Can You Drive on CBD?

Millions of Americans use CBD daily, mostly for pain, sleep issues, or anxiety. With so many CBD products easily available, it’s easier than ever to try CBD. But, many people still don’t know much about this cannabis plant extract, and they wonder if it’s safe to perform everyday tasks, such as driving.

I spent countless hours going over the available research, and I talked with a healthcare professional to find out can I take CBD and drive. Here’s how CBD impacts your driving ability.

Quick Summary

It’s safe and legal to drive when using CBD products as long as they have less than 0.3% THC.
You shouldn’t drive after using CBD for the first time.
Consult your doctor if you’re using other medication and CBD.

What is CBD?

Cannabidiol, or CBD, is one of over 100 cannabinoids found in the cannabis sativa plant. CBD and THC are the two main active chemical compounds extracted from cannabis plants. Unlike THC, CBD isn’t intoxicating, which means it won’t make you feel high. This is why many people use CBD as a dietary supplement to get help with various health issues.

CBD is proven to help with anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, sleep issues, pain, and other health problems.

Hemp-derived CBD products are legal in the US under the Farm Bill law as long as they contain under 0.3% THC.

The list of CBD products is ever-growing, but the most popular products are CBD oil, lotions, creams, CBD gummies, CBD pills, and vapes.

Here’s how these products impact your ability to drive.

Is it Legal to Drive on CBD?

Yes, it’s legal to drive on CBD as long as the CBD product you use has less than 0.3% THC. Also, CBD products must be derived from hemp, not marijuana plants.

Drivers taking CBD should buy CBD products from trusted sellers to make sure the CBD product is under the legal limit and won’t impair their driving performance.

CBD products aren’t regulated by the FDA, so some sellers want to enhance their effects and include higher-than-allowed doses of THC. If you take a product such as this and police stop you, they can conduct a “field impairment assessment,” where they use a roadside drug kit to check for drugs, and you can get in trouble.

Overall, CBD isn’t considered a controlled substance, such as alcohol or narcotics, including drugs that contain THC. As long as it has under 0.3% THC, it’s legal, and you can drive after taking CBD. This also means there’s no risk of getting a DUI.

However, if you take CBD with a high amount of THC, DUI laws can apply to CBD use. CBD products can have THC in trace amounts, so it’s possible for THC to show up on a blood test during a DUI investigation.

Is it Safe to Drive on CBD?

Yes, it’s safe to drive on CBD as long as it has less than 0.3% THC.

While more research is needed on consuming CBD and driving, current studies show taking CBD oil and driving is safe.

A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found no evidence that CBD can impair driving.

Another study by the University of Sydney found that CBD usage didn’t increase how much people weaved or drifted in a simulated driving test, which is a standard check of driving ability.

Still, ingesting CBD can affect people differently, so if you notice any side effects, you should decide yourself whether it’s safe to drive.

Tip: If you want to be completely safe, use CBD with 0% THC. Go for broad-spectrum, or CBD isolate products, as they don’t have any THC, and there’s no way your cognitive performance will be affected.

Things to Be Mindful Of When Taking CBD Products

You should know there are three kinds of CBD extracts available:

Full-spectrum CBD — Contains all compounds from the cannabis plant, including THC. These products can’t contain more than 0.3% THC, which isn’t strong enough to affect your cognitive function. However, there’s evidence that suggests many manufacturers are adding more THC to maximize the product effects.
Broad-spectrum CBD — Contains all compounds from the cannabis plant but no THC.
CBD isolate — Only has CBD, without any other compounds.

Broad-spectrum and CBD isolate are safest to take before doing safety-sensitive tasks. If you go for a full-spectrum product, make sure it doesn’t have over 0.3% THC, and only buy from reputable sellers.

Another thing to be mindful of is mixing CBD with other drugs. CBD can react to prescription drugs, which can double the side effects, so talk with your doctor before you take CBD.

If you’ve never used CBD before, don’t drive after the first use. Give it time to see how the human body will react to CBD. This is a rule for any dietary supplements or medicines you use.

Finally, if you experience negative effects, such as tiredness, nausea, and drowsiness, you should abstain from driving or reduce the CBD dosage.

Best Place To Buy CBD Online?

The best place to buy CBD online is Keoni CBD. This manufacturer has all their products third-party tested, so you can be sure the THC concentration is under the legal amount.

Their products are vegan, GMO-free, and made from hemp plants grown in the US. Moreover, the CBD dose is potent, so you’ll notice effects quickly. They also use other natural ingredients, such as essential oils, carrier oils, and minimal sugar.

Finally, you can choose between products of different flavors. Go for a natural, earthy CBD taste or a flavored one.

Should You Use CBD and Drive?

It’s completely legal and safe to use CBD and drive as long as the CBD product you use has a low dose of THC. Still, state laws differ across the US, so you should check what’s the rule in your area.

If you’ve never used CBD before, start with a small dose and only buy CBD online from reputable sellers, such as the one I mentioned above. Be cautious with CBD use, and you won’t have any issues driving.

References

The 2020 CBD survey. (2020, April 20). The Checkup. https://www.singlecare.com/blog/cbd-survey/

Holland, K. (2019, January 29). CBD vs. THC: What’s the Difference? Healthline; Healthline Media. https://www.healthline.com/health/cbd-vs-thc

Farm Bill. (n.d.). Www.usda.gov. https://www.usda.gov/farmbill

Arkell, T. R., Vinckenbosch, F., Kevin, R. C., Theunissen, E. L., McGregor, I. S., & Ramaekers, J. G. (2020). Effect of Cannabidiol and Δ9-Tetrahydrocannabinol on Driving Performance. JAMA, 324(21), 2177. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.21218

ScD, K. B., PharmD. (2021, January 11). CBD and other medications: Proceed with caution. Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/cbd-and-other-medications-proceed-with-caution