Driving and CBD: What are the Risks and Laws?

How Does CBD Impact Driving?

The term "cannabis" is fairly inclusive and refers to a wide range of formulations and chemicals (referred to as cannabinoids). Although not all kinds have an impact on driving, one chemical in particular does. Many prescriptions for medical cannabis include the therapeutic cannabinoid tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). While it is safe to take as prescribed by your doctor, there are special restrictions regarding it for drivers because it can have intoxicating effects in some amounts. THC may affect how well you drive, according to studies. For instance, drivers could react more slowly. However, not all cannabis usage impairs one's ability to drive. An isolated cannabidiol (CBD) product falls within the category of THC-free items that are not euphoric. Many people use CBD isolation products, so their use of a vehicle is not hampered by their medical condition.

Driving Under the Influence of Medical Cannabis? 

This all relies on the ingredients in your prescription. It is advised to avoid driving after taking a THC-containing cannabis product because it is unlawful to do so in Australia. This law applies to all intoxicating substances, including THC. The same holds if you have a high tolerance to THC and don't always experience its euphoric effects. How long you must wait after consumption is not governed by any strict guidelines. Everyone is unique. How long do you have to wait then? There is no simple solution because it differs for each person. THC may be found in your system even if you don't believe the effects haven't left your system after 12 hours. If you are a frequent or heavy user, this period may be significantly longer (days or weeks). THC is metabolised and stored by each person's body extremely differently. Your body will process (excrete) in a certain amount of time depending on the administration route, usage duration, metabolism, and body composition. As a chemical that is lipid-soluble, THC can accumulate in your fatty tissues. Even if you hadn't used a THC-containing substance recently before the test, this might result in a positive drug test. You could test positive even if you're not impaired.

However, when it comes to driving and CBD isolate cannabis oil, there are no after-effects that make it difficult to function. Consequently, using CBD-only cannabis oils, liquids, pills, or sprays won't affect your ability to operate a motor vehicle safely.  Understanding the difference between a low-THC or full-spectrum CBD product and a CBD isolate product is crucial since the latter still puts you at risk of testing positive even if there is little chance of impairment. Some have claimed that current driving regulations discriminate against patients. The best way for politicians to strike a compromise between patient rights and traffic safety is still up for debate. For the time being, cannabis patients should chat with their doctor if they have any concerns regarding their prescription and driving. 

Driving After Consuming CBD Oil?

Regarding cannabis oil, there is a caveat with CBD isolate products for driving. According to the Centre for Cannabis Research, you can lawfully drive a car if your prescription is for an isolate CBD-only product. This is so because there is no proof, based on science, that CBD impairs cognitive function, task performance, or response speed. According to research, CBD does not affect a person's capacity to drive safely. CBD may, in a tiny proportion of users, make you sleepy or momentarily reduce your blood pressure. If you're unsure, speak with your medical marijuana physician to clarify the prescription and go through the results.

Driving and Medical Cannabis in Australia

A roadside drug test may be positive if the medicinal cannabis tested positive for THC. Most areas in Australia state that it is now illegal to drive while having THC in one's blood or oral fluid. The use of therapeutic cannabis that results in a positive driving drug test has no legal exemption or justification. THC and CBD are explicitly distinguished in New South Wales. Driving while under the influence of THC is prohibited for people who have prescriptions containing it. However, if one is not intoxicated and is using a CBD isolation medicine (i.e., one that contains no THC), driving is legal.

Do Patients Have to Pass Drug Tests on the Roadside?

If a police officer believes you are intoxicated, you may be stopped and given a THC test. This is true for medicinal cannabis patients as well. Additionally, you can encounter a random drug addict on the road. Even while exhibiting no symptoms of impairment you can still be subject to a test. Your saliva may be tested by the police. The test is then brought to their car, where it is quickly evaluated. If your THC test results are positive, more lab testing may be required for confirmation. Testing of the blood and/or urine may be included. The drug, the volume, and the state or territory all have an impact on the penalties for driving while under the influence.

Future of Driving and CBD Oil

There are a lot of generalizations concerning cannabis oil and driving, but the subject is considerably more complicated than that. Always speak with your doctor directly about your unique case. Patients must comprehend their prescriptions and their contents. The first step is understanding how THC and CBD differ from one another and how they both have unique impacts. If you have enquiries concerning cannabis oil and driving, speak with your doctor. They will be pleased to explain your prescription to you in more detail. 

According to a recent study, cannabidiol (CBD) devoid of the intoxicating compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) doesn't affect one's ability to drive. But according to the experts, THC alone can cause a slight 4-hour driving impairment. It is the first study, according to researchers from the University of Melbourne, that demonstrates that CBD devoid of its active intoxicant does not affect a person's capacity to drive safely.

For health-related reasons, millions of people have resorted to cannabis and CBD in recent years. It is used by medical professionals to treat epilepsy, lessen the effects of chronic pain, as well as to lessen anxiety and depression. This rise occurs despite recent worries that marijuana's strength and possible addiction problems may be getting stronger. There was no evidence to suggest that CBD would pose a driving risk, but the study likely included it because it had not yet been studied. 

There is a significant corpus of research on the dangers of THC consumption while driving. The findings of that literature, nevertheless, are utterly inconsistent, ranging from no excess risk to mild excess risk. According to some research, driving when high on cannabis is roughly twice as risky as driving while inebriated, but drinking alcohol increases the risk eight times, the author pointed out.

Recent Study on CBD and Driving

In the latest study, four distinct kinds of vaporised cannabis were administered four times to 26 healthy volunteers in a random sequence. Additionally, they received various CBD and THC mixtures. Then, in a dual-control automobile with a driving instructor, each participant's driving abilities were evaluated over a 100-kilometre length of a public highway in real-world circumstances. They underwent testing for four hours. The majority of prior studies, according to researchers, examined smoked cannabis that contained solely THC and did not consider the length of impairment. The main limitation was that there weren't many subjects. The amounts studied might not be typical dosage, and the impact magnitude for CBD-dominant cannabis may not have precluded clinically meaningful impairment.

After oral intake, systemic absorption is rather sluggish compared to smoking and inhaling, leading to a maximum THC plasma concentration after 1 to 2 hours, however, this might be extended by a few hours in some circumstances. Cannabis effects that are consumed orally may last far longer than those that are smoked or vaporised. The THC side of this is the actual story. The early period of THC usage carried a risk. Although this may be statistically significant when compared to a placebo, it is doubtful that this accurately reflects any real-world issue. A vehicle departure of two inches or less would often not be enough to prevent a deadly collision. 26 subjects were sufficient to attain statistical significance, but not in practical situations.

The most often given response seems to be that further evidence that CBD is a wonder drug with no risks. In actuality, this study does not examine CBD at safe dosages, nor is there any justification for doing so. Other, even more, serious concerns associated with CBD include medication interactions. These outcomes, nevertheless, will be employed to encourage CBD sales.