Do you know that the CBD industry has skyrocketed from 108 million in 2014 to around 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2022? CBD oil has gained much traction in the past few years due to its wide range of uses. But with the growing CBD industry, the question regarding this cannabinoid is also increasing. Regarding that, CBD users’ most common concern is whether it is okay to drive on CBD oil.
The fact that CBD comes from the cannabis plant, which also includes THC(a psychoactive compound), makes people wonder if they get high on CBD.
Below we are discussing all the details regarding CBD and driving.
CBD Oil and Driving
The confusion regarding CBD and driving comes from its toxic counterpart THC-Tetrahydrocannabiniol. THC is another main ingredient of the cannabis plant, like CBD, but with the different tha tit ge people high after consumption. CBD is a non-intoxicating compound that cannot make you high, as THC is safe to drive after consuming CBD. So can you drive after taking CBD oil? There are more regarding CBD and driving laws as well.
Laws Regarding Driving
Although medical cannabis is legalized as per federal laws in the U.S., every state has its set of laws regarding CBD and THC. Still, CBD does not come under the illegal drug list; THC is classified as an illicit drug. So if your CBD oil happens to have a THC composition above the limits, it will lead to legal penalties. For instance, 0.3%THC is the max limit for the CBD product to include as per federal law. But before driving, you should check your state law and its restriction on CBD products.
However, if you solely consume CBD without any THC trace, it is safe to drive legally and physically.
And also, note that every individual is different, and your tolerance to CBD is different. So if you are consuming CBD for the first time, drive carefully, as it can cause allergies in some individuals. But as for motor skills and cognitive functions, it does not affect them.
Research and Studies on CBD and Driving
As we mentioned earlier, CBD does not seem to affect people in the same way as THC.
However, there are a few studies regarding CBD and driving. A study by researchers at the University of Sydney revealed that CBD is driver safe. This was a small study of 17 subjects. Moreover, they administered participants three doses (15, 300, or 1,500 milligrams) or an inactive placebo. The researchers noted their Cognitive function, drug-induced impairment, reaction time, and subjective experiences before and 3.5-4 hours after.
After four consecutive tests in a week, the researcher found no effect on driving while on CBD. However, this study was based on CBD oil consumption, not other means of CBD. So if you ask if you can drive on CBD gummies, it is not known as per research. More research is needed in this area.
Conclusion
CBD is generally a safe cannabinoid with no severe side effects. As for driving on CBD, the recent research seems promising; however, more detailed analysis is needed. While CBD is safe to use while driving, you should be mindful of the legal limits of having THC in your CBD product. You can be penalized for having too much THC in CBD products.
Michael Levin is a CBD enthusiast, a researcher, writer and editor in the cannabis space, experienced CBD user and educator. He believes CBD can help improve our overall health and wellbeing.
