A limited study has found that CBD products can lead to users failing a drug test.
In a study of six adults, Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers reported evidence that a single vaping episode of cannabis similar in chemical composition to that found in legal hemp products could result in positive results on urine drug screening tests commonly used by employers and criminal justice or school systems.
In a paper published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, the researchers report that two out of six study participants tested positive after vaping cannabis that contained 0.39% THC using urine testing methods.
The cannabis used in this study does not currently meet the federal definition of hemp, but the THC concentration of 0.39% exceeds federal regulation by just 0.09%.
Tory Spindle, Ph.D., a researcher in the Behavioral Pharmacology Research Unit at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center, said: “People who use legal hemp products for medical intent rarely just use them once as we did in this study, and prior studies show that THC and its metabolites may accumulate with repeated use.
“What this means is that people need to be wary of single-dose or cumulative THC exposure and be aware that these now legal products may cause an unexpected positive result on a drug test.”
“Because the market for CBD products is so new and the popularity of use is growing so quickly, we want the public to be aware that a positive drug test is possible,” said Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
“I have a hard time finding anyone who hasn’t used a CBD product at least once, but most are completely unaware of the possibility of THC exposure or a positive drug test as a result of using these newly legalised products,” Vandrey adds.
In August The Leaf Desk reported the US Navy told sailors and marines they cannot use hemp-derived products like CBD.
Navy legislation prohibits the use, ingestion, consumption or application of cannabinoid formulations made or derived from hemp or marijuana.
Officials say servicemen and servicewomen should not use CBD and hemp extracts, despite President Donald Trump signing legislation removing industrial hemp from the federal government’s list of controlled substances in December.
