Cannabidiol (CBD) is, along with THC, one of the most common components of cannabis. Since 2017, the market for CBD products has grown steadily. There’s especially high interest in tobacco substitutes that contain less than 1% THC, since these CBD products can be bought legally. That’s why they’re often used nowadays.
Impact on Driving Ability
We all agree that alcohol, THC, and other drugs have a strong impact on driving ability. But have you ever wondered what effect using CBD has? Switzerland has a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of drugs, which comes with a very low threshold for THC levels in the blood.
Right now, there aren’t many studies on how using CBD affects driving ability. Since the demand for CBD products in Switzerland has grown a lot in recent years, researchers at the University of Bern did a study on how using CBD flowers affects road safety. The goal of the study was to develop recommendations for warning labels on tobacco substitutes and to give drivers information about using CBD.
CBD Joints – Vienna Test System TRAFFIC
19 men and 14 women aged 19 to 31 took several tests to check their driving ability after smoking a CBD or placebo joint. The placebo joint had 500 mg of regular tobacco, while the CBD joint had 500 mg of CBD-rich cannabis with a total of 16.6% CBD and 0.9% THC. After 7 to 14 days, a second round of tests was done, where participants smoked a placebo joint if they had a CBD joint the first time, and vice versa. To assess the participants’ driving ability, three different tests from the so-called Vienna Test System TRAFFIC were used. They tested reaction time, behavior under stress, and concentration. No differences were found in any of the three tests between the CBD group and the placebo group.
However, the researchers did find a gender-specific difference after smoking a CBD joint, where women’s reaction times were significantly higher. This significant difference led the researchers to think that smoking CBD might have a stronger effect on women than on men. No difference was found between the first and second rounds, which led the researchers to conclude that “learning effects” could be ruled out.
They also wanted to assess participants’ driving ability by running various balance and coordination tests. For this, three tests were done that are regularly used in Switzerland by medical staff on behalf of the police to detect deficits after drug use.
CBD in Police Tests
The first of the three tests was the Romberg test, which checks balance and the participant’s internal clock. They were told to stretch out their arms, close their eyes, and only open them again when they thought 30 seconds had passed. Meanwhile, the actual time was measured by an examiner. Although there was a difference in the estimated time between the CBD and placebo groups, all values were within the normal range of 20-45 seconds. Also, all participants were able to keep their balance, no matter if they smoked a CBD or placebo joint.
The second test was the well-known finger-to-nose test, where participants had to touch the tip of their nose with their eyes closed. 32 out of 33 participants were able to touch their nose without any problems. Only one participant in the CBD group missed their nose twice.
The last of the three tests was a walk-and-turn test, where participants had to do a specific sequence of steps within a certain number of steps. None of the participants missed the required step sequence, regardless of whether they were in the CBD or placebo group. In 19 out of 66 cases, the wrong number of steps was taken—10 times in the CBD group and 9 times in the placebo group.
Along with the driving, balance, and coordination tests, blood pressure and pulse were measured. While this was happening, a psychologist watched for any changes in behavior, orientation, mood, speech, or psychomotor skills. Both blood pressure and pulse stayed the same in both groups, and the psychologist couldn’t see any other changes. So the researchers concluded that smoking CBD-rich cannabis has no effect on vital signs.
Effect of CBD on Driving Ability
Finally, the researchers did blood tests to check THC levels in the participants’ blood. Blood samples were taken 5 minutes and 45 minutes after smoking the CBD or placebo joint. Free THC was found in all but one sample. THC levels in the CBD group were above the legal limit at both time points. The researchers explained: “Even though the THC concentrations reached levels that, in other studies where THC-rich cannabis was smoked, were considered enough to cause impairment symptoms, no signs of impairment were seen in the current study.”
Despite these study results, the researchers still advise against driving for several hours after smoking CBD flowers, since legal THC limits could be exceeded. We also want to point out that smoking CBD before driving is generally not recommended. So make sure you don’t use your CBD products right before driving. Stay safe!
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