AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2020 - 114

NEWS & NOTES

PILOT PROTECTION SERVICES

CBD oil:
FAA zerotolerance policy

PROFESSIONAL PILOT?

Don't put your certificate at risk
BY IAN ARENDT
IF YOU ARE A USER OF cannabidiol (CBD) oil,
Federal Air Surgeon Michael A. Berry has
a warning for you: "Use of CBD oil is not
accepted as an affirmative defense against
a positive drug test."
Despite its legalization in some states,
only one CBD product has been approved
for medicinal use by the Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) to treat rare forms
of epilepsy, and it requires a prescription.
No commercially available CBD oil has been
approved for use by the FDA; therefore,
commercially available CBD oil is not subject to the same quality control standards as
other FDA-approved substances.
Since it is not subject to FDA quality
control, commercially available CBD oil
may contain other substances inconsistent
with its labeling, such as tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-the compound responsible for
marijuana's euphoric and mind-altering
effects. Pilots should be aware that FAArequired drug tests routinely check for the
presence of THC. Therefore, pilots utilizing
commercially available CBD oil are at risk of
testing positive for THC (or other prohibited substances) and may be putting their
medical and airmen certificates at risk.

The federal air surgeon clarified that the
FAA will not consider the use of commercially available CBD oil as a defense against
a positive drug test. If you have tested positive on an FAA drug test, call the AOPA
Legal Services Plan at 800-872-2672.
IAN ARENDT is an in-house attorney for the

AOPA legal services plan.

aopa.org/pps

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to help professional pilots like you.
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NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF MEMBERS
The annual meeting of the members of the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
will be held at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 21, 2020, at the headquarters of AOPA, 421
Aviation Way, Frederick, Maryland, 21701, located on Frederick Municipal Airport
(FDK), for the purpose of receiving reports and transacting such other business as
may properly come before the meeting, specifically including the election of trustees. If you are not able to attend, but would like to appoint your voting proxy, please
visit www.aopa.org/myaccount or call 1-800-872-2672.
-Justine A. Harrison, Secretary

CONTACT AOPA
ADDRESS CHANGE?

Send your new address and AOPA
membership number to AOPA:
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, Maryland 21701-4798
Fax: 301-695-2375
aopa.org
TOLL-FREE PILOT
INFORMATION CENTER

800-USA-AOPA (872-2672)
pilotassist@aopa.org

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AOPA PILOT INFORMATION CENTER HOURS

Do you have questions or need information about an aviation topic? Access the team of aviation experts in our Pilot Information Center
during our convenient weekday hours. Call 800-USA-AOPA (872-2672) Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. until 6 p.m. Eastern time, with
your questions and our staff will be happy to assist you.
Visit the website (aopa.org/membership) to learn about upgrading to our higher levels of membership with Pilot Protection Services
coverage included.
114 | AOPA PILOT April 2020

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AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of AOPA Pilot Magazine - April 2020