INTRO

Delta-8 THC products have become more widely available than ever in the past year. These products may be legal in your area, but will they cause you to fail a drug test? We think everyone asks this when they learn about Delta-8 THC, and today we will be answering it.

DELTA-8 VS DELTA-9 BASICS

Let's take a look at what makes Delta-8 THC different from the THC your grandma knows about! Delta-9 THC is the THC most of us are familiar with, and the cannabinoid found most abundantly in marijuana. The intoxicating effects, nausea reduction, appetite stimulation all come from this cannabinoid. D8 features many of the same side-effects of D9 and even shares an almost identical molecular structure. But Delta-8 is found in much lower levels in cannabis than Delta-9. Most plants contain less than 1% of Delta-8 THC.

Many users report Delta8 giving them a much more mild psychoactive effect than Delta9. Marijuana(Delta-9 THC) has long been known to cause anxiety and paranoia in some people. People who have switched to delta-8 products often stick with them because they no longer have those side effects or are significantly lessened. It is important to note that if you use Delta-8 THC edible products when consumed, it's converted to 11-hydroxy-THC in the liver. This exact change also happens with Delta-9 THC edible products when consumed. Many users report delta-8 edibles being more potent and similar to delta-9 edible effects than vapes.

So now you might be asking yourself, "How is Delta-8 legal if it is so similar to Delta-9?"

Great question! It's pretty simple, Delta-8 THC is extracted from hemp plants and not marijuana plants! Hemp plants are federally required to contain less than .03% THC

DOES YOUR DRUG TEST KNOW WHICH THC IS LEGAL?

Well, this question is not quite as simple as it seems. It may depend on where your test ends up and the capabilities of the lab. The likelihood that your test is sent to an advanced facility to differentiate between different cannabinoids from hemp or marijuana is very low.

Most drug tests are looking to find THC metabolites in your urine or hair follicle. Like we discussed above, D8 and D9 share an almost identical molecular structure. When either of these cannabinoids become metabolized in your body, they release similar chemical signals.

These similar chemical signals make it difficult for most drug testing labs. They will likely be unable to determine if it was delta-8 THC from hemp or delta-9 THC from marijuana. This may potentially result in false positives from the lab, even when only using delta-8 products. At-home tests are even less accurate and, in turn, more likely to detect false positives.

WILL DELTA-8 THC MAKE YOU FAIL YOUR DRUG TEST?

If you made it this far, you probably know the answer to this: Yes, Delta-8 THC can make you fail your drug test.

But technically, it is a false positive...

Yes, there is THC in your body. But the test will not declare if it was federally legal Delta-8 THC from a hemp plant or the federally illegal Delta-9 THC from marijuana. All the test is looking for is THC metabolites and chemical signals that have been released in your body.

While Delta-8 products are created from hemp and have less than .03% Delta-9 THC, making them legal to consume, it is essential to note that they will most likely test positive on a drug test.

HOW LONG WILL DELTA-8 STAY IN YOUR BODY?

Just like its more famous and potent cousin, Delta-9, little D8 clings to fat cells in your body. Even if you haven't used any D8 products today, that does not mean you may not still have some THC lingering in your body.

How long it will be in your body depends on a few key factors:

-Body Weight: How much fat is available to store THC?

-Activity: How fast will you burn fat to rid THC?

-Level of Usage: 25mg/day or 250mg/day?

First-time users generally test clean after 3-10 days, but more heavy/regular users should expect 30-90 days. There have been reports of less active people taking longer to cleanse and more active people taking less time.

Keep in mind that this varies from person to person; assess your key factors to judge accordingly.

CONCLUSION

So now you know everything you need to know about Delta-8 THC and drug tests! Yes, you will likely fail a drug test using D8 products such as eating a delta 8 gummy. Even if these products are legally available in your area, ensure you know your employer's policy regarding THC products.

If your job or lifestyle requires regular testing for THC, we do not recommend using Delta-8 products. Until lab technology catches up with cannabis technology, you may be risking your job using these products.