Most CBD products contain undisclosed THC, including some labeled "THC-Free"
Testing of 80 unregulated CBD products found THC in 65% of them, including 5 of 21 products labeled "THC-Free," with concentrations ranging up to 2 mg/mL.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
THC was detected above the quantification limit in 52 of 80 unregulated CBD products (65%). THC concentrations ranged from 0.008 to 2.071 mg/mL. Of 21 products labeled "THC-Free," 5 (24%) contained detectable THC levels ranging from 0.015 to 0.656 mg/mL.
Key Numbers
80 products tested. 52 (65%) had detectable THC. Range: 0.008-2.071 mg/mL. 21 labeled "THC-Free," 5 (24%) contained THC (0.015-0.656 mg/mL). LOQ: 0.005 mg/mL.
How They Did This
LC-MS/MS analysis of 80 unregulated hemp-derived CBD oil products purchased online and from local retailers in central Kentucky, compared to the regulated control Epidiolex. Products were extracted by solvent extraction and quantified using a validated method.
Why This Research Matters
Consumers choosing CBD products specifically to avoid THC may unknowingly consume it. This has implications for drug testing, employment, child custody, driving, and military service.
The Bigger Picture
The CBD market has outpaced regulation. When nearly a quarter of "THC-Free" products contain THC, consumer trust and safety are fundamentally compromised.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Products from one geographic region (central Kentucky). Market may have changed since testing. Single time point does not capture batch-to-batch variation. Did not assess whether THC levels would produce psychoactive effects or positive drug tests.
Questions This Raises
- ?At what THC concentration do unintended drug test positives become likely?
- ?Would federal regulation of CBD products solve the contamination problem?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 24% of "THC-Free" CBD products contained detectable THC
- Evidence Grade:
- Validated analytical chemistry methods applied to a meaningful sample of commercial products.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2022.
- Original Title:
- Cannabidiol (CBD) product contamination: Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentrations found in commercially available CBD products.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 237, 109522 (2022)
- Authors:
- Johnson, Erin(3), Kilgore, Michael(3), Babalonis, Shanna(8)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-03938
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do CBD products contain THC?
In this study, 65% of 80 tested CBD products contained detectable THC, including 24% of products specifically labeled "THC-Free."
Can CBD products make you fail a drug test?
Yes. With THC concentrations up to 2 mg/mL found in some products, regular use of contaminated CBD products could potentially cause a positive THC drug test.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-03938APA
Johnson, Erin; Kilgore, Michael; Babalonis, Shanna. (2022). Cannabidiol (CBD) product contamination: Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentrations found in commercially available CBD products.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 237, 109522. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109522
MLA
Johnson, Erin, et al. "Cannabidiol (CBD) product contamination: Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) concentrations found in commercially available CBD products.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2022. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2022.109522
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabidiol (CBD) product contamination: Quantitative analys..." RTHC-03938. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/johnson-2022-cannabidiol-cbd-product-contamination
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.