The major difference between CBD (cannabidiol) products and marijuana is the amount of psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) they contain.
That’s the key fact to know when you’re wondering “Is it legal to drive on CBD?” It is, because CBD products are fully legal in the UK as long as they contain less than one mg per container of THC (usually about a 0.2% concentration). There are no laws prohibiting driving after CBD use, and reputable studies have concluded that CBD has no negative impact on driving ability.
Three other questions are just as important, though. Here are the short answers. We’ll dig into the longer answers, after some background information that helps explain why the answers aren’t cut and dried. THC, the active component in marijuana, is a controlled substance and illegal in Britain. CBD is not. CBD products may contain a small amount of THC but are generally legal to use, because they usually contain only a small amount of THC. If that sounds confusing, read on. THC and CBD are cannabinoids, two of more than 100 of those chemical compounds found in plants belonging to the species Cannabis sativa. Both the hemp plant and the cannabis plant are members of that species; in fact, they’re often called “the same plant.” They’re not quite the same, though. CBD products available legally in the UK (like CBD oil, CBD gummies or edibles, and CBD products for vaping) are sourced from industrial hemp. Hemp has naturally low levels of THC, and as mentioned, the government strictly limits the amount of the psychoactive cannabinoid allowed in cannabidiol. You can’t get high from CBD and it shouldn’t affect your driving. Marijuana is sourced from the cannabis plant (sometimes called the cannabis sativa plant), which contains much higher levels of THC — often 20% or more, compared to the 2% in CBD products. The well-known euphoric and trippy effects that most weed users experience are likely to affect driving performance and reaction times at best, and cause drowsiness at worst. Marijuana, of course, is illegal to use recreationally under UK law, and it’s illegal to drive while impaired by the effects of cannabis(even if you’re a medical user). No driving laws specifically govern CBD use, but since the law refers to “drink or drugs,” driving after consuming cannabidiol could theoretically put you into a grey area that’s important to understand. Let’s get to those questions we asked earlier. Probably, but since CBD was only legalised in recent years, some may not know that cannabidiol only has trace amounts of THC. And most are unlikely to know that research published in the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded there was no difference in driving ability between subjects who vaped CBD and those who vaped a placebo substance. However, that’s not really what police are concerned about if they stop you. Chances are good that you were pulled over because they saw you driving erratically and wanted to determine if you were under the influence of alcohol or drugs. So, while some may want to grill you about marijuana use, most simply want to know if you’re capable of driving safely. They’ll probably look for warning signs like slurred speech or sleepiness, neither of which are common side effects of CBD, even high doses of CBD. If they’re not certain that you are fit to drive, though, you may have to take a roadside drug test. The first step in the drug screening is usually to look for signs of impairment by inspecting your pupils and seeing if you can walk in a straight line. Next, they may take a sample of your saliva to be screened for multiple drugs, including cocaine, opioids, meth — and cannabis. The latter can be detected in saliva for about 12 hours. Most CBD users should have no trouble passing the test, as long as they haven’t also used other drugs (including some prescription medications like clonazepam and diazepam over the legal limits). Here’s the grey area we’ve alluded to, though. Despite government regulations mandating only trace amounts of THC in all CBD sold legally, it’s theoretically possible that some vendors sell products that (knowingly or unknowingly) contain higher levels of the psychoactive cannabinoid. CBD can also be illegally sourced from the cannabis plant, making it more likely that it would have high THC levels. In short, British law — and police officers — don’t care whether you’ve used CBD products. It only matters whether you test above the legal limit (which for blood, is two micrograms of THC per liter). Chances are extremely slim that you’d ever test positive for THC after using legal CBD products. However, it’s important to know that “extremely slim” isn’t “zero.” If you’re using CBD for its possible health benefits, or because you believe it will improve your general health and wellness, there’s one way to be positive you won’t be stopped and penalized for driving under the influence of THC: choose broad-spectrum CBD or CBD isolate products. Unlike full-spectrum CBD, which contains THC and all of the other cannabinoids and chemicals found in hemp, THC is removed from broad-spectrum and isolate cannabidiol products. High-quality vendors usually sell one or both types of CBD, allowing you to enjoy all of the potential benefits with none of the potential worries about traffic stops. That brings us to our final question. It is for the vast majority of people, as shown by the research we’ve cited. It’s generally safe to use heavy machinery, too, since legal cannabidiol does not produce intoxication or other forms of physical or cognitive impairment. It’s a good idea, though, to avoid driving after you take CBD, or any other medication or drug for the first time. That will allow you to be certain that you won’t experience any unusual and unwanted side effects — and it will give you the confidence you need to get behind the wheel whenever you use CBD.
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CBD is Legal, But Marijuana Isn’t
Do Police Know It’s Legal to Drive After Using CBD?
What Happens When You’re Required to Take a Drug Test After CBD Use?
Even If Driving After CBD Use Is Legal, Is It Safe?
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