Can hemp oil or CBD (cannabidiol) supplements cause me to fail a marijuana drug test?

Reviewed and edited by Tod Cooperman, M.D.

Initially Posted: 07/13/2018 | Last Updated: 03/04/2021

Answer:

It is possible to fail a drug test for marijuana based on THC in a hemp oil, hemp seed, or hemp seed extract -- the ingredient in many CBD oils and supplements. Unusually large amounts of hemp oil or hemp seed would normally be required to cause a positive drug test.

However, with hemp extracts, i.e., CBD oils, there is roughly a 10% chance of failing a drug test with low to moderate doses of CBD, and this will be influenced by individual variation in how THC is absorbed and metabolized. As dosage increases, the risk increases: one study found a 50% of testing positive with daily use of a moderately high dose of CBD. Note that some products contain very little THC and are, essentially, THC-free. For details, including the amounts of THC that ConsumerLab.com detected in specific products, see the What CL Found section of the CBD Oils & Hemp Extracts Review.