Will I Fail a Drug Test If I Use Surya Products?

While Surya products test below the Federal legal limit of THC which is a dry-weight concentration of 0.3%, they do contain a full spectrum of cannabinoids. This means there is a slight amount of THC left in our products–hence the term, “Full-Spectrum”. 

But this does not necessarily mean you will test positive for THC on a drug test when using our full-spectrum CBD products or even that you are guaranteed to pass a drug test when using any CBD product that claims to contain 0% THC. 

Each individual must examine their unique situation and use of CBD products. 

How Does Testing Work?

Cannabis Testing

There are a lot of products–those made from “pure” CBD isolate and those supposedly “full-spectrum” products–both types claiming to have absolutely no THC in them. Yet while the potency test results for any legally purchased hemp CBD product might say “<LOQ”, meaning undetectable amounts of THC, this doesn’t guarantee there is actually no amount of THC in that product. <LOQ simply means that the equipment and scientific standards used when performing the test could not have detected any THC if the amount was less than could be measured by the capabilities of the lab at that time. www.pinnacle-analytics.com 

People Testing

Even after consuming a “0% THC” product, a blood or urine test can still detect nanograms (a very small measurement) of THC since those tests are performed on much more precise equipment than the cannabis industry uses to determine potency of hemp or CBD products. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330962/

This is not something that many companies are willing to admit–or even know!

Topical Application vs. Ingesting vs. Inhaling

Don’t worry though. Use of all CBD products doesn’t necessarily risk a failed drug test. Which category of CBD products you use is important. Frequency of use, dosage and how much time has passed since the last time you consumed may also contribute to the outcomes of a test. 

Surya topical products (like massage oils or salves) will not absorb into your bloodstream. They do not cross the blood-brain barrier and cannot get you high. We feel comfortable that using our topical products as directed would not result in a failed drug test. https://hellomd.com/blogs/questions-answers/will-a-marijuana-topical-cream-show-up-on-a-drug-test

However, some topically applied products out there utilize technologies that help them absorb into skin better–sometimes so well they actually do make it into your bloodstream. 

These products can be enhanced with ingredients like chemical gels or assisted by abrasive patches or even “nano” technology in production. While some people enjoy the efficacy, they are also worth researching further when considering the associated risks–including getting THC into your bloodstream.

Edible products like CBD edibles or CBD tinctures are more likely to put one at risk of a positive test for THC than using topicals. 

Questions to ask yourself are: 

  1. How much of the product did I consume and 
  2. When was the last time? 
  3. Was it potent? 

Ingesting things–especially products high in fats and oils–will keep detectable amounts of cannabinoids like CBD and THC in your system longer since your body tends to store those fats for later use. The upside when it comes to drug testing is that ingesting does not utilize all of the available cannabinoids from a product. Some are flushed from the system before ever being absorbed.

Inhaling cannabinoid products also has its pros and cons. These deliver the highest concentration of cannabinoids directly to the bloodstream in the shortest amount of time. So if a product had any amount of THC in it, right after inhalation would be the time that your blood would contain the heaviest concentration. It would also mean the heaviest concentration for a roadside saliva test.

The good news is that this rapid delivery means the concentration of cannabinoids will be out of the system sooner than if one had ingested a CBD product. Remember though, heavy consumers can retain cannabinoids in their bodies for months after the last time they smoked, detectable by blood or urine tests.  You can build up a concentration of cannabinoids in your fat cells that you won’t necessarily feel the effects of once you have stopped consuming regularly. And a hair test can retain evidence of your cannabis consumption for years after your last hit. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system

State Laws. Employer rules. Your rights.

Your individual situation is often dependent on your state–even your specific employer or job. Since getting “high” on products derived from hemp is not much of a risk, getting “in trouble” is the bigger issue to consider, even if you are consuming legal CBD products. 

Despite the federal legalization of hemp (which in turn actually legalized small amounts of THC–less than 0.3% of any hemp or hemp products), individual states like Idaho or South Dakota have still made a show of enforcing strict no-tolerance policies on any amount of THC, putting legal hemp consumers at legal risk. 

Does this apply to the products we purchase? To the detectable amounts in our bodies? This depends on where you live. It’s important to always be aware of and follow all local and state laws to the best of your ability, despite the supposed safety blanket that federal legalization implies.

But caution shouldn’t stop after you make it home from the store. Certain jobs and industries, even in states that have completely legalized cannabis for adult or medical use, still require drug tests and will not allow any detectable amounts of THC in their employees. Safety and insurance concerns are among the top reasons there are other places to run into no-tolerance policies when it comes to THC.

Until we are openly allowed to research and learn more about the effects of cannabis consumption on a societal scale, it makes sense that companies don’t want employees like truck drivers or operators of heavy machinery adding that to the list of things that risk accidents.

Remember, this article was written not to scare but to help us stay more informed as hemp and CBD consumers. An educated consumer is a safe consumer. We can also help shape the future of the laws and regulations that govern the products we consume. Please enjoy safe and responsible CBD consumption.

***This is not legal advice. Check local and state laws as well as employer rules and regulations to ensure you are in compliance.*** 

Sources:

https://hellomd.com/blogs/questions-answers/will-a-marijuana-topical-cream-show-up-on-a-drug-test

http://www.pinnacle-analytics.com

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5330962/

https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-weed-stay-in-your-system