. While the concentration of the unwanted substance in your body is more than the required concentration, the devices return positive results; hence you will have failed the drug test. A positive result doesn’t mean you have failed the drug test, as you can undergo other follow-up tests for confirmation.
You will be subjected to confirmatory tests such as mass spectroscopy, gas chromatography, and high-performance liquid chromatography. Accurate methods of detecting unwanted drugs and metabolites in the body exist. When examining the positive results, the health care provider must be careful as it’s possible to get false-negative or false-positive results. People who find positive during a urine test are encouraged to talk to their doctors and see the way forward.
A cannabis drug test might be positive if you used full spectrum CBD after three days. It may also be detected if you are into heavy cannabis use for thirty days. A positive drug test occurs due to the presence of THC. It is a fat-soluble compound, and the body stores it in its fat compartments. When a person undergoes metabolism to burn these fats, THC is slowly released and gets eliminated by the kidney as metabolites. Researchers conduct breath or saliva tests when it’s inconvenient to be in the laboratory. However, the method is still new, underdeveloped, and not frequently applied.
CAN YOU FAIL DRUG TEST FROM VAPING CBD?
It is impossible to fail a drug test from vaping CBD that contains less than 0.3 percent THC. CBD products such as full-spectrum CBD have a certain level of THC. When the amount of THC in a CBD product exceeds 0.3 percent, you may fail a drug test.
Since CBD is an unrestrained product, certain manufacturers are not reputable. Their products may contain THC, but they are saying otherwise on their label, misleading you. Ensure you purchase all your CBD product from reputable brands and are under third-party laboratories for testing.
THE BOTTOM LINE
Drug tests usually test for the presence of THC or related metabolites. That means if you vape CBD with traces of THC in it, you are likely to fail the drug test. THC is the main bioactive ingredient found in cannabis. It is psychoactive and intoxicating hence bringing euphoric and addictive effects, respectively. However, CBD does not have such an effect that has attracted scientists to study its therapeutic benefits in treating anxiety and depression. According to the food and drug administration, CBD compound containing more than 0.3 percent THC is illegal. It is scheduled as a Schedule I Drug by the Drug Enforcement Agency of the United States of America. When you take THC, it attaches itself to numerous receptors in the brain, thus bringing different effects.
REFERENCES
Campos, A. C., Moreira, F. A., Gomes, F. V., Del Bel, E. A., & Guimaraes, F. S. (2012). Multiple Mechanisms Involved In The Large-Spectrum Therapeutic Potential Of Cannabidiol In Psychiatric Disorders. Philosophical Transactions Of The Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 367(1607), 3364-3378.
Devinsky, O., Cilio, M. R., Cross, H., Fernandez‐Ruiz, J., French, J., Hill, C., … & Friedman, D. (2014). Cannabidiol: Pharmacology And Potential Therapeutic Role In Epilepsy And Other Neuropsychiatric Disorders. Epilepsia, 55(6), 791-802.
Kulak, J. A., & Griswold, K. S. (2019). Adolescent Substance Use And Misuse: Recognition And Management. American Family Physician, 99(11), 689-696.
Yarar, E. (2021). Role And Function Of Endocannabinoid System In Major Depressive Disease. Medical Cannabis And Cannabinoids, 4(1), 1-12.
I believe that nutrition science is a wonderful helper both for the preventive improvement of health and adjunctive therapy in treatment. My goal is to help people improve their health and well-being without torturing themselves with unnecessary dietary restrictions. I am a supporter of a healthy lifestyle – I play sports, cycle, and swim in the lake all year round. With my work, I have been featured in Vice, Country Living, Harrods magazine, Daily Telegraph, Grazia, Women's Health, and other media outlets.
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