CBD and Driving: Is it legal? Is it Safe?
Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
Introduction
CBD's acceleration in popularity seems to be showing no signs of putting on the brakes (sorry for the dad joke – we couldn'help ourselves).
But as its use begins to spread far and wide, we see more caution and questions being asked. This is fantastic news for us, as we get to answer them all for you!
One of the questions we get asked a lot is, “CBD and driving: Is it legal? Is it Safe?”
For those who already know what CBD is, the answer will be obvious. But, for those of you who are new to the world of CBD, it's a very sensible question to ask! So, let us jump right into it…
Can You Drive After Taking CBD?
The answer is a very simple, straightforward YES.
It is perfectly legal and perfectly safe to drive whilst taking CBD oil, or any CBD products for that matter.
So, if this is such an easy question to answer, where does all the confusion come from? And why are so many people still asking the question?
Let's explore it a little further…
CBD is NOT the Same as Cannabis.
CBD's association with the cannabis plant is probably the number one reason, for people asking if it's safe to drive whilst taking.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a cannabinoid that is extracted from hemp plants, that are grown specifically to contain high levels of CBD. Cannabis plants are a derivative of hemp, that has been grown specifically to contain high levels of THC. This is a crucial difference. It is the cannabinoid THC in cannabis, that makes people feel high when they smoke or eat it.
You'll be pleased to hear that all CBD products sold legally in the UK and Europe, have absolutely no psychoactive effects. Therefore, they will not impact the way that you feel. It will not affect your brain or affect your decision-making, your coordination or impair your ability to drive a vehicle whatsoever.
This is because all CBD products sold legally in the UK and Europe, must have a THC content of less than 0.2%. THC levels of 0.2% or less are well under the amount that could ever produce a psychoactive effect. However, we are making the distinction here between LEGAL CBD products and ILLEGAL CBD products.
ALWAYS Buy CBD from a Licensed Seller.
If you choose to buy CBD from an unlicensed, untested supplier, you can never be sure that their products contain the legal levels of THC. CBD oils from these types of sellers may contain much higher THC levels, which is often intentionally the case.
Therefore, if you consume CBD oil from unlicensed sellers, you could be consuming THC levels that make it both illegal and dangerous to drive.
Will CBD Oil Affect My Ability to Drive?
A new 2020 study put this very question to the test.
Researchers wanted to test whether CBD alone had any negative impairment on a person's ability to drive. This was made to the comparison of placebo and THC.
The researchers found the consumption of CBD alone had no significant difference compared to the controlled placebo group. They also confirmed the widely known adverse effects that THC can have on a person's ability to drive. This suggested that these effects last for approximately 4 hours.
This is excellent news for anyone who may have still been unsure about taking CBD before driving. The study is the first of its kind to confirm, in a controlled setting, that CBD and driving are perfectly safe.
More and more people using CBD to treat a wide range of health problems such as chronic pain, epilepsy, inflammation, as well as general health and wellbeing. It's fantastic to see a confirmation of its safety when driving finally.
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A Note of Caution for First Time Users
If you are thinking of taking CBD for the first time, then this small note of caution is for you. When beginning a course of CBD oil for the first time, a small percentage of users may experience some minor side effects. You can also download our Free E-Book to learn all you need to know about CBD
The most common of these are a dry mouth, slight dizziness, and some nausea. We have a whole featured blog post on possible side effects of CBD, which you can read by clicking here.
Whilst 99% of CBD oil users won't experience any side effects, it is always sensible to be cautious when taking any supplement for the first time. We always recommended people starting out, to begin with, a lower-strength CBD oil. Start at a low dose to assess tolerance before building up gradually, to find a balance that works for you. This also helps most people avoid any side effects.
And even then, most people who experience minor side effects to start with find that they disappear after a short while of continued use (a few days to a week generally).
If you have started taking CBD and feel as though you are experiencing a side effect that may impair your ability to drive safely – do the sensible thing and don't.
A Note of Caution for Professional Athletes and if you are being drug tested for work!
If you take a full-spectrum CBD product that includes the legal 0.2% THC, you have to be aware that you could potentially test positive for Cannabis/Marijuana. The micro amounts of THC can get stored in your fat cells. The tests used in 2021 (believe it or not) ONLY tests if THC is present, NOT the amount….. So if you are dependent on regular drug tests at for or in your sports club, please choose a Broad Spectrum CBD product ( has no THC).
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Athlete MCT/CBD oil 7%€35.00 -
Athlete MCT/CBD oil 18%€90.00
I am a certified expert in Medicinal Cannabis. We are all about giving correct and trustworthy information. We know how important it is to learn about CBD and cannabis, which is why we want to be your go-to source for trustworthy information. We help you improve your health by using our knowledge and experience as a starting point.
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