Will Vaping CBD Make You Fail a Pre-Employment Drug Test?

This question is often on the minds of people who are vaping CBD to treat a particular illness, like chronic pain or anxiety. 

And, rightly so. 

Failing a drug screen can put you in a lot of trouble with your employer, especially if that employer is the federal government. Testing positive for any amount of THC can result in a serious reprimand or even termination. And if you’re just applying for a new job, a positive drug test result guarantees you’ll be passed over, even if your test shows a legal amount of THC. In this particular case, even a small amount of THC is more than enough THC.

But you don’t even vape on THC… I hear you grumble.

That’s great… but that doesn’t mean that you don’t have any in your system. Unless you’re using 100% CBD isolate vape juice, there’s a huge chance that there’s some amount of THC or other synthetic cannabinoids in there. In fact, most CBD oils and vape juices – even those from a reputable source – contain THC. Extracting CBD alone from a hemp plant or other cannabis plants is a difficult process, which is why there are so many broad-spectrum CBD oils and full-spectrum CBD oils on the market.

If you expect that you’ll be subjected to workplace drug testing, the best way to avoid detection is to quit using CBD and medical marijuana for a while. The half-life of THC is relatively short, so if there’s no frequent use, you should be able to flush it out of your system quickly. This might take a bit longer if vaping is your daily routine as there might be more than trace amounts of this psychoactive compound in your body.

Do All Employers Test for Cannabinoids?

As a matter of fact, there’s no company in the world that tests for cannabinoids… especially not cannabidiol.

What employers test for is THC, more specifically THC metabolites.

 Ted Cooperman, the head of Consumerlab which does testing for nature-based products, estimates that up to 10% of CBD users might test positive on a drug test. This is a pretty large percentage, especially when we take into account that the consequences of testing positive can be severe.

Before we move on to our detox tips, let’s explore why there’s still such a prevalent business practice of drug testing for marijuana in the first place — and what you can do to keep using your CBD vape pen without getting busted!

Why Is This a Thing?

Most companies, while prohibiting the use of alcohol in the workplace, don’t test for it. They certainly do not instruct their employees not to drink outside work hours and threaten their job and livelihood if they don’t comply with that.

Cannabis, and CBD by extension, is another matter when it comes to workplace drug testing. The negative public image that the plant got in the early 20th century is still around, despite the fact that it’s safer than alcohol and packs so many health benefits. This means that both recreational and medicinal cannabis users risk losing their jobs and damaging their careers if they make the adult decision to enjoy some green.

For some people, smoking cannabis is a recreational ritual that helps them unwind and stokes their creativity. For others, it is a daily requirement to fend off symptoms of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and even epilepsy. As such, many individuals use cannabis regardless of the rules in effect at their workplace. CBD, in particular, is a substance that many use because of doctors’ orders. To use it as recommended by the doctor and to still be plagued by the questions like: “Oh, can CBD show up in a drug test? Will I get fired for it?” is unnerving, to say the least.

The most common reason that companies give for testing is that a lot of comp claims are related to substance abuse. What they don’t say is that this is down to prescription drug abuse… Instead, they lump cannabinoids alongside it.

Luckily, there are things that you can do to ensure that your CBD habit doesn’t get noticed by your employer. If you’re using tested CBD oil, you are dealing with just 0.03%, which means it’s much more difficult to detect it by standard drug tests, and that goes in your favor.

How Do They Do It?

Typically, there are three ways in which you can be tested for drugs in your system. 

The types of drug tests are oral fluid, blood tests, and urine drug tests. Oral fluid and blood are not commonly used for THC because the metabolites (compounds that THC breaks into) do not stay in blood or saliva for more than 72 hours. The fourth method — the hair test — is very, very uncommon and wouldn’t be used to test for either THC or CBD extracts.

This leaves urine test analysis, which is much more reliable and accurate, so it’s the gold standard for employers. 

Because THC metabolites get stored in the fatty tissues for 15 to 30 days, your body slowly releases them, and they end up in your urine. Labs look for the traces of those metabolites and are usually very good at spotting them. In fact, urine analysis has gotten so good that the presence of THC can sometimes be detected up to 3 months after taking it. Of course, this is true for heavy users of marijuana. For people who have vaped CBD oil  10 days before a test, it’s virtually impossible get a positive test [there’s very small chance as testers have a hard time isolating metabolites].

Still, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to CBD use and drug tests. If you know that you have a test coming up, there are things that you can do to ensure that your test comes back negative. Again, it depends on how much CBD you’re taking, how much THC is in it, and how your metabolism works. If you’re taking 500 mg per day and have a slow metabolism, studies have shown you have a higher chance of a positive result. However, if you’re taking 20 to 30 mg per day, you’re not in that much of a danger. 

NOTE: As many marijuana users know, the more time you have before the test, the better. Recreational users should aim for a two weeks heads up with these tips below because that will get rid of active metabolite and you won’t return positive THC test results. However, if you’re simply vaping on pure CBD isolate, a couple of days notice will usually be enough to ensure that you don’t test positive. 

What To Do If You Know It’s Coming

• Quit cannabis use – stop smoking or ingesting anything that comes from the cannabis sativa plant, even if you’re doing it under medical advice.
• Abstain from using your CBD products – especially broad-spectrum CBD products. With a drug test looming, you might want to consider putting a stop to your CBD vaping if that’s an option at all. You should be THC-free in 15-20 days. If you’re using isolate products, you should be okay. But you need to know that for sure.
• Cut down on carbs and sugar – this way, you will force your body to metabolize fat. Since fat is where THC metabolites are stored, it’s reasonable to conclude that getting rid of it faster will also rid you of trace amounts of THC. How fast this happens will depend on your frequency of use. This is why it’s good to know about any workplace drug tests well in advance.
• Drink a lot of water – having healthy amounts of both water and green tea will lower THC metabolite levels through their diuretic properties and cleansing of the kidneys. Additionally, hydration is a key factor for a robust metabolism. 

Detox Drinks That Can Help Flush Your System

If you know that you’re going to be tested and you vape cannabidiol oil, although CBD does not show up on drug tests, you’re still at risk of testing positive for THC [or even a false positive, as that’s very common]. When that happens, desperate times ask for desperate measures, especially if you’re using full-spectrum CBD products [that may contain THC].

The internet is full of products marketed as THC detox drinks, and some companies are making a fortune selling them. Still, a healthy dose of realism is needed when you use these. Smoking a doobie and drinking a detox drink won’t help you if your test is a week away. However, it might help you if you just use CBD oil and have a couple of days before the big test day.

We don’t want to tout any of the brands out here because the ingredients that some of them use are downright dangerous. For example, some use activated charcoal and swear by it, even though it was shown that it can flush the vitamins out of your system, which is something that you don’t want to happen to you. Instead, we will focus on drinks that you can easily make at home that contain natural ingredients that speed up metabolic processes.

Lemon Juice To The Rescue

It is reported that lemon juice has the ability to flush THC metabolites out of the system in surprisingly small quantities. It is advised to mix one tablespoon of lemon juice with 500ml of water, which should be sipped frequently over the course of several hours. The goal here is to drink this mixture around 7–8 times over a few days before a drug screening.

Cranberry Juice Is Also A Good Detoxifier 

Cranberry juice is perhaps one of the most widely suggested options when it comes to a THC detox. The science behind this option isn’t exactly clear, but it seems to come from anecdotal success and experimentation.

However, cranberry juice for general detoxing has been suggested by alternative doctors and naturopaths. A mixture of cranberry juice and water is reported to flush the kidneys, lymphatic system, and intestines of toxins, and may provide results within a single week. A mix of cranberry juice, water, electrolytes, and B-vitamin complex will help to dilute your urine and really get bladder momentum going. This should flish all those hemp and cannabis products from your system.

Coffee Really Is Magical

A warm hug-in-a-mug beverage consumed by millions, this stimulating drink may also be an effective way to expel THC metabolites from the system, which is great news for coffee lovers. Coffee is a natural diuretic, meaning it helps to remove excess water from the body. Drinking a good amount of espresso combined with water and electrolytes will really help to open the floodgates, and allow you to pass your CBD drug test.

Be Smart, Be Prepared & Be Ready To React

Unfortunately, even though cannabidiol has great medical potential and is frequently suggested as therapy by qualified medical practitioners, don’t think that you will be able to convince the HR department in your company to give you a pass if you fail your THC (and pure CBD) drug test. Even if you have a doctor’s note, there’s a slim chance that it will count for anything. Potential benefits you get to your health from this CBD use mean diddly squat here. 

Your best chance is to use CBD oil for vaping that contains a minimum amount of other cannabinoids.

If you’re still worried of returning a failed CBD drug test, or have any other questions, don’t hesitate to contact us or leave a comment. Also, please share any other detox measures that have worked for you – we’re certain that other CBD vapers would appreciate any tips that you might have!