Many people use CBD products to treat anxiety, inflammation, chronic pain, and sleep disruptions. CBD is a cannabinoid extracted from the hemp plant. Since CBD products must contain less than 0.3 percent THC, users won’t experience the ‘high’ they would with marijuana. 

CBD and the other hemp-derived compounds, and their legality in different places, can create confusion for truck drivers. Truck drivers, or those with a CDL (commercial driver’s license) must pass drug tests to keep their jobs. 

Truck drivers are often expected to drive 300 days per year. Sometimes working up to 70 hours over an eight-day schedule. Drivers can also spend 20 hours a day in solitude. With gas stations now well-stocked with CBD and other hemp products, some might ask can truckers use CBD?

Let’s look at some of the laws that surround substance use for truckers. 

Legal Status of Hemp vs Marijuana

The 2018 Farm Bill separated hemp from marijuana in the Controlled Substances Act. That change made hemp legal in all 50 states. Products made from hemp must contain 0.3 percent THC, or less, to not receive a controlled substance label. 

On a federal level, marijuana is still a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act. Any product, including CBD products, with more than 0.3 percent THC is marijuana. Many states in recent years have passed their own laws for marijuana use. 

• 18 states have legalized marijuana. 
• 32 states have decriminalized marijuana. 
• 37 states have legalized medical marijuana. 

However, these state laws don’t supersede the federal regulations, creating a gray area when it comes to the legality of using different cannabis products. It also creates problems for those on the road. What happens if you’re in one state where it’s all legal, but cross the border to a state where it’s not, and you’re carrying product?

Drug Testing for Truck Drivers

The Department of Transportation (DOT) requires CDL truck drivers to take drug tests. Under no circumstances are truck drivers allowed to use marijuana. The DOT also does not recognize medical or prescription use of THC or CBD as a valid excuse for a positive test. 

From January 2020 to June 2021, 15,800  CDL drivers tested positive for marijuana. However, no substance related to hemp is on the drug test. 

Will CBD Result in a Positive Drug Test?

In theory, it should be impossible to test positive for THC after using CBD. CBD products have anywhere from zero to 0.3 percent THC. Or, at least, they’re legally supposed to.

Some CBD products contain more THC than their product labels say. These products can be full-spectrum CBD or low-quality CBD broad-spectrum CBD. The FDA does not certify the amount of THC in CBD products, so there is no guarantee that the labels are correct. 

Some products labeled as CBD are low-grade oil extracted from marijuana. Marijuana contains higher levels of THC than hemp. The FDA has warned many companies that their products contain more THC than than advertised. Typically, when caught, the hemp in question gets destroyed and the company loses enough income to follow the letter of the law the next time around. However, if ‘hot’ products slip through the cracks, consumers could unwittingly pay the price.

Since the amount of THC in some CBD products can cause a positive test for marijuana, CDL drivers should use caution when it comes to CBD. 

Best Practices for CBD Products 

If CBD is part of your personal care routine, and you have a CDL, it’s up to you to do your research to confirm what is in the products you consume. Looking for companies that offer full-transparency into their products, including not only an ingredient list, but where the ingredients come from, and what else is in the product is a clear indicator of quality.

You’ll find this attention to detail displayed alongside all of Arbor Vita8’s products found on our online store. We don’t sell anything we don’t feel safe using at home and pride ourselves on being a safe and truthful supplier of superior hemp products. Visit our online store today to learn more, or contact our knowledgeable team if you have any questions about our products.