MRO Talks Podcast – How does CBD Oil Affect Drug Screening Results?

In this edition of MRO Talks, Dr. Todd Simo, HireRight’s Chief Medical Officer provides further commentary on a recent blog I wrote called Clarifications on CBD and Drug Testing. CBD is the component of the marijuana plant that causes the majority of positive health effects, in terms of pain relief and seizure prophylaxis. However, CBD is highly unregulated so there are a variety of products, such as CBD oil and CBD supplements, and are available without going through any FDA approval process and certainly aren’t scheduled by the DEA.  Learn what this means for drug tests in the podcast:

HireRight Podcast

How does CBD Oil Affect Drug Screening Results?
By: Dr. Todd Simo
Length: 4:33

      CBD Oil

Audio Transcription:
For this edition of MRO Talks, I wanted to provide further commentary on a recent blog I wrote called Clarifications on CBD and Drug Testing. CBD, otherwise known as Cannabidiol, is an active cannabinoid that is found within the marijuana plant. This active cannabinoid from a medical perspective is a very exciting molecule. CBD is the component of the marijuana plant that causes the majority of positive health effects, in terms of pain relief and seizure prophylaxis. So from this perspective, it’s a very unique molecule that has a lot of medical effects and in fact has just been approved as a Food and Drug Administration (FDA) medication under Schedule V DEA and that medicine is called Epidolex. Epidolex is derived from the cannabis plant, but derived in such a way that they have eliminated all the THC components. The THC component is the addictive portion of the marijuana plant that actually causes individuals to feel high and be impaired. So from this perspective CBD again, is a really attractive medication. However, CBD is highly unregulated so there are a variety of products, such as CBD oil and CBD supplements, and are available without going through any FDA approval process and certainly aren’t scheduled by the DEA. If the component of THC rises any level beyond micro amounts it actually becomes a Schedule I drug, so it is illegal to possess, prescribe or use. A lot of these CBD products that are being touted and people are buying over the counter may not be as much CBD as they are THC. Therefore it is really a buyer beware. From a regulatory perspective, any DOT or federal safety-sensitive employee can’t have the presence of THC unless they are on a prescription medication approved by the DEA and FDA. The only prescription medication is Marinol. If they allege being on CBD, this excuse can’t be used to overturn their drug screen result. Also from a general employment, non-regulated company testing policy, CBD oil isn’t a reasonable medical explanation for a result. If that CBD meets FDA manufacturing criteria, it will not generate a positive THC drug screen; therefore, cannot cause a positive drug screen. However, there are many of these products that are massively contaminated with THC that don’t meet these FDA requirements. Therefore, any marijuana positives that are generated here need to fall under your company’s policy on medical marijuana in the 33 states that have a statute. For the states that do not have a medical marijuana statute these are considered positive drug screens that you take action on pursuant to your positive drug screen policy. I hope this clears up some muddy water in regards to CBD. So, in general, as long as CBD is manufactured according to FDA approval then it will not cause a positive THC drug screen. For those individuals using CBD that are positive for THC on their drug screen, it is up to your company’s policy to determine what happens to them. Todd Simo signing off from MTO Talks. Have a safe day.

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Dr. Todd Simo

Dr. Simo is the Chief Medical Officer and the Managing Director of Transportation at HireRight. He served as HireRight’s Medical Director starting in 2009 and was promoted to Chief Medical Officer in 2015. Dr. Simo was also appointed to the role of Managing Director of Transportation in 2018. Dr. Simo came to HireRight with a decade of experience in the medical consulting arena. Before that he was Medical Director at an occupational health clinic in Virginia and owned a consulting firm providing medical director services to employers across the United States.

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