With CBD’s growing presence in today’s culture, the question of whether or not it is safe to drive after taking CBD is coming up often. Unlike alcohol or THC, CBD does not make you high, hinder your reflexes or mess with your senses.
The only sure thing is that different individuals react differently to varying serving sizes. If you’re unsure how it will impact your ability to focus while you drive, here are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to CBD and driving.
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CBD Is Non-Intoxicating
CBD is one of the several natural compounds found in the hemp plant. CBD oil is an essence made from its leaves and stems, blended with a carrier oil. Unlike its cousins, CBD lacks the intoxicating characteristics of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the one accountable for getting you high.
Things are looking great for CBD, the alleged multi-purpose compound is gaining massive popularity, but there is still a lot more research needed to uncover its true potential and of course side effects. Despite the lack of research, people are not shying away from taking it as a supplement for various purposes, from physical and mental enhancement to support in recovery. But is CBD oil legal?
Is CBD Legal?
Different countries have different laws concerning the legality of CBD. For example, in Europe, CBD use is only permitted if it contains THC content equal to or less than 0.2%. When it comes to the United States, CBD is legal under federal law and is only allowed as long as it contains THC content equal to or less than 0.3%. Under state law, things get a bit more complicated.
Like the different countries, each state has its own set of laws regarding the legality of the compound. But don’t worry, even if you reside in a state where CBD use is not permitted, you’re still okay to drive after taking some.
Is Using CBD And Driving Legal?
As aforementioned, CBD is allowed on the federal level through the 2018 Farm Bill; however, there are still some concerns over how the FDA should regulate it. That said, driving with CBD in your system won’t get you arrested or detained on the side of the road because you’re not under the influence of anything as you would be if you were drunk or high. However, drivers should always be mindful of the contents of the CBD oil and make sure that it contains no more than 0.3% THC.
Can You Drive After Consuming CBD?
Yes. Now that we went over the legal aspects of the compound, let’s clarify how CBD impacts your system, and why it’s okay to drive after consuming it. CBD will not impair you in any way. You will still be able to function like you usually would. However, be sure to get your CBD oil from somewhere you trust so that you know exactly what’s in the oil. If you were to get pulled over and the authorities find that the oil you consumed contains substantial THC amounts, they will consider this as driving under the influence.
Tips For Driving With CBD
Even though it is entirely safe to drive after you have consumed CBD, it won’t kill you to be vigilant and responsible. Here are a few tips to help you stay safe while driving using CBD:
Know yourself: If at any point in the drive you start to feel lightheaded, do the responsible thing, and pull over. It could be a passing feeling, but to be on the safe side, stop, and give yourself time to recover.
When traffic hits: Traffic is a dominant stress factor for a lot of individuals. And we all know this is never a good thing. So since you won’t be speeding or swerving, pop a CBD edible when traffic hits.
Tolerance: if you know someone who consumes large amounts of CBD during the day, don’t automatically start thinking you should start taking larger serving sizes as well. You know better, it works differently for everybody.
Conclusion
Grab your keys and hit the road! Although it can be pretty confusing to differentiate CBD from THC, users can do their due diligence that they are in possession of legal and reliable tinctures.
Always be mindful of your state of mind. There might be some undocumented side effects of consuming CBD that you didn’t know. Though none of them will be severe enough for you to spiral out of control and cause a massive accident, it’s important to remember that driving is a task that demands all your awareness and concentration. So it is best to find out what serving size does not inflict unwanted side effects. As always, remember that if you are a newcomer to CBD, start small and work with your physician.
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