CBD and driving: Study shows CBD may not produce false positive effect in drug tests

A new study on driving and the consumption of CBD products reveals that it may not produce false positives in oral tests for THC.

When it comes to drug tests, most countries and jurisdictions use point of collection (POC) oral fluid testing devices to identify driving under the influence of cannabis. They are designed to look for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a person’s oral fluid.

CBD which is sold over the counter does not contain THC or extremely low levels although this can cause confusion for drivers who fear they may not pass a drug test. CBD is not prohibited among drivers as it is non-intoxicating.

The study

A new study by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapies at the University of Sydney examined if orally administered CBD could produce a false-positive test for THC on the standard POC oral fluid tests.

In the trial, 17 healthy participants completed four treatment sessions involving the administration of either placebo or 15, 300 or 1500 mg of pure CBD in a high-fat dietary supplement.  The oral fluid was sampled and tested with the DrugWipe®-5S and Drug Test® 5000. It was administered pre-treatment then at 20, 145, 185 minutes post-treatment.

Oral fluid cannabinoid concentrations were measured using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The median (IQR) oral fluid CBD concentrations were highest at 20 minutes

Speaking with Cannabis Health News, Dr Danielle McCartney, clinical research associate at Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapies said: “The participants completed four treatment sessions involving the oral administration of either placebo or 15, 300 or 1500 mg of CBD. The DW-5S and DT5000 were administered at Baseline (pre-treatment) and on three occasions thereafter: ~20-, 145- and 180-minutes post-treatment. A total of 259 DW-5S and 256 DT5000 tests were performed.”

CBD and driving

“We found that CBD did not elicit any false-positive (or true-positive) test for THC on the DW-5S or DT5000 when administered orally and in doses of 15, 300, and 1500 mg.”

“These observations suggest that the point-of-collection oral fluid testing devices used by authorities to identify driving under the influence of cannabis are able to distinguish between CBD and THC, despite their structural similarities.”

THC, Cannabinol and cannabigerol were not detected in any samples. The tests were successfully completed with no THC-positive tests observed.

The orally administered CBD does not appear to produce false-positive tests for THC on both the Securetec DrugWipe® 5S or Dräger Drug Test® 5000. The risk of a person testing positive for THC and being falsely accused of driving under the influence appears low.

The results could be reassuring for people who are keen to try CBD but worried about the effect this could have if tested.

Danielle said: “These findings suggest that individuals using CBD only products such as those that contain no or only trace amounts of THC and other cannabinoids are very unlikely to test false-positive to THC on standard roadside drug tests. The current results should provide some reassurance that THC-positive roadside tests are unlikely to occur when CBD-only products are used.”

She does stress that further research is needed: “However, further research is required to determine the likelihood of “full-spectrum” CBD extracts that contain small, but more than a trace,  amounts of THC  eliciting true-positive tests to THC.”

Read more: Working out – does CBD or THC have an effect on our workouts?