LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - The growing popularity of one part of the cannabis industry, which doesn't involve pot, has users asking questions. Now in Arkansas, you can purchase CBD oil at convenience stores, spas and new CBD specialty shops have opened in Little Rock, Fayetteville and Cabot.
It doesn’t contain much, if any, of the component that gets you high, THC, but does that mean CBD oil won’t cause you to fail a drug test? We went to Healing Hemp of Arkansas and Complete Body Daily to get answers.
“We carry everything from tinctures, capsules, gummies, bath bombs, bath salts, chocolates," said Justin Butler, manager at Healing Hemp.
CBD users claim it helps with anxiety and pain. Butler has customers with M.S., Parkinsons and cancer. CBD oils sold in Arkansas are derived from industrial hemp rather than marijuana, meaning they must contain less than .3 percent THC.
“Most people who think they might need help from medical marijuana, we think, can find it in CBD," said Butler.
Even with small to no traces of THC, are CBD products enough to make you fail a drug test?
“In theory, you could still test positive for THC,” said Butler.
Butler explained that doesn’t mean you have to stay away from all CBD products. Some CBD companies like Complete Body Daily contain zero THC.
“We do a process to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes and we go a step further to extract the THC so ours is certified zero THC," said Matthew Kane, founder of Complete Body Daily.
If you’re wanting to make sure the oil you use has no THC, ask for third-party lab results that will show exactly what is in the product. You can find them online or at some stores where the products are sold. Those in the CBD industry recommend being very thorough in your research in CBD products.
Even with products containing point .3 percent THC, it would likely take a lot to fail a drug test. Kane tells us it would take 10 to 20 times what most people take.
"When you’re being tested for THC it does accumulate in your fat cells so it’s going to vary from person to person," said Kane.
So if it’s a concern, those in the CBD industry suggest sticking to products completely THC free.
“If you have a job worth losing, don’t put any THC in your system," said Butler.