Will CBD Show on a Probation Drug Test?

If you happen to be on probation, then there are some pretty strict rules and regulations you’ll have to follow. Generally speaking, people on probation are not allowed to consume any marijuana or alcohol. Yes, this means that you will be subjected to regular drug screening tests.

That said, there are, of course, many different cannabinoids, many of which are legal, such as CBD. However, as someone who is on probation, you need to be very careful.

You don’t want to take CBD and have a drug test end up flagging you as being positive for THC because that will obviously land you in some very hot water. So, does CBD show up on a probation drug test? Let’s find out!

Last update was on: July 13, 2023 4:37 pm

Key Takeaways

  • Anybody on probation needs to be exceedingly careful with CBD usage in terms of drug screenings.
  • Pure CBD or broad-spectrum CBD should not cause a positive result, but full-spectrum likely will.
  • Although probation orders usually don’t ban people from using CBD, if CBD usage results in a positive THC result, the consequences will be the same regardless. 

How Drug Tests for Cannabis Work

The main thing you need to know about drug tests for cannabis is that they screen for THC or THCA. That is the most basic explanation, but technically speaking, there’s a little more to it than that.

This is because when the human body processes THC, it metabolizes into what is known as 11-hydroxy-THC. This is actually what drug tests scan for, 11-hydroxy-THC.

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Is CBD Screened the Same Way as THC is?

No, CBD is not screened for in the same way as THC. Technically speaking, drug tests don’t scan for CBD at all. They only scan for that 11-hydroxy-THC metabolite. Therefore, technically speaking, if you only take pure CBD, it should not show up on a drug test because drug tests just don’t look for it.

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Will CBD Show Up on a Probation Drug Test?

As mentioned above, regular pure CBD should not show up on a probation drug test because probation drug tests just don’t scan for CBD. 

However, the type of CBD you take can make a difference. This is because there are specific types of CBD that may contain trace amounts of THC, which could spell disaster as far as your legal journey is concerned.

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The Type of CBD Can Make a Difference: A Breakdown

There are three main types of CBD for you to know, and which one you take could make all of the difference in terms of testing positive or negative on your next probation drug test.

Full-Spectrum CBD

Full-spectrum CBD is a type of CBD extract that contains all other cannabinoids found in the cannabis or hemp plant, as well as the terpenes.

This means that, yes, it can contain up to 0.3% THC. If the CBD contains THC, then a drug test will flag you as being positive for THC. This is the case even though you technically only consumed a minute quantity, as it was a part of the full-spectrum CBD.

However, a positive result is a positive result, and drug tests won’t be able to differentiate between the original cannabinoid that you consumed, whether it was full-spectrum CBD or actual full THC.

Broad-Spectrum CBD

We then have broad-spectrum CBD, which also contains various cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant, as well as terpenes, but is usually always totally free of THC. Therefore, broad-spectrum CBD, as long as it really is free of THC, should not flag you as positive on any kind of THC drug test.

Isolate CBD

We then have CBD isolate, which is the purest form of CBD. This extract is usually nearly 100% CBD. It does not contain any other terpenes or cannabinoids found in the cannabis plant. 

Therefore, CBD isolate should in no way cause a positive drug test result. If you need some CBD, such as for knee pain, check out these awesome options!

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What Type of Drug Testing is Performed When You’re on Probation?

The most common type of drug testing performed when you are on probation is the urine test. However, there are also other common forms of drug testing, including hair follicle testing, saliva testing, and blood testing.

Both saliva and urine tests are very fast and easy, so they’re most commonly used. However, if the court is looking for THC usage far back, then a hair follicle test may be used, as this can detect substances in your system for several months after the last usage.

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How Long is CBD Detectable?

Technically speaking, CBD is not detectable at all because it’s just not what drug tests look for. However, if your CBD also contained some THC, then you might be in trouble.

If we are talking about a saliva drug test, THC may be detectable for up to 72 hours after your last use or a bit longer if you are an extremely regular user.

When it comes to urine tests, THC may be detectable for up to three days for single use, up to seven days for moderate users, up to 15 days for chronic users, and up to 30 days for chronic heavy users.

Hair follicle tests are the most far-reaching, as they can detect substances in your system for up to a full three months after your last use. 

If we are talking about a blood test, this can usually only detect THC in your system for up to 12 hours for a single use or potentially up to a couple of days for heavy users.

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At this time, yes, CBD is legal at a federal level. According to the federal 2018 Farm Bill, any cannabinoids or hemp products that contain less than 0.3% Delta-9 THC, and are derived from the hemp plant, are considered legal.

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Unless directly specified by your probation order, CBD should be legal when you are on probation. However, the issue is, of course, that some types of CBD may cause a false positive THC result when you are tested for drugs. Therefore, you do need to be very careful. CBD is shown to have a variety of benefits, which is why it has been legalized.

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Final Thoughts – Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test for Probation?

The bottom line here is that CBD, pure CBD, should never show up on a drug test. However, if that CBD was full-spectrum, it may contain THC, in which case you could be flagged. 

The utmost caution is recommended here because you don’t want to end up back in prison. It’s a shame to think how careful you have to be here because CBD has plenty of potential benefits. But, if you’re on probation, you should really not risk things here. There’s a small chance that you’ll get flagged for THC usage regardless of how pure the CBD product might be. So, we suggest being cautious here and we highly recommend against using CBD on probation.

Looking for more CBD content like this? Check out Does CBD Make You Hungry, and our comparison of CBD Tincture vs. Capsules.

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