WHY IT MATTERS: If drug testing standards are not updated to reflect the legal complexity of hemp and medical cannabis, patients following their physician’s recommendations could face wrongful termination, DUI charges, or loss of professional licenses. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Federal agencies are raising concerns about the reliability of drug tests in distinguishing between medical cannabis use and hemp-derived CBD products, which presents a significant challenge for patients, employers, and legal systems. Because both hemp and cannabis can produce detectable THC metabolites, standard immunoassay screening tests cannot reliably differentiate between incidental hemp exposure and intentional cannabis use.