A new study by the Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapies at the University of Sydney determined that the consumption of CBD products may not produce false positives in oral tests for THC.

“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,” said Dr. Danielle McCartney, clinical research associate at Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapies. “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.”

Point of collection oral fluid testing devices that are designed to look for the presence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in a person’s oral fluid. POC tests are commonly used to identify people driving under the influence of cannabis.

“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,” said Dr. McCartney. “The current results should provide some reassurance that THC-positive roadside tests are unlikely to occur when CBD-only products are used. 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.”

These results are good news for people wanting to try CBD products but are concerned about DUI arrests.