CBD gummies are inconspicuous and convenient, which mainly explains the deep-rooted interest that hemp users have in this particular confection. But because they contain powerful cannabinoids found in hemp, these seemingly playful, childish snacks provide a world’s worth of wellness benefits for those who use them.
Unfortunately, however, some people tend to frown upon CBD gummies thinking they’re just a creative way to mask mind-altering organic compounds. But can CBD gummies actually get you high? More importantly, can they cause you to fail a drug test? Here’s what you need to know.
Drug Tests and What They Test For
Before we get into the dirty details, we have to discuss drug tests. There are many different kinds of drug tests available, and they’re distinguished based on the drugs they try to detect. To put that into perspective, a 5-panel drug test works to detect five different substances, while a 14-panel test detects as many as 14.
For marijuana users, it doesn’t really matter what kind of drug test gets administered. That’s because, across all of these different tests, tetrahydrocannabinol is a mainstay. That means all drug tests will test for marijuana use.
Tetrahydrocannabinol or THC for short is one of the many cannabinoids found in the Cannabis sativa L. plant. It’s this specific cannabinoid that researchers have identified as the sole reason for the high that cannabis causes.
Based on information from trusted resources, drug tests can detect THC in your system up to 21 days after your last use, if you use marijuana daily. The tests out a sensitivity that picks up THC at levels of 20 to 50 nanograms per milliliter.
Can CBD Gummies Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?
Now, let’s look into hemp. Although marijuana and hemp come from the same Cannabis sativa L. plant, they’re recognized as completely different agricultural commodities.
That all boils down to their THC content. While marijuana contains up to 40% THC, hemp contains just about 0.3% THC or less. And this marginal, negligible THC content is what lawmakers agreed upon to qualify hemp as hemp and not marijuana.
That means any plant sample that contains even just a hair over 0.3% THC falls into the marijuana category. Now, the reason why legislators agreed on this number is that researchers confirmed that at these trace amounts, THC can’t cause any palpable effects.
That also means that even a constant intake of hemp would not increase body THC concentrations so that a person would fail a drug test. So in a perfect world, CBD gummies shouldn’t cause you to fail a test.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. And it’s not because of CBD or hemp plant chemistry, but because of manufacturers. Lots of vendors and companies manufacturing CBD gummies don’t care to check their THC concentrations.
Today, the hemp industry remains highly unregulated. With no official body assessing each and every product that enters the market, it’s possible for buyers to end up purchasing products that don’t actually follow THC content guidelines.
In case you happen to buy CBD gummies that contain more THC than legally allowed, it becomes possible to fail a drug test.
What to Do When Buying CBD Gummies
It’s not anyone’s desire to end up failing a drug test just because of some CBD gummies. So before you make a purchase, see to it that you exercise these tactics to steer clear of a product that doesn’t meet legal requirements.
Deal with Trusted CBD and Hemp Vendors
The first and most important thing you need to do is to buy your product only from trusted vendors. Well-established names might charge more for their products, but that also means that you’re getting CBD gummies and other hemp-derived and infused formulations that abide by the law.
Of course, it might seem enticing to patronize vendors with prices that are too good to be true. But don’t be fooled by fancy packaging and ultra-low prices. When vendors try too hard to draw in customers, it’s probably because their product quality doesn’t provide enough reason for buyers to keep coming back.
Always Ask for Certificates of Analysis
One of the markers of a truly trustworthy brand is that they do what they can to keep their customers comfortable and confident in their products. Certificates of analysis or CoAs are pretty much standard practice across the market, and reputable vendors never fail to offer these reports to their buyers.
Obtained from third-party labs, CoAs provide a complete overview of a hemp product’s chemical composition. Aside from telling you about ingredients and possible contamination, these certificates also showcase THC content.
But don’t feel content with just seeing CoAs. Some vendors release irrelevant, unrelated reports to go with their products since some buyers don’t bother to read them. Make sure your CoA matches the batch and lot number on the product you’re getting.
Opt for Broad Spectrum or Isolate Gummies
Products labeled ‘full spectrum’ contain the whole hemp plant chemistry -- THC and all. But those that come labeled ‘broad spectrum’ include every cannabinoid, terpene, and an organic compound found in hemp -- except for THC.
Broad spectrum products were specifically developed to cater to buyers who want to avoid THC altogether. These formulations offer all of the benefits of whole, hemp plant chemistry minus the dangers and challenges that come with THC.
If you really want to clear out the possibility of triggering a false positive, you can go with isolates. CBD isolate gummies contain only CBD. Cannabidiol or CBD became the star of the hemp show when it was first legalized in 2018.
As the most prolific cannabinoid in all of hemp’s chemistry, CBD has been found responsible for a number of the benefits that the plant provides. While isolating it might leave out some effects due to the absence of other cannabinoids, CBD isolate proves to be an effective wellness solution for most people.
Do Your Due Diligence
It’s true that irresponsible vendors can get you in serious trouble. But by performing your fair share of due diligence, you can avoid these vendors altogether. See to it that you keep an eye out for shady CBD gummies and products that could contain more THC than legally permitted.
Avoid a false positive and stay on the safe side with lab-tested CBD gummies, or with products that use broad spectrum or CBD isolate chemistry instead.
