When the question, Does delta 8 show up on drug tests? come up you need to know that Delta 8-tetrahydrocannabinol, more commonly referred to as simply delta 8 THC, is a minor cannabinoid that can be found in the cannabis plant. This cannabinoid is responsible for the cannabis plant’s psychoactive effects. It is very similar to delta-9 THC, the primary psychoactive compound that can be found in cannabis, but because of its lower potency, it is not considered to be psychoactive at all. This similarity does not mean that it is the same as delta-9 THC, however. Delta-8 THC is a legal alternative to delta-9 THC that has gained much traction in recent years and continues to grow in popularity. In spite of this, the question of whether or not it will show up on a drug test is a complicated one that requires a deeper understanding of both the substance that is being tested for as well as the testing methods that are utilized.
But What is Delta 9?
Delta 9 THC, not delta 8 THC, is the psychoactive component of marijuana that is tested in drug tests. As THC variations become more popular, drug tests can detect delta 8 THC and all other THC variations. This is because delta 8 THC is a metabolite of delta 9 THC, and specific drug tests can detect both substances at the same time.
Even though some drug tests, such as those involving urine, blood, and saliva, are unable to detect delta 8 THC, and even though standard drug tests, such as those involving urine, blood, and saliva, are not specifically designed to detect delta 8 THC, this does not mean that it will not show up in the results of the test. It is possible that some products labeled as having delta 8 THC actually contain the more potent delta 9 THC, which could result in positive results on a drug test. This is because delta 9 THC has a shorter half-life than delta 8 THC.
In addition, certain types of drug testing, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), are able to identify the presence of delta 8 THC. One example of a more sophisticated testing approach is presented here.
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