CBD weed is hemp flowers with a lot of CBD and little THC. CBD itself is not considered intoxicating. The flowers still contain THC, just less than ordinary cannabis.
Under the Consumer Cannabis Act (KCanG), plants count as industrial hemp if, among other things, their THC content does not exceed 0.3 per cent. There is also a second condition: the trade must serve commercial or scientific purposes “that rule out misuse for intoxication” (§ 1 no. 9 KCanG). Anything that is not industrial hemp counts as cannabis in law.
Why some people feel high. 0.3 per cent means up to 3 milligrams of THC in one gram of flowers. Anyone who feels intoxicated after CBD weed has probably taken in more THC than they thought, or a different substance. It becomes dangerous if flowers have been sprayed with synthetic cannabinoids. This also happens with CBD flowers and cannot be recognised with the naked eye.
Drug tests. Urine tests do not look for CBD but for THC-COOH, a breakdown product of THC. In a small study with six people, pure CBD did not show up in the urine test. After vaporising CBD-rich flowers containing 3.7 milligrams of THC just once, however, several samples were positive, including in the confirmatory analysis in the lab.
Road traffic. At the wheel, THC is what counts, not CBD. Anyone who drives a motor vehicle with 3.5 ng/ml of THC or more in their blood serum commits an administrative offence (§ 24a para. 1a StVG). CBD flowers contain THC too.
Remember: CBD weed is not THC-free. A positive drug test is possible.
More on this: What is the difference between THC and CBD? · What are synthetic cannabinoids and HHC? · How long does cannabis stay in your system? · What does the 3.5 ng/ml limit mean?
Sources
- Konsumcannabisgesetz (Consumer Cannabis Act, KCanG), § 1 nos. 8 and 9
- Spindle et al. (2020): Urinary Pharmacokinetic Profile of Cannabinoids Following Administration of Vaporized and Oral Cannabidiol and Vaporized CBD-Dominant Cannabis. Journal of Analytical Toxicology 44(2)
- Straßenverkehrsgesetz (Road Traffic Act, StVG), § 24a
- drugcom.de (BIÖG): Drogenlexikon, entry Cannabidiol