Will CBD show up on a drug test UK?

As CBD oil is usually derived from the cannabis plant, wondering whether or not CBD will show up on a drug test (UK) is a valid concern. Although most jobs won’t ever require you to take a drug test (or randomly spring a drug test on you), there are a handful of careers where you’re in charge of potentially risky equipment or situations where you might encounter this, for example, pilots and cabin crew, construction workers, railway workers, firefighters and police officers.

Cannabis – or more specifically THC, the controlled compound within the plant – remains illegal in the UK without a prescription. If THC shows up on a drug test, it could land you in serious trouble. But what about CBD products, which focus on a completely different compound from the same plant? FSA approved CBD oil like ours contains less than the legal limit of THC (or none at all) – so will that show up on a drug test? In this blog, we find out.

Will I fail a urine test if I take CBD in the UK?

Urine testing is the most commonly used drug test in the UK as it’s affordable, easy to administer and can be used to detect a wide range of substances, including cannabis. To fail a cannabis drug test in the UK you would need to have at least two micrograms of THC per millilitre of blood. While there’s no clear answer as to how much THC would have to be consumed to reach this level, as it varies widely depending on a broad range of factors from blood volume to metabolism, evidence suggests that it’s generally an amount associated with ‘substantial driving impairment’. If you’ve ever taken CBD oil bought from a trusted, legal provider, you’ll already know that consuming this supplement (even the kind that contains the maximum limit for THC) doesn't have this effect, even slightly. 

Will CBD show up on a drug test in the UK?

Providing you are taking legal CBD oil, following the dosage guidance offered by your chosen brand, there won’t be any notable amount of THC in your urine – and most screening panels are not designed to detect CBD as it is a legal substance in the UK. Even if you were taking some sort of drug test that was able to detect CBD, this wouldn’t present a problem. Overall, it’s safe to assume that CBD will not show up on a drug test in the UK.

Can I take CBD oil at work in the UK?

You are legally free to use CBD oil at work in the UK, even if you’re employed in one of the roles where drug tests are required to ensure safety. CBD oil has been proven time and again to be perfectly safe and to have no psychoactive properties. If driving is part of your work, rest assured that you can legally drive after using CBD oil (in any form, from oils, to gummies, to vapes), as there are no laws in the UK that prohibit taking CBD and driving. Although some people are still concerned about workplace stigma surrounding the use of CBD, we welcome you to educate yourself and then educate others. The World Health Organisation has confirmed that CBD exhibits no effects indicative of any abuse or dependence potential, it’s generally well tolerated with a good safety profile and to date, there is no evidence of recreational use of CBD or any public health-related problems associated with the use of pure CBD. 

Why is CBD oil legal in the UK but cannabis isn’t?

If you’ve been confused about whether or not CBD is legal to take at work, or if CBD will show up on a drug test, it’s understandable. The laws surrounding cannabis, ‘medical cannabis’, cannabis-based medications, hemp and CBD oil in the UK are convoluted to say the least. In short, it just comes down to regulations and THC, THCV and CBN content. CBD oils in the UK are usually derived from hemp, which is naturally very low in THC, or from cannabis but it’s then processed and put through rigorous testing to ensure THC levels are low enough to be in accordance with UK law. To be on the safe side, always buy your CBD products from a reputable CBD brand that is FSA approved and offers easily accessible lab reports, so you can see the THC content for yourself.

Hopefully you’ll now feel confident at using CBD at work and taking CBD oil without fear of failing a drug test. You can view the third-party lab reports for all Unspun CBD products here, for extra peace of mind that all of these products are well within the legal limit for THC in the UK.