What the study actually tested
Six healthy adults completed a crossover experiment involving pure CBD, placebo and vaporized CBD-dominant cannabis containing THC. After pure CBD, no urine specimens exceeded the study’s confirmatory THC-metabolite cutoff. After CBD-dominant cannabis containing 3.7 mg THC, four specimens confirmed positive. Specimens are not the same as participants. Original study.
Limits that matter
This was an acute-exposure experiment in a small sample. It does not guarantee outcomes after repeated dosing, across all commercial products, or under every testing program. A CBD label does not establish the absence of THC. The paper supports distinguishing pure CBD from CBD products that also deliver THC; it does not establish that CBD itself causes confirmed THC-positive results.
Read the original research
Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabinoids Following Administration of Vaporized and Oral Cannabidiol and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis.
Journal of analytical toxicology
Citation
Tory R Spindle; Edward J Cone; David Kuntz; John M Mitchell; George E Bigelow; Ronald Flegel; Ryan Vandrey. (2020). Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabinoids Following Administration of Vaporized and Oral Cannabidiol and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis.. Journal of analytical toxicology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkz080