Te last time you spent a moment


surfing the internet, watching T.V., scrolling through social media, or visiting your local gas station or drug store, you’ve likely seen a promotion for a CBD product. It’s entirely unavoidable—this stuff is everywhere. Is CBD the next miracle drug? Snake oil? Where does it come from, and what does it do? Are these products legal? Most importantly, how does CBD impact workplace drug screening programs? We will answer those questions for you and more.


What is Cannabidiol? Let me start by saying that there is very litle science on this specific topic thus far, primarily due to federal restrictions, but that situation is quickly evolving2


. From what is known today, Cannabidiol


comes from the Cannabis plant, which is a very complex plant containing more than 400 different compounds of which more than 60 of those are cannabinoid compounds, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), terpenes, flavones and hundreds more, but by far the second-most popular of which is Cannabidiol. CBD is most commonly extracted from hemp but can also be produced in some marijuana strains. You may have heard in the media about the popularized strain "Charlote’s Web,”3


is a specific strain of marijuana that mostly contains CBD compared to THC. CBD products are easily found online


and on the shelves of dispensaries, smoke shops, local and national drug stores and retail locations across the country. You can find CBD in everything from balms, rubs, topicals, coffee, gummies, chocolates, ice


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cream, protein powders, and other edibles, you can find it in concentrated 'wax' form, in the ever-so-popular vapor cartridges, capsules, tinctures, intimate products, anti- wrinkle creams, bath bombs, a variety of pet products and much more.


Does CBD get users high? CBD is oſten referred to in popular media and marketing materials as being “non- psychoactive,” unlike that of THC, and this is a bit of a misnomer. While it’s true that CBD is more or less non-intoxicating and will not get you “high” in the same way THC does, it crosses the blood-brain barrier (your endocannabinoid system) and has some pronounced pharmacological impacts causing what is commonly described by users as a mild "body high" or a "warm bath" soothing effect4 A quick science lesson, the


. which


endocannabinoid system or (ECS) is naturally common to all mammals, and it consists of neurotransmiters and receptors found throughout the nervous system. Interestingly, the ECS acquired its name because it is explicitly affected by cannabis. Our bodies contain endocannabinoids which are released naturally. If a person is injured, for example, natural cannabinoids increase, presumably to resolve the inflammation and other damage signals associated with the injury. Tey also increase aſter strenuous exercise, another stressor, and some scientists have argued that they, not the beter-known endorphins, are responsible for the pleasant post-exercise feeling known as ‘runner’s high.’ THC through marijuana ingestion affects the endocannabinoid system


receptors, leading to euphoric effects “the high,” in addition to impacting appetite and reducing nausea. CBD, on the other hand, facilitates the activity of the body’s endocannabinoids with more of a calming body ‘high’ than a psychoactive head ‘high.’ From the limited research that's been


conducted, beneficial effects have been shown with conditions such as pain relief, anti-inflammation, anxiety, acne, insomnia, epilepsy, addiction, Alzheimer's, PTSD and other mental illnesses, including schizophrenia and depression, potentially cancer and much more5


. As with most


drugs, it is known that not everyone who uses CBD is affected adversely or even in the same way, but it is undeniable that more research is needed.


Will CBD use cause a positive drug test result?


Let's first remember that standard employment drug tests screen for tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and NOT for cannabidiol (CBD). Most CBD products are marketed to be “PURE CBD” or "Containing less than .3% of THC", the actual levels of advertised concentrations have been proven to vary significantly by distributor and by product. While CBD products started in the


market within the grey area of federal and state legality, it is now the wild west, and CBD companies face very litle oversight of their claims or review of actual contents of a product with the lack of product testing6


.


With the approval of the recent Farm Bill (more on this below) the groundwork has


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