Federal LEO Retires After Testing Positive for THC from CBD Product

A federal law enforcement officer chose to retire after he reportedly failed a drug test after using a cannabidiol (CBD) product to relieve severe lower back pain.

According to NBC News , CBD products such as balms and liquids are derived from the cannabis plant but do not make users "high" despite the fact that federal law allows hemp-derived CBD to contain trace amounts of THC, the psychoactive compound found in marijuana.

The officer—who asked NBC News to remain anonymous—said that his is a cautionary tale for others in positions which could be compromised by testing positive for THC.

"It just makes you feel like you're a bad person—you wasted your career," he said. "They can't prove that I smoked marijuana, and I can't prove that I didn't."

The federal division that oversees drug testing for federal employees sent a memo this summer directing agencies "to inform applicants and employees of the risk that using such products may result in a positive marijuana test." The memo reminded employers "there is no legitimate medical explanation for a marijuana-positive test result other than a verified prescription" for a few FDA-approved drugs.