Many organizations and businesses have used drug testing for years. Depending on state regulations, employers may be able to demand and undertake such testing. One of the common fallacies about drug testing is that businesses only conduct it when they have less faith in their workers. Drug testing is done for the benefit of both employees and the firm as a whole.
You are required to take a drug test if you are interviewing for a new job, or your employer is just considering regular checkups. Sometimes schools also take drug tests as precautionary measures. If you are a delta-8 THC consumer, you might be wondering if it would show up on the drug test and does it matter since it is considered legal. Here is all that you need to know.
Delta-8 THC
Delta 8 THC is a member of the so-called minor cannabinoids found in hemp and marijuana plants. If you regularly consume cannabis, you must already be familiar with delta 8. Its less toxic nature as compared to delta-9 THC has gained popularity over a short period of time since there is no law that directly prohibits the use of delta-8 THC, it's theoretically considered legal in many states.
Why take a drug test?
Taking drug tests is a common practice all over the world. There can be a number of reasons one might be required to take a drug test. Alcohol, some prescription medications, and illegal narcotics are all subjects of drug testing procedures. Testing can:
Protect a company's workforce, security, and finances.
- Assist a worker in recognizing or admitting a drug usage issue
- In order to give early intervention and aid in accident prevention, identify the symptoms and indicators of substance usage and addiction.
- Encourage a patient to maintain accountability throughout the healing process in order to avoid relapsing
- Protect others from the negative impacts of drug use and abuse.
- Drug testing helps safeguard the well-being of a worker who is abusing drugs or alcohol.
- Because most people don't want to run the danger of losing their jobs due to a positive drug test, testing also aids in discouraging drug usage.
How do drug tests work?
Your body metabolizes a chemical that you consume for therapeutic or recreational purposes so that you can experience its effects. The remaining metabolites that are processed by your liver are found in your blood, urine, saliva, perspiration, hair, and lungs. Drug testing at work is made to check for the byproducts of illegal narcotics. Delta 9 THC is easily found in drug tests. They don't, however, truly measure your THC levels. Instead, they search for the metabolites that your body produces after the liver has finished breaking down THC. THC is more difficult for your body to eliminate than substances that are water-soluble since it dissolves in lipids. The overall purpose of the drug tests is dedicated to figure out whether a person has been consuming delta-8 THC or not, regardless of the quantity consumed.
Can you fail a drug test by consuming delta-8?
The straightforward answer to that is, yes. You can fail a drug test due to delta-8. Since delta-8 is technically legal and less potent, its effect might last for only a few hours at maximum but one thing people often forget is that delta-8 is still a THC. It is ingested and stored in fat cells. This implies that THC cannot be easily eliminated from your body. Delta-8 remains in your blood after several days of consumption and can make you fail the drug test. How long it will take for your body to digest and eliminate the delta-8 THC molecules from the blood depends on a number of additional factors. The amount of time it will remain in your body depends on your present weight. Your tolerance to cannabis, the extent of your consumption, and more.
Preparing for a drug test for delta-8 THC
The best and easiest way to pass a delta-8 THC drug test is to simply avoid consuming delta-8 products for at least 15-30 days before the drug test, depending on how much you take. This time span is enough for your body to empty any THC substance on its own. Due to the similar chemical structure as delta-9, delta-8 also takes the equivalent amount to clear out.
Regular Use: If you use delta-8 in a moderate amount regularly, it might take more than a week to clear it out of your system and pass the test.
Heavy Use: For someone who consumes high doses of delta-8 in any form (gummies, vapes, tinctures, etc) it can take four to six weeks or longer until you pass a test without a positive result.
Occasional Use: After one to five days of a tolerance break, you might be able to pass if you just occasionally utilize delta 8.
Conclusion
You should be aware that delta 8 THC can cause you to fail a workplace drug test if you have a job that requires regular drug testing. This is due to the fact that these tests only search for THC's metabolites, which are essentially the same for both versions, rather than being intended to distinguish between various THC compounds.
The best course of action if you fail a drug test due to Delta 8 THC is to speak with your employer or institution. You can justify your actions by pointing out that the substance you consumed is actually lawful and that you were unaware that it would appear on a drug test. The majority of the time, they will be understanding and won't discipline you.
