Does CBD oil lotion show up on a drug test? The short answer to this question is no, as the topical application will not reach your bloodstream. However, there are transdermal patches available in some states that act very differently than a normal topical.
There are loads of misunderstandings, curiosity, and confusion surrounding CBD use. In this article, we are going to explore the reasons why CBD topicals will not show up on a drug screen.
CBD Review
CBD, also known as cannabidiol, is a cannabinoid from the cannabis plant. The cannabis plant happens to have more than 400 compounds and an additional 60 cannabinoids including terpenes. These are similar to essential oils, such as limonene, pinene, myrcene, and linalool.
The two main compounds are cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Hemp plants have 0.3% less THC content, whereas marijuana contains higher levels of THC.
CBD is legal under the 2018 Farm Bill, as it has less than 0.3% of THC. There are various CBD products on the market, including oils, extracts, edibles, topicals, vape juice, and so much more.
So, does CBD oil lotion show up on a drug test? Let’s keep going to find out more about the answer.
Topical Application and Skin Absorption
When applying a CBD product topically, it is highly unlikely that enough THC would be absorbed and metabolized by the body to be detected on a drug test. Of course, the tables could be turned if you use penetration enhancers, transdermal patches, and the product contains more than the legal limit of THC.
Topical CBD products are used to directly apply to the skin. Your skin is designed to keep things out, so logic would tell us that a topical application would not be found in a blood or urine sample.
The THC levels in a topical product that is hemp-derived will be much lower than CBD products that you can smoke or eat. When you apply a topical to the skin it only soaks through the skin’s muscular barrier. It would not go into the bloodstream.
Topicals may include lotions, balms, and other products that contain CBD that can be rubbed on the skin. Think of it this way, you can apply rubbing alcohol to your skin, but you do not feel intoxicated. Nor do you have a BAC that goes over the legal limit, even though it contains very high concentrations of alcohol. Topical CBD products are the same. You can apply them but you are only getting localized effects from the application and the body is not going to metabolize the product.
In a CBD product that is topical, you will find that it is mixed with a variety of other products. These may include essential oils, lavender, cayenne, peppermint, avocado oil, emu oil, and more. These are typically added to help the effectiveness of the topical product.
When the topical is rubbed onto the skin, the CBD will bind to cannabinoid receptors and work their magic. Topical products can help localized pain and inflammation. It has grown in popularity over the last decade because individuals can apply the product to the areas that are causing them issues.
Drug Testing
A lot of employers have mandatory drug testing. This is especially true in industries such as the government, health care, and transportation. There are four methods of drug testing that can be used, which include blood, hair, saliva, and urine analysis.
A drug screen for marijuana will detect the number of THC metabolites in your system, not CBD. Hemp products have less than 0.3% of THC, which could still show trace amounts but is less likely with a topical application because the product is not entering your bloodstream.
Does CBD Oil Lotion Show Up On A Drug Test?
Perhaps you had a relaxing day at the spa and your massage therapist used a new CBD oil to help provide overall wellbeing. Now you are questioning, “Does CBD oil lotion show up on a drug test?” It is highly unlikely that you are going to fail a drug test after receiving a massage service that involved the application of CBD topical products.
Here are a few things to consider if you are concerned about your topical application of CBD:
- According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration guidelines, they have a detection limit for the presence of THC as 50 ng/mL.
- Failure from an internal, not topical, dose of 1,000 mg and legal THC limit of 0.3% or less, at 23%.
- A 1,000 to 2,000 oral dose would put you at an 11% to 23% chance of drug test detection.
- Besides dosing, the amount of THC contained in the extract, accurate labeling, metabolism, body mass, and delivery method will all play a key role in the way a product is processed. However, if the product is hemp-derived there is very little chance that it would be detected on a drug screen when ingesting it orally. The topical application does not enter the bloodstream so it should never show up. In the rare case that it does, it would be very small trace amounts.
- If you are worried about your topical products showing up on a drug screen, you could opt for a CBD isolate. These products are specifically extracted to contain only CBD. It would not have any THC, so there would be no worry that it would show up on a drug screen.
Here is the expectation to, does CBD oil lotion show up on a drug test, transdermal patches. These patches are similar to nicotine patches. They would send the THC/CBD past the skin barrier into the bloodstream. These types of patches could cause you to fail a drug screen. Especially if you are using one that is high in THC. Of course, CBD products would only have trace amounts of THC, but there’s still a chance it will show up on a drug screen.
Final Note
Does CBD oil lotion show up on a drug test? No, it will not penetrate deep enough to enter your bloodstream. There are always those rare instances, but in our research, in writing this blog we did not find any reports where topicals were used and showed up on a drug screen.
CBD has become increasingly popular in the last decade because of the overall wellness that it provides. Check out our shop and let us know if you have any questions about our products. We offer a variety of CBD Flower strains.
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