Ever since scientists found out the amazing medical properties of CBD, more and more people are slowly turning towards it. After it, it has been proven to help people in a lot of their health issues like reducing stress, managing their blood pressure, etc. Moreover, people can even use it to treat the health conditions of their pets. One example is dog separation anxiety.
One of the fascinating things about CBD is that people can use it in multiple ways. It comes in the form of gummy bears for children. It comes in the form of vape for adults and the form of capsules for senior citizens. Some people have even started using it in their daily lives, considering they can add it to their regular food routines such as adding it in their favorite salad or taking it with their morning coffee.
Keeping all the benefits of consuming CBD at one side, there are some things that people might be skeptical about when it comes to CBD. Especially true for people who use CBD daily. And that thing is CBD and driving. A lot of people ask ‘can you drive on CBD? Well, if you also happen to ask yourself this question quite a lot these days, then this article will help you in getting the answer to that question. Let’s dig in:
Is CBD legal?
I wouldn’t be writing this article if CBD weren’t legal. Different countries have different rules regarding the legality; for example, in European countries, CBD is only permissible if it contains THC content equal to or less than 0.2%. When it comes to the U.S & Canada., CBD is permitted as long as it contains THC content equal to or less than 0.3%. You should not worry about this considering most of the CBD products that medical dispensaries sell have THC content which abides by the law.
If you don’t know already, THC is the psychoactive compound which can get people high. CBD does not contain it. Even if it does, the amount is negligible which is precisely the reason why doctors and scientists have started working on it.
So why do people confuse CBD and driving?
Since CBD is a compound that people have just started using for treating different medical conditions, they aren’t well-educated on the topic, which is why people confuse CBD and driving. Since CBD and THC both are extracted from hemp, people confuse one with the other. That is why they start questioning whether CBD would make them high if they start driving after consuming it.
Can you drive on CBD?
As we have already established what the difference between CBD, THC, and hemp is, let’s move on to the answer that most people came here to look for. The answer is: Yes. You can absolutely drive on CBD. And the reason behind this is that CBD reacts with two receptors, CB1 and CB2, which are in the endocannabinoid system. These receptors are responsible for helping human beings do a lot of functions including managing pain and regulating appetite.
So when people consume CBD, it directly interacts with these two receptors. In a way, it helps the receptors do their job smoothly. Consuming CBD will alter your mood, but not in an intoxicating way. Your functions will not cease to work once you consume CBD.
One thing, however, should be noted here and that is that some people might feel some side effects after consuming CBD. Though those side effects aren’t severe, such as lightheadedness, driving is not recommended if you are experiencing any side effect. So the best way to make sure you don’t experience is that you go low with the dosage of CBD.
After some time, if your doctor asks you to increase the dose, you can do it. Different people have different limitations. It is best that you consult with your doctor and then start on a dosage since he will know better about your medical history.
Tips for driving with CBD:
Even though it is entirely safe to drive while you have consumed CBD, it is better that you follow a few tips which will help you even more in being a competent driver while using CBD:
Know what’s best for you: a person himself knows better about him than anyone else. So, at any point when you are driving, you feel like your head is feeling light, you should stop and pull over the car. It could be anything, but since it is a side effect of CBD, it is better that you take care of it first.
Take it with you if traffic stresses you out: there are a lot of people who can get easily stressed when they are waiting in traffic. This cannot be a good thing considering you are driving. So it is better that you take CBD with you when you are going somewhere. Since it comes in a lot of forms, this shouldn’t be a problem.
Tolerance: if you see someone consuming a lot of CBD during a day, don’t think that maybe you deserve a higher dosage as well. It works differently in different people. Perhaps that person’s body requires him to consume a lot of it while yours don’t.
Concluding thoughts
Yes, it can be pretty confusing sometimes to differentiate CBD from THC. But when you try to think about it, the differences are quite striking. Though both of them are extracted from the same plant hemp, that’s about the only similarity they have. THC is a psychoactive compound that can get people high. CBD does not have that compound.
That is precisely why it is safe to drive if you have taken CBD. There might be some side effects of consuming CBD that you need to know. Though it isn’t severe, driving is a task that requires all your attention and concentration. So it is better that you try and find out what dosage would be enough for you not to experience that side effect. Always remember that if you are new to CBD, go easy with the dosage and work with your doctor.