As the popularity of CBD oil to aid in various health and psychological issues grows, the market for it is expected to reach new highs around the world. With more and more people being interested in the benefits that CBD oil provides, there is growing concern over its interaction with people’s daily life activities, such as driving.
As CBD oil is considered to be related to cannabis plants and has certain properties which help people sleep(slight sedation), there are questions over is proving to be dangerous as well in cases where patients overdose on it and go on to drive on busy roads.
As we know that CBD is a cannabinoid component derived from the cannabis plant, it may have other properties of cannabis as well. CBD interacts with the human body’s serotonergic system, a newly discovered network of receptors and transmitters present in the nervous system that assist in regulating a variety of processes.
Utilizing CBD oil orally is similar to taking a multivitamin because it is not already present in our bodies. This relationship is highlighted because CBD ensures that our body gets all the nutrients it needs to work at its optimal levels.
CBD, unlike the other component of cannabis plants called tetrahydrocannabinol, does not provide the feeling that makes a person feel “high” or “stoned.” Hence, if consumed in a smaller amount, CBD oil does not prove to be dangerous during driving a car.
Does CBD oil damage one’s ability to drive safely?
Recent research suggests that CBD, without the psychoactive ingredient, does not impair one’s ability to drive. Contradictory to this research, another study suggests that CBD may have small amounts of THC, which may cause mild impairment that can last up to 4 hours.
The fact that CBD is a cannabinoid has nothing to do with the fact that it affects driving performance. However, the issue becomes evident from the fact that CBD oil helps in making people fall asleep easier, namely its sedation property. Evidence shows that this effect of CBD has been identified by almost 10 percent of American patients who have used CBD to help with sleep issues.
The effect of sedation has been recorded in multiple prior trials, but only when it was consumed in higher dosages; a low dosage did not improve people’s sleep ability. Since there is a lack of studies relating CBD oil consumption to driving, we can use CBD’s effect on sleep issues to build a relationship between driving a car and CBD.
By using the example of drugs that are intended to make you sleep at night, these drugs may lead to one’s driving ability being impaired. However, CBD is very different from such drugs; the effects of sedation, even if there are any, are more pronounced after a bit of time of consumption; hence there is little to no danger to one’s driving ability instantly after consuming hemp drops.
CBD, driving and police
It is illegal for patients to drive if they are using CBD medicines that have tetrahydrocannabinol content in them because this specific drug has the power to impair one’s driving ability by affecting necessary motor skills for safe driving, such as attention, judgment, memory, sight and coordination.
Patients who are taking CBD-only treatments are allowed to drive if they are not already affected by other issues, which could be a hindrance in a safe drive. However, patients should discuss whether they can drive after consuming CBD oil with their doctors or medical consultants because CBD oil can cause sleepiness, tiredness, and low blood pressure.
Tetrahydrocannabinol decreases driving performance and raises the chance of a car accident. These effects are more highlighted in people who consume THC regularly rather than people who occasionally consume it, and the effects can last up to 8 hours if THC is consumed orally. On the other hand, CBD oil does not appear to impair driving ability.
Patients who use medications that consist of THC should avoid driving and other dangerous things during the first few days of treatment and especially in the hours right after each dose. Patients may have a positive for THC even if they do not feel impaired, and patients who use medical cannabis are still subject to mobile (roadside) drug testing and the legal consequences that come with it.
The huge majority of research that has been conducted on the relationship between cannabis and driving has been focused on non-medicinal cannabis, namely tetrahydrocannabinol, and has involved young, healthy individuals who use large doses of THC for intoxicating purposes. In order to guide the legal policy departments effectively regarding policies on CBD and driving, there is a severe need for research on medical cannabis, CBD, and a person’s driving ability.
A recent assessment of individuals on long-term CBD treatment yielded some useful information. Due to reduced stiffness and/or increased cognitive function, the majority of these individuals reported that there was no change or an improvement in their self-reported driving abilities. After 4 to 6 weeks of treatment, most patients actually reported betterment in their driving abilities with the use of CBD.
Advantages of CBD that may actually improve one’s driving ability
- Pain relief: CBD oil gives relief from several types of pain, such as pain from chronic illnesses, severe migraines, arthritis, neurological problems etc. By getting relief from such pains, one may become more able to drive a car comfortably and smoothly without being at risk of any impairment.
- Reduces symptoms related to some mental disorders: CBD has proven to be helpful for patients experiencing symptoms like insomnia, headaches, agitation, and drowsiness etc. When these symptoms are reduced, the person may feel more at comfort and drive better than before.
- A way of treating some neurological diseases: There has been evidence that CBD oil has been effective in treating certain diseases such as epilepsy. As these diseases get treated, and patients experience some relief, they may be able to drive more often and be even better at it.
- May improve heart health: some studies show that CBD oil is able to lower patients’ blood pressure levels, and as high blood pressure levels are directly linked to heart problems, a low blood pressure level may help people, and they may be able to drive better with the help of CBD oil.
- Improves sleep; research has shown that consumption of hemp drops has been effective in helping people sleep better at night and fight their insomnia issues. If people sleep better at night, they may face less drowsiness and tiredness during the day, which may help them focus better while driving. This way, CBD helps one with driving a car.
What if a person is stopped by the police?
Owing to the research conducted in previous years, which has proven CBD oil to be a non-intoxicating substance, CBD has recently been removed from the list of illegal controlled substances in many countries. As a result of this, people in most states are allowed to drive after consuming CBD oil. However, there is still a limit on how much one can consume before driving because very large doses of it may lead to intoxication.
Although this is unusual, if an officer thinks that you are not able to drive properly, they may ask you to perform a test that shows whether you are impaired or not. An alternative to this test is an on-the-spot drug test which shows whether you are intoxicated or not. The test consists of a number of quick tasks, like walking in a straight line, that will indicate whether or not you are intoxicated.
You will fail the drug test if the content of THC in the CBD oil that you consumed is taking up a space of more than two milligrams per milliliter of blood. Hence, it shouldn’t make a person panic if you are stopped by the police after consuming CBD oil.
Conclusion
Driving is a difficult task that includes several complicated things one needs to do simultaneously. Driving can be harmed by any chemical that interferes with these functions. THC’s effects on driving are generally less and appear to be comparable to those of a small dose of alcohol. Patients who combine cannabis with alcohol or other dangerous drugs may have a more pronounced and potentially severe impairment.
Patients who are taking medicinal cannabis, which contains small amounts, should be advised to avoid driving and other sensitive tasks (such as operating machinery) throughout the commencement of therapy and in the hours following each dose. Even if they are not at a disadvantage, patients who use products containing them run the risk of testing positive for cannabis in their oral fluid. Although CBD is unlikely to relieve THC-induced impairment, CBD-only treatments appear to pose no traffic safety concern.
Hence it can be concluded that CBD oil and driving a car are two things that can have a positive relationship without being of any harm to the person. However, special consideration should be taken regarding the amount of CBD oil consumed, and the police will not be a threat to the person who has consumed CBD oil before driving.