Cannabigerol (CBG) is not screened for on drug tests and won’t cause you to fail a drug test by itself.
However, full-spectrum CBG products and CBG-rich hemp flower contain THC, which will show up on drug tests. Poor-quality CBG products also may contain THC when they aren’t supposed to.
As a safety precaution, we recommend you steer clear of CBG products – especially CBG flower – if you have a drug test coming up.
In this article, we’ll dive deeper into how CBG products and drug tests interact, and we provide some tips for staying safe on tests.
What is CBG?
Cannabigerol, or CBG, is one of more than 100+ cannabinoids that naturally occur in the hemp plant.
CBG is not as popular as CBD, but that may be changing. Many are discovering how CBG can help with things like stress, anxiety, and pain, with a 2022 survey showing that CBG use for these situations is becoming commonplace [1].
In terms of effects, CBG is like a more stimulating version of CBD. It won’t get you high, but many people compare its effects to those of coffee. CBD, by contrast, is mild and subtle in its effects.
Among the many questions that people are asking as they explore this new cannabinoid, a major one is whether CBG will show up on a drug test and how to use it safely to avoid drug testing pitfalls.
Does CBG Show Up on Drug Tests?
CBG isolate – extract that consists only of cannabigerol (CBG) – will not show up on standard drug tests (either 5-panel, 6-panel, or other tests), all of which screen for THC.
Drug tests screen for THC due to its presence in marijuana, which is a federally illegal form of the cannabis sativa plant containing more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
Because CBG is not THC, it will not show up on a drug test. A 2010 study found that CBG is detectable in urine [2], but this isn’t a concern in most cases, as CBG isn’t screened for on tests.
While CBG itself won’t show up on a drug test, full-spectrum CBG products will cause you to fail a drug test because they contain small amounts of THC.
Also be mindful that, given the lack of regulation in the hemp and cannabis industry, poor-quality CBG products may contain THC despite being marketed as not containing any.
Even if you do buy a high-quality product that’s been 3rd-party lab tested, we recommend you avoid consuming CBG prior to a drug test just to be sure, due to the potentially life-altering nature of a drug test failure.
Will CBG Flower Cause You to Fail a Drug Test?
While CBG itself won’t trigger red flags on a test, CBG hemp and cannabis flower will.
CBG-rich strains have been bred to contain large amounts of CBG to give a more energizing, less-inebriating experience. However, this flower will still contain some amount of THCa – which converts to THC when heated — so it will cause you to fail a drug test.
How Long Will CBG Stay In Your System?
Generally, CBG will stay in your system anywhere from 24 hours to a few weeks.
That’s a pretty large window, and that’s because several factors influence how long CBG stay in your system:
- Frequency of Use: The number one determinant of how long it takes CBG to clear your system is how often you use it. If you’re an occasional or once-off CBG user, it will typically clear your system 24-48 hours after you take it. However, if you routinely consume CBG, it can take several weeks to clear your system.
- Dosage: The amount of CBG you take can also influence how long it takes to clear your system – your body will need more time to process larger doses.
- Metabolism: People with a naturally faster metabolism will process CBG more quickly than people with slower metabolisms. This varies from person to person.
If you plan to use a CBG product that also contains THC, be mindful of the time it takes to clear your body if you have a drug test in the future.
Is CBG Legal?
Yes, CBG is legal on the federal level. The 2018 Farm Bill (which has been extended through 2024) made CBG and other cannabinoids federally legal as long as they are hemp-derived.
Hemp is a variant of the cannabis sativa plant that contains less than 0.3% THC by dry weight.
Potential Benefits of CBG
If you’re exploring CBG for the first time, you may be wondering why so many people are using it. Here are some of the ways CBG may help, according to research:
- Pain & Inflammation: 2021 research from King’s College in London, England found that CBG may have anti-inflammatory effects [3]. Anecdotally, many people use CBG for physical discomfort.
- Anxiety: A 2022 survey conducted by prominent cannabinoid researcher Ethan Russo and colleagues found that many people use CBG for anxiety [4]. Respondents to the survey reported that CBG was highly effective. Anecdotally, CBG is a beneficial choice for promoting a calm, anxiety-free mind due to its uplifting, yet focusing properties.
- Energy & Focus: A 2021 survey published in the International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine found that many people with attention disorders improved their focus after using products that contained a mix of CBG and cannabidiol (CBD) [5]. Anecdotally, CBG helps many people focus because of its uplifting, yet not distracting effects.
- Neurological Health: CBG has been researched for various neurological disorders. Research from Konkuk University in South Korea found that CBG may slow the progression of neurological problems [6].
- Appetite: In a 2016 study, scientists at the University of Reading found that CBG may increase appetite. They concluded that CBG has therapeutic potential as an appetite stimulant [7].
Does CBG Get You High?
No, CBG won’t get you high like THC does. However, it will promote feelings of energy and mental clarity. Many people liken the effects of CBG to caffeinated coffee: uplifting, but in a smooth, focused way.
And not only will CBG not get you high: taking CBG and THC together can actually reduce the unwanted side effects of THC, such as anxiety and paranoia. Adding CBG to your THC can make for a more uplifting, energizing, functional high.
This is the entourage effect in action: the theory that cannabinoids provide more benefits and have fewer side effects when they’re taken together.
CBG Side Effects & Safety Considerations
CBG is generally considered well-tolerated and safe to consume. However, some users may experience the following side effects after using CBG:
- Dry mouth
- Sleepiness
- Increased appetite
- Dry eyes
- Digestive upset
- Dizziness
- Headache
Most of these side effects can be avoided through careful dosing, and many of our customers report never feeling them in the first place. Still, they’re important to be aware of.
How to Stay Safe With CBG Products on Drug Tests
CBG by itself isn’t a drug testing risk, but it often comes packaged in products that are – such as full-spectrum CBG products and CBG flower.
While the CBG-THC cannabinoid combination can be immensely beneficial, you’ll want to avoid it before a drug test.
But apart from the obvious, here a few tips to stay safe with CBG products before a drug test:
- Use a CBG topical: Topicals are applied on the skin, rather than consumed. Therefore, they won’t deliver cannabinoids to your bloodstream and don’t pose the same risk that orally consumed products do.
- Opt for CBG isolate: CBG isolate is a type of extract that’s only CBG, with no other cannabinoids. While we recommend avoiding orally-consumed CBG altogether before a test, if you’re going to use CBG, use CBG isolate products to minimize your chance of consuming THC.
- Buy lab-tested products: To ensure the CBG isolate or other product you’re consuming doesn’t contain THC, only buy it if it’s been 3rd-party lab tested and proven to be THC-free. A lab test is your best assurance of the cannabinoid composition of a product.
Conclusion: How to Stay Safe on Drug Tests
The only way to absolutely guarantee your CBG product won’t cause you to fail a drug test is to avoid consuming it. Many CBG products contain THC, and even those that aren’t supposed to may hold trace amounts of this psychoactive compound.
But if you’re using CBG for a major therapeutic purpose and can’t afford to stop using it in the weeks leading up to a test, opting for CBG topicals and CBG isolate products will greatly reduce the chance that THC finds its way into your body.
CBG on Drug Tests: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some questions customers commonly ask us about CBG and drug tests.
Will CBG show up on a probation drug test?
Typically, court-ordered drug tests for probation use a 5-panel or 10-panel drug test, both of which screen for marijuana (with the target analyte being THC). As such, CBG isn’t screened for on probation drug tests. However, CBG is detectable in urine, and some CBG products contain trace amounts of THC, so it’s always best to play it safe if you have a probation drug test coming up.
Will CBG show up on a 10-panel drug test?
10-panel drug tests screen for THC, but they don’t screen for CBG. However, full-spectrum CBG products and CBG flower contain THC, so you’ll want to avoid these products before taking a 10-panel test.
Will CBG show up on a urine test?
While CBG is detectable in urine, it isn’t typically screened for in urine tests. However, we recommend avoiding CBG products before drug tests due to the possibility that they contain THC.
Does the military test for CBG?
The drug tests used by the military screen for THC, not CBG. However, The Army Substance Abuse Program prohibits the use of hemp-derived cannabinoids, of which CBG is one.
How long does CBG stay in your system?
CBG may stay in your system for anywhere from 24 hours to several weeks. Once off users typically clear CBG in 24-48 hours, whereas frequent users may need several weeks to clear CBG.
Is CBG federally legal?
Yes, CBG is federally legal as of the 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized all cannabinoids in the United States as long as they are derived from hemp.
Sources
[1] Russo, Ethan B et al. “Survey of Patients Employing Cannabigerol-Predominant Cannabis Preparations: Perceived Medical Effects, Adverse Events, and Withdrawal Symptoms.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 7,5 (2022): 706-716. doi:10.1089/can.2021.0058
[2] Hidvégi, E, and G P Somogyi. “Detection of cannabigerol and its presumptive metabolite in human urine after Cannabis consumption.” Die Pharmazie vol. 65,6 (2010): 408-11.
[3] Robaina Cabrera, Carmen Lorena et al. “The anti-inflammatory effects of cannabidiol and cannabigerol alone, and in combination.” Pulmonary pharmacology & therapeutics vol. 69 (2021): 102047. doi:10.1016/j.pupt.2021.102047
[4] Russo, Ethan B et al. “Survey of Patients Employing Cannabigerol-Predominant Cannabis Preparations: Perceived Medical Effects, Adverse Events, and Withdrawal Symptoms.” Cannabis and cannabinoid research vol. 7,5 (2022): 706-716. doi:10.1089/can.2021.0058
[5] Kaufmann, Robert. (2021). Nano-processed CBG/CBD effect on pain, adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder, irritable bowel syndrome and chronic fatigue syndrome. International Journal of Complementary & Alternative Medicine. 14. 235-240. 10.15406/ijcam.2021.14.00567.
[6] More, Sandeep Vasant, and Dong-Kug Choi. “Promising cannabinoid-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease: motor symptoms to neuroprotection.” Molecular neurodegeneration vol. 10 17. 8 Apr. 2015, doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0012-0
[7] Brierley, Daniel I et al. “Cannabigerol is a novel, well-tolerated appetite stimulant in pre-satiated rats.” Psychopharmacology vol. 233,19-20 (2016): 3603-13. doi:10.1007/s00213-016-4397-4
