Are you worried about consuming CBD products and having them show up on a drug test? Or, are you worried that they may affect your ability to drive or do work hours and days after you have used them?
Well, if you’re wondering these things, the question you really need to ask is: How long does CBD stay in your system?
There are many CBD effects that can make you unproductive at work, or make it dangerous to drive. Also, there are many reasons we get tested for drugs from time to time—whether because we are driving a car or have certain jobs. So, it’s important to know exactly how long CBD is going to stay in your system.
What Is CBD?
Before we get going, let’s work out what we’re dealing with. CBD is a chemical compound that is found in the cannabis plant.
There’s a lot of belief out there that cannabis can harm your health. In some circumstances, this may be true. But, the thing is, cannabis is made up of a lot of different things.
Not all of them are bad.
CBD stands for cannabidiol, which is one of the hundreds of chemicals found in cannabis. It’s been shown to have some significant health benefits, such as pain and anxiety relief.
But how do you get the CBD without smoking cannabis? Well, we have got to a point now where we can extract the CBD oil from the cannabis plant, meaning we can get some health benefits without getting high.
Is CBD Legal?
CBD oil has been made legal for some uses in all 50 states. However, you will need to check your local jurisdiction to make sure how and when you can use it.
But, remember that the DEA still classifies cannabis itself as a Schedule 1 drug, meaning it is very much illegal at the federal level.
So, don’t get confused between CBD oil and the plant from which it comes.
CBD Oil Is Legal: So Why Does It Matter?
So, you’ve worked out that CBD oil is legal for you to use in your state, so why does it matter?
First things first, there are a number of things that are legal that you still can’t have in your system. The most obvious example is alcohol—try telling a police officer alcohol is legal when they stop you for a breath test when driving.
However, the real issue for CBD is that, although it has been separated from the cannabis plant, there are still some traces of other elements of the plant in it. So, while CBD might be legal, these other elements might not be.
The biggest trace element that can’t be in your bloodstream is THC.
The Difference Between CBD and THC
The reason that THC is not allowed in your system is that it is the psychoactive component of the cannabis plant. That means that it is the element that can cause you to have hallucinations.
While the medical community is willing to accept that there are some benefits to staying relaxed, there is less consensus on the value of this effect.
Also, in terms of performing activities like driving, soldiering, and heart surgery, it’s a pretty good idea to not be hallucinating when you do them.
What Is the CBD Half-Life?
If you’re wondering how long does CBD last, you need to first be asking what its half-life is. The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for the amount of it in your system to be reduced by half. This has to do with how quickly the body is able to metabolize that particular chemical.
The half-life for CBD is between 1 and 2 days. The half-life for THC is about the same.
So, the amount of CBD or THC in your system is going to decrease by half every 1 to 2 days. But, then, how long is CBD in your system over the long run?
How Long Does CBD Stay in Your System?
Now, the big question: How long does CBD oil stay in your system? Well, there are two reasons why this answer is tricky.
Number one, it doesn’t matter how long CBD stays in your system because what you really need to know is how long THC stays in your system. So, does cbd oil show up on drug test panels?—nope!
But THC does.
So, how long does THC stay in your system? Well, this entirely depends on how much CBD or cannabis you have consumed. If you have only been consuming CBD oil infrequently and at a low dosage, there is going to be a negligible amount of THC in your system.
However, to be very safe, it is always best to wait a few days or even weeks if possible after using CBD oil before you do a drug test. This will mean that the small amount of THC in your system will have then decreased to something that probably can’t be picked up by a drug test.
If your employer or the police do find THC in your system, it may be difficult to prove that you got it from CBD oil and not smoking cannabis. This is a bit of a grey area at the moment, legally speaking.
You Should Still Care About CBD Oil in Your System
Although you don’t need to be worried about the question, “how long does CBD stay in your system” or ” Will CBD show up on a drug test”, you should still be aware of the effects it may have on you. CBD oil can make you very relaxed and, in some cases, tired.
There are some things that you really shouldn’t be doing when you’re tired or taking cannabidiol — like driving a car or operating heavy machinery. So, just be careful and use CBD in moderation.
Other than that, you just need to be moderately careful about the amount of THC in your system. Play it safe and give it time before you put yourself in a compromised position during a drug test!
If you’ve found this information on CBD drug tests useful, why not check out some of our other great health articles to learn more? We publish a wide variety of helpful articles on CBD, marijuana, kratom, drug testing, and much more.