Medical cannabis and driving
If you have a prescription for medical cannabis and drive, you might worry about what steps you should take to drive safely. We have put together a guide to help answer any questions you might have.
Can I drive whilst taking medical cannabis?
Like many everyday medicines, your driving ability may be reduced (driving impairment) while you are taking your medical cannabis. Your medication may cause drowsiness and can initially reduce your reaction times. This can increase your risk of having an accident, putting yourself and others at risk.
You only need to inform the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) if you have a notifiable medical condition or disability that could affect your ability to drive safely. You do not need to inform them about your prescription. The only condition that medical cannabis is commonly prescribed for which requires an individual to inform the DVLA is epilepsy.
It’s always best to avoid driving, operating heavy machinery, or tasks that require fine motor skills until you know how your medication affects you.
Some of the times your driving risk is likely to increase are listed below:
- Starting medical cannabis for the first time or if prescribed a new medical cannabis product
- After anychange in dose
- If you are prescribed a high dose or are sensitive to side effects
- If your medication causes blurred vision, tiredness, and reduced coordination or attention
- Interactions between over-the-counter or prescribed medications. Please consult an appropriately trained healthcare professional before taking new medications or supplements
- Alcohol consumption
- Developing medical conditions which may increase the risk of impairment during treatment with medical cannabis
A statutory defence may apply if a car accident occurs where a patient has been legally prescribed medical cannabis. It cannot be used if a patient is found to be impaired.
The current legal limit for blood tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels is 2 micrograms/L. It’s highly likely that if you’ve been prescribed medical cannabis preparations containing THC, you will exceed this limit.
THC can show up in your blood within minutes after taking your medication. THC is also stored in fat cells and is slowly released. This means that THC can still be detectable in your blood stream longer than one month.
No matter your medication, you should never drive whilst impaired. Your dose and prescription can affect you differently from someone else, so you should always speak to a specialist about possible impairment while taking your medication. Cannabidiol (CBD) only products have been shown to have no potential effect on driving reaction speed and risk of collision.
Can I carry my medical cannabis in my car?
Yes, you can carry your medication with you and in your car. Our advice is to avoid leaving your medical cannabis unattended in your car where possible. However, if you do need to travel with your medication, always ensure you keep it in the original container with the pharmacy label on, a copy of your clinic letter or prescription and proof of ID such as a driving licence or passport, which matches the name on the prescription/letter and medication container.
What happens if the police pull me over?
It is possible that the police may stop you whilst you are taking your prescription.
You will need to provide proof that you have been legally prescribed your medication, so it’s a good idea to always carry the following with you, whether you are carrying your medication with you or not:
- Photo ID, such as a driving licence
- A copy of your most recent clinic letter from Curaleaf Clinic with your medications listed
When carrying your medication with you, its original packaging as the dispensing label helps confirm the medication belongs to you.
The law gives the police power to test drivers they think are driving under the influence. This law includes a medical defence that if you’re prescribed medical cannabis and taking your medication as directed by your specialist doctor, providing you’re not impaired, then you are not breaking the law.
In a typical roadside screening test, the police would not be able to tell the difference between medical or recreational cannabis in your blood. This means that if you did take a screening or drug test, you would likely produce a positive result.
You do not have to if you feel uncomfortable, but it may also help to have a document from your specialist doctor detailing your medical condition, such as chronic pain, epilepsy, or multiple sclerosis, so the police are aware in case you need further medical assistance.
The police should allow you to proceed if they are satisfied that you are taking your medication as directed, under the supervision of your specialist doctor, and that you’re not impaired while driving.
If you have any questions or concerns, please speak one of our team at Curaleaf Clinic.
Further information
For further information and a more detailed report of medical cannabis and driving, please read