Does Hemp Milk Have CBD? What’s Really in Hemp Seed Milk
Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds, which don't naturally contain CBD or THC. Here's why it has trace amounts at most, and what that means for drug tests.
- Evidence
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- No ✓
- Checked
- Nov 2026
No meaningful amount. Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds, which the FDA says don't naturally contain CBD or THC; only traces may be picked up during processing.
No, regular hemp milk does not contain a meaningful amount of CBD. Hemp milk is made from hemp seeds, and the FDA says hemp seeds do not naturally contain CBD or THC; any traces come from contact with the rest of the plant during harvesting and processing. Unless a product clearly says CBD was added, hemp milk is a plant-based drink, not a CBD product.
- The hemp plant makes CBD in a sticky resin on the outside of the plant, not inside the seeds that hemp milk is made from.
- The FDA says hemp seed ingredients contain only trace amounts of CBD and THC picked up during processing.
- In a lab study of 10 hemp seed oils, CBD levels were tiny, thousands of times lower than in a typical CBD oil.
- Hemp milk will not get you high, and research suggests normal hemp food use is unlikely to cause a confirmed positive drug test.
- The FDA says adding CBD to food sold across state lines is not legal, so “CBD milk” products are a gray area to be careful with.
What is hemp milk made from?
Hemp milk is a dairy-free drink made by blending hemp seeds, usually hulled (shelled) seeds called hemp hearts, with water. Store versions often add sweeteners, thickeners, flavors and added vitamins and minerals.
Hemp and marijuana are the same plant species, Cannabis sativa. The difference is THC content: under federal law, hemp is cannabis with very low levels of delta-9 THC, the compound that causes a high. Hemp seed foods such as hemp milk, hemp hearts, hemp protein powder and hemp seed oil all come from the seeds of these low-THC plants.
Why doesn’t hemp milk have CBD?
CBD (cannabidiol) is a cannabinoid, one of many compounds the cannabis plant makes. If you are new to it, see what is CBD? The plant makes cannabinoids in a sticky resin produced by tiny glands on its surface, including on the small leaves (bracts) that wrap around each seed.
The seeds themselves do not make cannabinoids. The FDA states plainly that “the seeds of the plant do not naturally contain THC or CBD.” A 2019 study in Frontiers in Plant Science explains how traces still end up in seed products: resin from the small leaves wrapped around each seed can stick to the outside of the shell. If seeds are cleaned well before processing, only traces of cannabinoids should remain.
CBD oil is a completely different product. It is extracted from resin-rich hemp plant material, not from cleaned seeds. You can read how that works in how CBD oil is made.
How much CBD is in hemp seed products?
Very little. No study we found has measured CBD in hemp milk specifically, but researchers have tested hemp seed oil, which is the fatty part of the seed that ends up in hemp milk.
In the 2019 study, scientists tested 10 commercial organic hemp seed oils. The highest CBD level was 1.53 micrograms per mL, and THC ranged from 0.02 to 0.27 micrograms per mL. Levels varied a lot from oil to oil, which the authors linked to hemp variety and how the seeds were processed. They also cited earlier work finding some hemp seed oils with much higher levels, so cleaning matters.
To put that in perspective, here is a rough comparison with a CBD oil labeled 1,000 mg per 30 mL bottle (an example strength, not a recommendation):
| Product | Where it comes from | CBD content |
|---|---|---|
| Hemp milk | Hemp seeds blended with water | Not measured in studies; expected to be trace at most, since it contains only part of the seed oil |
| Hemp seed oil (highest of 10 tested) | Pressed hemp seeds | About 1.5 micrograms per mL |
| Example CBD oil (1,000 mg / 30 mL) | Extract from hemp plant material | About 33,300 micrograms (33.3 mg) per mL |
By that math, the example CBD oil holds more than 20,000 times as much CBD per mL as the highest-testing hemp seed oil. Hemp milk, which is mostly water, would have even less. For more on the seed-oil-versus-extract confusion, see hemp oil vs CBD oil.
Can hemp milk get you high or make you fail a drug test?
Hemp milk will not get you high. Traces of THC in hemp seed foods are far too small for that. Read does CBD get you high? for how THC and CBD differ.
Drug tests are a fair question, because most look for a THC breakdown product. A 2001 study in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology had 15 adults consume hemp seed oil daily for 10-day periods at THC levels typical of hemp foods at the time. At the highest daily amount (0.6 mg of THC), one urine sample screened positive, but no sample came close to the confirmation cutoff used in federal workplace testing. The highest level found was 5.2 ng/mL, compared with the 15 ng/mL cutoff. The authors noted that 0.6 mg of THC a day equaled roughly 125 mL of hemp oil or 300 grams of hulled seeds at the THC levels they studied.
That study is old, and seed products vary, so it cannot promise a result for every brand. If you are tested for work, sports or the military, read does CBD show up on a drug test? and consider skipping hemp foods before a test.
Important: Drinks sold as “CBD milk,” “CBD latte” or “hemp milk with CBD” are not the same as plain hemp milk. The FDA says it is illegal to sell food with added CBD in interstate commerce, so these products are not federally approved, and their CBD and THC content may not match the label. Hemp and CBD laws vary by state and are changing, so check your state’s current rules.
Is hemp milk legal and safe to drink?
Yes, plain hemp seed foods are treated differently from CBD. The FDA received safety notices (called GRAS notices, for “generally recognized as safe”) for three hemp seed ingredients: hulled hemp seed, hemp seed protein powder and hemp seed oil. The FDA says these can be legally marketed in human foods for those uses, as long as they meet all other requirements. It adds that this does not change its position that adding CBD or THC to food is not allowed.
As with any food, people with a seed allergy or specific diet needs should check the ingredient list.
What does hemp milk offer nutritionally?
Hemp milk’s nutrition comes from the seeds, and from whatever the maker adds. Hemp seeds themselves are rich in fat and protein. According to the USDA’s FoodData Central, 100 grams of hulled hemp seeds contain about 553 calories, 31.6 grams of protein and 48.8 grams of fat.
A glass of hemp milk contains only a small amount of seed blended into water, so its nutrition is much lower and varies widely by brand. Many store brands add calcium and vitamins, while homemade versions do not. Compare Nutrition Facts labels if you are using hemp milk to replace dairy milk.
How can you tell if a hemp product contains CBD?
Labels with the word “hemp” can be confusing. Use this quick check:
- Read the ingredient list. Plain hemp milk lists hemp seeds (or hemp hearts) and water. Look for words like “cannabidiol,” “CBD,” “hemp extract” or “full-spectrum hemp.”
- Look for a milligram amount. Real CBD products state the CBD in milligrams per serving or per container. “Hemp seed” foods usually do not.
- Ask for a lab report. A CBD product should have a batch-specific certificate of analysis (COA) showing CBD and THC levels. No COA means you cannot verify what is inside.
- Be wary of health claims. The FDA has approved only one CBD drug, Epidiolex, for certain seizure disorders. Foods claiming to treat anxiety, pain or sleep problems are making unapproved claims.
Tip: If you actually want CBD, buy a product whose label states the CBD content and that has a COA, then use our CBD dosage calculator to work out how much is in each serving. If you want to make your own edibles, see how to make CBD gummies.
Frequently asked questions
Does hemp milk have THC?
Only possible traces. The FDA says hemp seeds do not naturally contain THC and that hemp seed ingredients contain only trace amounts picked up during harvesting and processing.
Will hemp milk relax me like CBD?
There is no reason to expect it to. Hemp milk has little to no CBD, and evidence for CBD’s calming effects is itself limited.
Is hemp milk the same as CBD milk?
No. Hemp milk is made from seeds. “CBD milk” has CBD extract added, which the FDA says is not legal to sell in food across state lines.
Can kids drink hemp milk?
Plain hemp seed foods are not CBD products, but hemp milk’s nutrition varies by brand and differs from dairy milk. Ask your pediatrician before using any plant milk as a main drink for a young child.
Do hemp hearts or hemp protein contain CBD?
Like hemp milk, they are made from seeds and contain at most trace amounts of CBD.
Sources
- FDA — FDA Regulation of Cannabis and Cannabis-Derived Products, Including CBD (questions on hemp seed ingredients and CBD in food)
- FDA — What You Need to Know About Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds, Including CBD
- Frontiers in Plant Science (via PMC) — Citti et al., Cannabinoid Profiling of Hemp Seed Oil by Liquid Chromatography Coupled to High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (2019)
- Journal of Analytical Toxicology (PubMed) — Leson et al., Evaluating the Impact of Hemp Food Consumption on Workplace Drug Tests (2001)
- USDA FoodData Central — Seeds, hemp seed, hulled
- NCCIH — Cannabis (Marijuana) and Cannabinoids: What You Need To Know
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