When I first heard about Delta 8 THC, I admit, I was confused. I didn't realize that there was more than one type of THC at the time, and I couldn't figure out why it seemed to be legal in the United States. After doing just a little bit of digging, I realized that the vast, vast majority of the Delta 8 THC products on the market right now are incredibly scary because of how they’re processed.
When I was researching for that video, I kept seeing people wondering if taking Delta-8-THC would make them fail a drug test… and I saw a lot of wrong answers too! So in this blog, we’re going to dive into drug testing, delta-8-THC, and what you can do if you don’t want to fail a drug test.
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How Many Delta THCs are there?
Will Delta-8-THC Make You Fail a Drug Test?
How Long Does Delta-8-THC Stay in Your System?
What Cannabis Product Can You Use that Won’t Make You Fail a Drug Test?
But First… How Many Delta THCs are there?
RIGHT? I thought THC was THC was THC for a long time. But, it turns out that the THC we know and love is actually called delta-9-THC. It used to be that you didn’t need to know that because all the THC on the market was just that one kind, delta-9.
When the 2018 Farm Bill passed in the US, it legalized hemp and any CBD products that were made from hemp. Well, it didn’t take long for enterprising entrepreneurs to realize that you can pretty easily (and super grossly) convert the CBD molecule into a whole host of other cannabinoids. And, so long as none of them are delta-9-THC, they’re not technically illegal.
One of the first of these “franken-cannabinods” on the market was delta-8-THC which is just the tiniest bit different than delta-9-THC but different enough that you can see it sold in most of the states where cannabis is still prohibited.
Now we have delta-10-THC, THC-0-acetate and others that are popping up all over the place.
As for how many THCs there are, it’s a great question and the answer is … A LOT! But before we start counting, you need to know that the plant doesn’t actually grow delta-9-THC itself. Instead, it produces the precursor molecule called THCA. All the THCs that grow naturally on the plant are really THCAs until they are decarbed so we’re going to have to count them each twice!
Let’s Count The THCs!
Cannabis produces Delta-9-THC and up to about 30% of the dry weight of a cannabis flower could be delta-9.
THCV can show up in concentrations of 3-7% or more.
There are other THCs that the plant produces as well, but they show up in concentrations lower than 1% as a general rule. We’re talking about THCP, the recently discovered THCB and even delta-8-THC. (Yup, the plant does grow a bit of it naturally too!)
Your body metabolizes any THC you eat (and inhale, eventually) into 11-hydroxy-THC.
And we haven’t even considered the lab-made cannabinoids researchers use for studies!
That’s a lot of THCs!
So, Will Delta-8-THC Make You Fail a Drug Test?
Yuppers! I’m sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but remember up there when I said that your body will convert any THC you eat or inhale into a new molecule, 11-hydroxy-THC? Well, that’s what drug urine tests are looking for.
Because delta-8 and delta-9 are so similar, the same compounds metabolize them and they BOTH turn into 11-hydroxy. There is no way for the drug test to differentiate between the two substances.
How Long Does Delta-8-THC Stay in Your System?
Of course, there’s no way for me to give you a definitive answer to this question because it depends on about a billion things such as:
How much have you consumed?
How often do you consume?
For how long have you been consuming?
Are you consuming any other THCs as well, like delta-9?
How fast is your metabolism?
And more
Basically, the more you consume and the more often you consume, the more likely it is you’re going to fail a drug test. If you need to pass a test to keep your job, you shouldn’t be using delta-8-THC.
What Cannabis Product Can You Use that Won’t Make You Fail a Drug Test?
Again, don’t shoot the messenger here, but if you’re needing to pass a drug test, you shouldn’t be consuming any cannabis products.
Let me tell you a little story. A little while ago one of my Complete Cannabis Consultation clients booked a call with me. He was a paramedic who had just been fired from his job for failing a urine test for THC even though he’d never used it.
It turns out that he had been using a CBD product that he thought was straight CBD for the previous three months and obviously the product wasn’t properly labelled. Even thought it was likely a very small amount of THC in his oil (0.3% or less), over time the metabolites likely built up enough in his fat tissues to trigger the test.
So, unless you can find a source of CBD that you know is 100% free of THC, it’s my advice that you steer clear of any cannabis products.
Recap!
Today we wanted to know if delta-8-THC would make you fail a drug test and the answer is - YES! There are many different types of THC out there but our current tests can’t tell the legal ones from the illegal ones. And CBD oil might not be safe if you’re using it daily because if there’s any THC in the oil, it can build up in your system and trigger a test. So, if you need to pass drug tests, steer clear of cannabis (and fight to change the law!)
If you love learning about things like delta-8-THC and more, you’ll go crazy for the 8-week cannabis science curriculum you get over at the Cannabis Coaching Institute. I’ll teach you all about this magical plant and how you can use it to feel better and help others feel better, too! Use the code: revealcannabis for a great discount on your tuition!
What questions do you have about this or anything cannabis? Leave them below; I answer them all!
With love,
Andrea
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