How Long Will CBD Show Up on a Urine Test?

As Urine Drug Testing (UDT) is one of the most common drug test methods for cannabis, you might be afraid of getting a positive result. So logically, it’s not surprising to ask how long will CBD show on a urine test. 
 
But first, you should realize that CBD is not a controlled substance. As a result, if it is discovered in your urine, it will not cause any issues. But does this imply that you can consume CBD without fear of failing a drug test? Not always! 
 
You don’t need to be intimidated! In this blog, we will answer everything associated with CBD and urine tests that will clear all of your doubts and confusion. 

 
What Is Urine Drug Testing?

A urine drug test is a common method of detecting the presence of drugs or their metabolites in a person’s urine. In this drug test, a collector collects the urine sample and analyzes it for controlled substances. 
 
A urine drug testing (UDT) typically screens for: 

• Marijuana 
• Cocaine 
• Opioids 
• Amphetamines 
• Barbiturates 
• Benzodiazepines  
• PCP 

The test aims to determine whether an individual has recently used illicit drugs or misused prescription medications or not. Employers often use urine drug tests during pre-employment screenings or as part of workplace drug testing programs to make sure a drug-free environment. 
 
Besides, healthcare providers may utilize urine tests for medical purposes, such as monitoring patients on certain medications or assessing substance abuse issues. 

How Long Does CBD Stay in Urine?

So how long is CBD detectable in urine? According to the research published in PubMed, if you consume a single dose of standardized CBD formulation, it can be detectable in urine for four to five days. 
 
However, this will not cause any issues, because CBD isn’t considered a controlled substance. It does not induce the infamous “high” or “euphoric” feelings. Besides, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that CBD is well-tolerated with a good safety profile. 
 
But if you consume marijuana-derived CBD instead of hemp-derived CBD, you will be more likely to fail the urine test. Marijuana-derived CBD contains a significant amount of THC or delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, a psychoactive compound. This illicit compound (THC) can cause a positive urine test result. 
 
Besides, Full-spectrum CBD products such as CBD gummies, or CBD oil can also possess a small amount of THC (up to 0.3%). If THC is present in CBD products, CBD can stay longer in urine depending on several factors. 
 
Related: How Long Does CBD Stay in Saliva?  

CBD and Urine Test: Factors That Affect Duration

Duration of CBD in urine can be affected based on several factors. However, before we discuss this, take note that most CBD products are classified as supplements. The only time you should be concerned about CBD and urine tests is when CBD is contaminated with THC. 
 
According to the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration), CBD products containing more than 0.3% THC are considered illegal. The United States Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) listed marijuana (cannabis) as a Schedule I drug.
 
Now that you’re aware CBD is neither harmful nor illegal, but THC is. Let’s learn about what affects the duration of CBD (In fact THC) in urine.  
 
If THC is present in CBD products, several factors can influence how long THC remains in urine:

• The amount of dose  
• How often you use it  
• Body weight and metabolism  
• Food  
• Physical activities and healthy lifestyle 
• Method of administration 

Related: Will CBD Show Up on a Hair Follicle Test? 

The amount of Dose

Like any other substance, the higher the dose you take, the longer it will remain in your system. Therefore, in the case of taking higher doses of THC concentration, it will be more likely to stay in urine for longer. 

How Often You Use It

How often you consume THC also influences the duration. For occasional users, THC is cleared from the system faster. For single use, THC is detectable in urine for 3 days. 
 
However, if you’re a moderate user (4 times per week), THC and metabolites can be tracked for 5 to 7 days. For chronic users who consume THC concentration almost daily, it can be detectable for 10 to 15 days (Via drugs.com). 
 
If you're a chronic user who takes CBD in high doses with high THC concentrations, it can be detected in your urine for up to 30 days. 

Body Weight and Metabolism

Your body weight and metabolism rate have something to do with CBD/THC consumption. Since CBD and THC are fat soluble, your body fat may store CBD longer. It indicates people with a higher BMI (Body Mass Index), typically 30 or higher might store CBD/THC for an extended period. Besides, the duration of CBD in urine can also be affected by a faster or slower metabolism. 

Food

What you eat and when you eat before taking CBD products does matter. For instance, drinking a lot of water may eliminate both CBD and psychoactive THC faster from the body. This is considered a natural way to flush out THC or CBD from the system. Besides, eating food with high levels of fiber can also affect the duration of CBD in urine. Fruits and vegetables can bind with toxins and help you naturally eliminate them from the body. 

Physical Activities and Healthy Lifestyle

Physical activities and a healthy lifestyle can reduce the duration of CBD in urine. When you work out regularly, it increases your heart rate, breathing, blood circulation, and sweat production. This can help your body to get rid of toxic compounds like THC. Therefore, physical exercise as well as a healthy lifestyle can positively affect the duration. 

Method of Administration

The method of ingesting CBD also determines the timeframe of CBD in urine. There are various forms of CBD available in the market. 

Different forms of CBD include:  

• Capsules 
• CBD Oil 
• CBD Syrups 
• CBD topicals (e.g., body rubs, lotions) 
• Gummies 
• Vaping 

For instance, when you use the vaping method, it enters your lungs, takes effect quickly, and leaves your body too soon compared to other methods of administration. However, according to the study of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center vaping CBD can lead to more severe lung damage compared to vaping nicotine. 
 
Other forms of CBD including edibles and topicals are considered safe. However, if you take CBD (CBD oil or syrups) sublingually, it may have faster onset effects but stay in the system for longer.

Urine Test After CBD Use: Any Potential Risks?

CBD is not supposed to cause urine drug test failure. Still, you need to look at some potential risk factors associated with drug tests while using CBD products. 
 
According to a 2017 study in JAMA, 18 of 84 CBD products purchased online had more than the recommended amount of THC (more than 0.3%) which is high enough to cause intoxication or impairment. Besides, this research also discloses that 70 percent of CBD products sold online are either under or over labeled.  
 
This increased number of mislabeled products is one of the major potential risk factors when it comes to urine drug tests. Besides, chronic CBD users who take accurately labeled full-spectrum CBD are also at risk of failing a urine test though it contains a trace amount of THC. 

Related: Does CBD Show Up on a Drug Test Probation?

Tips for Passing a Urine Test After CBD Consumptions

So far, you’ve learned that CBD is not likely to show up on a urine test. However, there is only a possibility of failing a urine test if it contains THC.  
 
So, how you can minimize the risk of failing urine tests after taking CBD?  
 
Here are some tips for you:  

• Avoid consuming mislabeled CBD products. 
• Review lab testing or certificate of analysis to know CBD and THC content.  
• Be transparent. Inform your employer/test administrator of CBD or other drug use. 
• Consider the frequency of full-spectrum CBD use. Trace amounts of THC in CBD products may build up and be stored in the body if taken on a daily or regular basis for an extended period. 

Best CBD Type to Take to Pass Urine Drug Tests

You don’t have to give up CBD before a urine drug test. With the right type of CBD products, you can still benefit from this natural health supplement.  
 
There are three types of CBD. 

1. Full-Spectrum CBD  
2. Broad-Spectrum CBD  
3. CBD Isolate 

Out of these three types, CBD isolate is the safest option to take. It is the purest CBD and contains only CBD (cannabidiol), and no THC. So, if you’re concerned about urine drug testing, taking CBD Isolate will make sure you don’t fail the drug test. 
 
Broad-spectrum CBD is another safe option that doesn’t include THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol). Broad-spectrum CBD type contains all the cannabinoids (e.g., CBD, CBG, CBC, CBN), terpenes (e.g., Pinene, linalool, limonene, and myrcene), and flavonoids but not THC. This makes it even better than isolate CBD in terms of health benefits. 
 
Full-spectrum CBD is considered the most effective CBD type for providing various therapeutic benefits. All the essential compounds found in marijuana plants are infused with full-spectrum CBD products to give an entourage effect. However, this doesn’t exclude THC. All the full-spectrum CBD contains a trace amount of THC which will not induce any intoxicating or psychoactive effects. However, consuming this little THC on a regular basis may potentially lead you to a positive urine test result. Even if the chances are low, you should not ignore the potential of failing a drug test. 

Related: Full Spectrum Vs Broad Spectrum CBD 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some relevant questions and answers related to how long will CBD show up on a urine test. 

Can You Fail a Drug Test Due to CBD?

We won’t lie to you – you might fail a drug test. You should note that CBD itself won’t show up on a drug test. It’s a harmless substance that simply benefits your health. Some full-spectrum CBD products with little THC (delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol) may lead to drug test failure. So, if we put it plainly, you won’t fail a drug test due to consuming only CBD. 

How Much THC in Urine Sample Can Cause Positive Result?

According to the University of Rochester Medical Center, a urine marijuana test will be positive if the amount of THC (concentration of THC-COOH) in the sample is more than 50 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL).

Does CBD Lotion Show Up on a Drug Test?

No, CBD lotion is a topical product that is formulated to be applied on the skin only. Therefore, it doesn’t enter your bloodstream rather it interacts with the endocannabinoid receptors present in the skin. That’s why you don’t have to worry about drug test failure while using CBD creams, lotions, rubs, or any other topical products. 

Key Takeaways

• CBD can be detectable in urine for 1 to 30 days depending on several factors.  
• CBD itself won’t cause any problems in urine tests as it’s not a controlled substance. 
• THC present in some CBD products may lead to positive urine test results. 
• CBD from a single dose is detectable in urine for 4 to 5 days. 
• Marijuana-derived CBD or mislabeled full-spectrum products with THC can pose a risk in drug tests. 
• Dosage, frequency of use, body weight, metabolism, diet, exercise, and method of administration may influence the duration of CBD in urine. 
• Avoid mislabeled products, check lab test results for CBD and THC content, and be transparent about CBD use to minimize the risk of failing a urine drug test.

References:  

• Spindle, T. R., Cone, E. J., Kuntz, D., Mitchell, J. M., Bigelow, G. E., Flegel, R., & Vandrey, R. G. (2019). Urinary pharmacokinetic profile of cannabinoids following administration of vaporized and oral cannabidiol and vaporized CBD-Dominant cannabis. Journal of Analytical Toxicology, 44(2), 109–125. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkz080 
• Drug scheduling. (n.d.). DEA. https://www.dea.gov/drug-information/drug-scheduling 
• Does CBD show up on a drug test? (n.d.). Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/lifestyle/cbd-show-drug-test-3516640/ 
• Vaping CBD causes more severe lung damage than vaping nicotine, Roswell Park study shows. (2023, February 27). Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. https://www.roswellpark.org/newsroom/202302-vaping-cbd-causes-more-severe-lung-damage-vaping-nicotine-roswell-park-study-shows 
• Penn study shows nearly 70 percent of cannabidiol extracts sold online are mislabeled - Penn Medicine. (n.d.). https://www.pennmedicine.org/news/news-releases/2017/november/penn-study-shows-nearly-70-percent-of-cannabidiol-extracts-sold-online-are-mislabeled 
• Cannabinoid Screen and Confirmation (Urine) - Health Encyclopedia - University of Rochester Medical Center. (n.d.). https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=167&contentid=cannabinoid_screen_urine