Cannabidiol, otherwise known as CBD, is a compound found in cannabis known as a cannabinoid. The most well-known cannabinoid is THC. This is the compound responsible for the ‘high’ associated with cannabis.

If work ask me to take a drug test, will the CBD oil I take show up on it?

If you use CBD oil, you should not test positive for cannabis on a workplace drug test. Our workplace drug tests are testing for the metabolite Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in cannabis, which is the major psychoactive in the drug.

UK regulated CBD oil contains either very low amounts of THC or none at all. So there is little chance you will test positive for THC after using CBD oil. But, when purchasing, it is imperative that you buy from a regulated seller. Also, you can check how much THC is in the product if they disclose laboratory results for their product.

If the oil does contain trace amounts of THC, this should fall below the cut-off levels of the drug test. However, if you have bought a product outside the UK, this could be a different matter. Some unregulated CBD oils can contain up to 5% content of THC. As a result, if used regularly, you could test positive for THC.

What if I fail a drug test in work because of CBD oil?

You could find yourself in a position where you have declared CBD oil use to your employer but then fail a drug test because of the THC content. It all comes down to your employers drug and alcohol policy. In the UK, cannabis is a class B drug and can carry severe penalties for possession or supply. As a result, if you have THC in your system, your employer may not take into account how it got there. Even more so if they have a zero tolerance policy to drug use.

There is no simple answer as CBD oil becomes more popular for its claimed health benefits. It can be a grey area and many employers are taking legal advice to update their policies. Our advice is to only use regulated CBD oil purchased in the UK. As a result, you should pass any workplace drug test and avoid any unnecessary stress and anxiety.