NOTICE: CBD Piggy does not intend to claim that our product cures or treats any illness or conditions or provides any health benefits. Please consult your doctor or qualified health professional if you are thinking about taking our product.
WHAT IS HEMP AND IS IT THE SAME AS MARIJUANA?
No. Hemp is different from marijuana in its function, cultivation and application. Hemp is used in a variety of other applications that marijuana couldn’t technically or legally be used in. These include food products, supplements, skin products, clothing and accessories.
Cannabis contains many chemical compounds that create the different characteristics of the plant. Terpenes provide flavors and aromas, while chlorophyll in the leaves makes the plant green – but the most important chemicals in marijuana are the cannabinoids.
ARE YOUR PRODUCTS LEGAL?
On December 20, 2018 President Donald J. Trump signed into law the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act, otherwise known as the 2018 farm bill. This act contained language specifically inserted by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (KY) that completely legalized industrial hemp and ended nearly 80 years of prohibition on the plant. Hemp is now completely exempt from the definition of the controlled substance act (CSA).
Furthermore, the 2018 farm bill clarified the definition of hemp — often limited to fiber and seed — to include the entire plant, specifically the floral parts and cannabinoids derived from it. This put into motion the legal framework for the already burgeoning marketplace for hemp and CBD extracts.
The 2018 farm bill also opened up the ability for tribal lands to grow hemp and made provisions for USDA crop insurance and grants.
WHAT ARE CANNABINOIDS?
Cannabinoids are the chemicals that give the cannabis plant its functional properties. Among the 113 cannabinoids produced, THC and CBD are the most prevalent and the most well-understood. Most strains of marijuana sold today are cultivated with higher levels of THC.
THC is known for its psychoactive properties and is the reason you feel “high” after ingesting marijuana.
WILL I GET HIGH FROM HEMP?
No. While there are at least 113 known cannabinoids produced by the hemp plant, cannabis is identified by its two active ingredients: THC and CBD. THC is the only molecule in the cannabis family with a psychoactive component.
Section 7606 of the Farm Bill defines industrial hemp as cannabis plants with <0.3% THC. Our products contain a full spectrum of cannabinoids, including THC and CBD. To maintain compliance with all laws, our products are rigorously tested to ensure a level of <0.3% THC.
WHY WAS HEMP LEGALIZED?
Following the passage of section 7606 of the 2014 farm bill, Kentucky became the first state to create state sponsored industrial hemp pilot programs. These pilot programs were designed to test the agronomics of the crop, and what it could mean to farmers and processors who want to enter the industry. Citing 5 successful years of growth and an increase of farming salaries in his home state, Senator Mitch McConnell, along with other influential policy makers such as Sen Ron Wyden (OR) determined that it made sense for hemp to be available for farmers to grow legally in all 50 states. The return of this crop to our nations farmers should be heralded as a decree of job creation, economic growth, and innovation.
WILL CBD OIL SHOW UP IN A DRUG TEST?
It’s a legitimate concern. One survey showed that 57% of all employers require drug tests, while a mere 29% said they never used them. That’s the majority of workplaces! And they aren’t the only ones who test, nor are they simply performed as a routine hiring practice. Employers might also issue drug tests at random to enforce compliance in accordance with company policies, or require them when someone is injured in the workplace to be compliant with local, state, and federal regulations. There are lots of additional situations where a drug test might be required, for sports athletes, parole requirements and substance abuse programs to name a few. There’s a lot of factors at play here and the simple answer is kind of well – complicated. It’s a solid- yes, no, maybe situation and for a variety of reasons; from compound to the individual to dosage, to the test itself.
DIFFERENT CANNABINOIDS AND DRUG TESTING?
First, isolated CBD, also known as Cannabidiol, generally will not show up in a drug test. That’s mainly because most drug tests are not looking for all cannabinoids, they’re looking for one specific cannabinoid. However, a full spectrum product will contain array of other cannabinoids (such as CBG, CBN, CBC, THCV, etc) which may show positive on a drug test. Currently we don’t know what other cannabinoids may trigger a drug test. It’s confusing right out of the gate, right? Let’s simplify by breaking down the facts to learn if your CBD Oil will show up in a drug test.
WILL YOU FAIL A DRUG TEST IF YOU TAKE CBD OIL?
Possibly. Here’s the complicated part. There are a lot of variables at work here, from the drug test itself (different manufacturers, different detection levels, sensitivities, etc.), and the individual that consumes the CBD product. Here are some additional factors to consider:
CAN I FAIL A DRUG TEST USING HEMP-DERIVED CBD OIL?
The short answer is yes, it’s possible to fail a drug test with any CBD product. (Yes, even isolate CBD.) But there’s more to the story here. Read on to find out how to navigate the murky waters of drug testing if you use CBD products.
DRUG TESTS AND FULL-SPECTRUM CBD PRODUCTS?
First, let’s consider full-spectrum products. All of CBD Piggy products are derived from hemp, which means they have a naturally low level of THC: less than 0.3%. This also means they are perfectly permissible under federal law and, thanks to the 2018 Farm Bill, the cannabinoids in these products are permanently removed from the Controlled Substances Act. Due to the low level of THC, these products are not considered intoxicating.
Although unlikely, it is possible that someone could fail a drug screen when using these products. Drug tests look for elevated levels of the intoxicating molecule, THC. The drug test identifies if a THC level is above a particular threshold. If so, it’s considered positive. Theoretically, you could use enough hemp extract and therefore consume enough THC to truly surpass that threshold and trigger a true positive…but it would be pretty difficult. And expensive.
And no, there is no “magic dose” of CBD oil / hemp extract that you can use and ensure you stay below the THC threshold in a drug screen. Metabolism of THC is highly individualized and depends on many variables, including body composition, activity level, dose, duration of use, etc.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU GET A POSITIVE RESULT ON A DRUG SCREEN?
If you get a positive result on a urine or saliva drug screen, ask for a more specific confirmation test, such as a blood test or a hair test. These are more expensive tests, but they are much more accurate. If using a THC-free product, these will show a true negative 100% of the time. If you are using a full-spectrum product with small amounts of THC, these tests will either show a 100% true negative or a small level of THC. This quantification of THC will help differentiate between use of a hemp product vs use of a marijuana product.
WHAT ABOUT DRUG SCREENS WITH THC FREE-PRODUCTS OR ISOLATE CBD PRODUCTS?
We can guarantee that CBD Piggy THC free products are 100% THC-free. This is reflected in the certificate of analysis, which is completed by an objective, third party-lab and made available on our website, confirming all traces of THC have been eliminated.
Still, there potential for the CBD in THC-free products to trigger a false positive on an immunoassay urine drug screen, as described above.
This is possible with any CBD product, even if it is CBD isolate. I have seen companies making guarantees that users will not fail a drug test, and that’s concerning because it’s not the whole truth. You CAN fail a drug test even when the THC is eliminated, because false positives happen with the most common tests. You just can’t get a TRUE positive. But you may need to ask for – and pay for (usually about $100)– a confirmation test to demonstrate that true positive.
We know this is frustrating and maybe not what you’ve heard elsewhere, but we are committed to honesty and transparency at CBD Piggy. No one can guarantee false positives won’t occur. We do not want to jeopardize your employment agreement or livelihood, contract with a pain specialist, commitment to sobriety testing, etc.
Stick to the THC-free line if you absolutely cannot risk failing a drug test. And even then, know that you may need to ask for a confirmation test if the urine or saliva tests shows a false positive. We recommend letting your employer, medical provider, or whoever is administering a drug screen know this ahead of time – just in case it becomes an issue. That way, you can assess if they are willing to follow these steps for a confirmation test, if needed. And who knows, maybe they will even cover the cost for the second test. On the other hand, they may say absolutely not – failing an immunoassay test is the end of the road. And then it’s your choice to decide whether or not using hemp-derived CBD products is worth that risk.
BOTTOM LINE
Know the risks and be prepared. Communication is key, and we are here to help you! You can print the certificate of analysis for your CBD Piggy product to support your cause at certifications.
WHAT DO YOU RECOMMEND?
CBD Piggy’s official position with regards to our full-spectrum hemp products and drug tests:
Our products do contain less than .3% THC and an array of other rare cannabinoids. Because of this, we CANNOT guarantee a negative drug test. If you are worried about passing a drug test for your employee or other reason, we do not recommend taking our products as there is a chance you will test positive. If you have any questions, please send us an email to info@cbdpiggy.com.