Road safety tips for medical cannabis patients
6 min read
Emily Ledger
Last week, it was Road Safety Awareness Week, an important annual event that aims to raise awareness around road safety and improve funding and care for victims of road traffic accidents. In honour of Road Safety Week 2024, we took a look at some road safety tips for medical cannabis patients.
Contents
What is Road Safety Week?
Road Safety Week is a campaign by Brake, the road safety charity. Every year, thousands of schools, organisations, and communities across the UK are encouraged to take part and remember those affected by road death and injury, share important messages and information about road safety, and raise funds to improve care for victims of road accidents.
Road safety is an issue that affects everyone. Whether you are a driver, cyclist, or pedestrian, improved awareness of road safety rules can help to improve your safety and the safety of those around you. And awareness of these rules is particularly critical for those who take prescribed medications.
When is Road Safety Week 2024?
This year, Road Safety Week runs from the 17th to the 23rd of November. If you’d like to take part in the campaign, visit the Brake.org website to find out how!
Medical cannabis and driving
If you’re new to medical cannabis (and even if you’re not!) it can be difficult to know where you stand when it comes to things such as medicating in public, travelling abroad, and of course, driving. In fact, this is one of the most frequent queries that our patients raise with our doctors. So, we’re lining up some top tips for driving when you have a medical cannabis prescription.
Can I drive if I use medical cannabis?
Let’s start at the beginning. Does using medical cannabis mean that you will have to give up driving? Absolutely not! However, as is the case with a number of prescription medications, it is important to take precautions before getting behind the wheel.
Recent guidance from the Cannabis Industry Council (CIC) on driving with medical cannabis states that you can continue to drive as a medical cannabis patient, so long as:
- You are not impaired
- The cannabis medicine has been prescribed to you and this can be evidenced
- You are following the directions provided by your specialist consultant and the instructions given by the manufacturer or distributor of the medicine”
Depending on the cannabinoid content of your prescribed products, medical cannabis can cause impairment. This impairment is largely attributable to delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), which is the main psychoactive compound of cannabis. However, cannabidiol (CBD) can also cause drowsiness, which may affect your ability to drive safely.
What are the driving limits for medical cannabis?
Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) guidelines in the UK state that you should be “free from any medication effects that would impair driving”. But what exactly does this mean? Well, in simple terms, this means you should retain good levels of attention and concentration, reaction time, and coordination.
Whether these elements are met following the administration of medical cannabis or other medications is largely down to the driver’s discretion; however, healthcare professionals can often provide guidance based on the medication and the patient.
Moreover, there are also legal drug driving limits that should be considered before driving. In the UK, the legal cannabis driving limit is 2 micrograms of THC per litre of blood (2ug/L). This is widely considered an extremely low limit (the legal limit for alcohol is approximately 4000,000 times greater).
Nonetheless, if drivers are found to exceed this limit, they could face criminal charges, including a 12-36-month driving ban. Thankfully, if you have a prescription for medical cannabis, you may have a medical defense to protect you from prosecution - given you are not impaired.
But how can you make sure you’re not impaired by medical cannabis before getting behind the wheel? Let’s take a look at some tips for how to ensure road safety as a medical cannabis patient.
Tips to improve road safety when taking medical cannabis
1. Be mindful of potential signs of impairment
It is illegal to drive when impaired, even if impairment is the result of legally prescribed medications. Do not drive if you are experiencing any signs of impairment, including:
- Sleepiness/drowsiness
- Poor coordination
- Slow or impaired thinking
- Dizziness
- Visual problems
2. Do not drive until your dosing routine is stable
When first initiating medical cannabis treatment, it can take some time to identify the optimal dosing routine. This can temporarily put you at a higher risk of impairment. Avoid driving until your dosing routine is stable.
3. Follow guidance from your doctor and medicine manufacturer
Your prescribing doctor will be able to provide you with further guidance related to safe dosing of your medication. You must follow these instructions alongside any guidance provided by the manufacturer or distributor of your medications.
4. Be aware of interactions with other medications
Taking medical cannabis alongside other medications can increase your risk of impairment. This can include other prescription or over-the-counter medications, and alcohol.
5. Carry evidence of your medical cannabis prescription
If you are stopped by police, having evidence of your medical cannabis prescription can help to avoid escalation of the situation. It is advised to always carry the following documentation with you in your vehicle:
- A physical or digital copy of your most recent prescription
- Photo ID
- A physical or digital letter from your specialist doctor confirming you are their patient.
- If you need to carry your medication, ensure it is kept in its original packaging.
Final thoughts
Having a medical cannabis prescription doesn’t mean you have to put away your car keys. By following these simple tips, it is possible to continue driving while ensuring road safety. Unfortunately, it is possible you will have interactions with police, who may find you to be over the limit for cannabis. If this occurs, remain calm and present them with evidence of your prescription.
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It is important to seek medical advice before starting any new treatments. The patient advisors at Releaf are available to provide expert advice and support. Alternatively, click here to book a consultation with one of our specialist doctors.
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Emily, an accomplished content writer with a specialisation in cannabis and alternative health, leverages her five years in the sector to enhance education and diminish stigma around medicinal cannabis use.
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