Staying Safe: CBD Oil And Driving

An increasing number of people in the UK have been introducing CBD into their daily routines after hearing of the potential benefits that it could have, and with the current market now worth over £400M, it is highly likely that this is set to increase even further within the next few years.

Due to the growing exposure and popularity of the substance, this naturally comes with plenty of questions, both from users as well as those who are interested in CBD and whether or not it could work for them. One widely asked question that is particularly important when it comes to safety is whether or not you can drive after using CBD oil. This is a subject that we are keen to explore further so that we can continue to give our readers accurate information regarding safety and when and where this product should be used.

What is CBD oil?

Short for Cannabidiol, CBD is one of over 100 chemical compounds found in the cannabis plant. A number of research studies report that it can interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system – a network of receptors found in the brain and nervous systems – to help regulate a number of different bodily functions. It is a naturally occurring substance that can be used in products such as edibles, balms and oils.

CBD oil is typically sold in the form of drops and is usually taken orally by the user. There are many reported benefits of taking CBD oil, however as the substance has not yet been classified as a food, medicine or cosmetic product, we cannot make any direct claims about the effects that it could have on the body. Instead, we continue to look at any reported effects objectively to increase our knowledge of the substance even further.

Can you drive on CBD oil?

There is often a large amount of confusion surrounding whether or not it is acceptable to drive after taking CBD oil, as the cannabis plant is often associated with Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC for short, which is a psychoactive compound found within the plant. The ‘high’ feeling that one might experience when using cannabis is usually associated with THC, which is an illegal substance, so it is easy to see why individuals might associate CBD with the same feeling.

However, CBD oil is non-psychoactive and should contain an extremely low amount of THC at the very most. It is a legal requirement that less than 1mg of THC should be present in any CBD products in order for them to be sold on the market, so providing that your chosen oil fits in with this, you will not experience any psychoactive effects when taking the substance. In addition to this, there are no laws in place which prevent individuals from driving after taking CBD or question its safety. Therefore, we can conclude that it is perfectly safe to drive after taking CBD oil that doesn’t contain any controlled substances such as THC.

CBD oil and driving: What you need to know

Of course, driving is an activity that requires our undivided attention, and while CBD oil is considered safe to consume and is mostly tolerated well by people, there is still a minute possibility that side effects could occur. While these are very rare and usually extremely mild, it’s important for users to consider their own tolerance to the substance along with the way that their body reacts to it, as they would for any other food or supplement. This will allow them to assess whether or not the CBD oil is causing any adverse effects, in which case they should stop taking it immediately.

One particular side effect that could have an effect on your driving is drowsiness. Generally caused by taking a high dose of CBD oil or taking too much too quickly, drowsiness can be an extremely dangerous possible side effect when it comes to driving as it is likely to impair your cognitive ability somewhat, so knowing which dose works for you is a vital piece of information that you will need to know before jumping into the driver’s seat. Overall, it’s all about knowing your limits, so every individual is different.

Another important issue to note is that although CBD oil is indeed legal, there are many companies out there who value profit over providing quality products, so it’s important to do your research in order to ensure that you purchase from a well-established company. If a product isn’t of high quality or contains more than 1mg of THC, this could cause issues such as side effects to arise when you are driving, posing a risk to yourself and other road users. Furthermore, if the police have reason to believe that a driver is under the influence of an illegal substance such as THC, they reserve the right to ask them to perform a field impairment assessment.

To avoid issues like this from occurring, it is beneficial to know how to be able to spot an untrustworthy CBD oil company so that you are able to purchase the best products out there. Any brand that claims that its products bring about specific medical or health benefits is one to be wary of because there currently aren’t any approved health benefits for any CBD product in Europe, so any company that does do this is, unfortunately, selling unlawfully.

Driving after taking CBD oil is both legal and safe, so there is no reason to feel as though you cannot do it. You simply need to be cautious when it comes to the products that you buy and ensure that you establish the right dose for you before you consider driving after taking it.

At Holistic Herb, we offer our customers premium CBD products that have a vastly superior Total Bioavailability, which promises a more efficient product along with value for money.

Find the product that is best for you by taking a look at our range of CBD oil, or learn more about CBD by continuing to read our blog.