Cannabidiol (CBD) is one of dozens of cannabinoids in the cannabis plant.
In terms of popularity, not all cannabinoids are created equal, and this is especially true when comparing CBD with other cannabinoids.
For many years, the most popular and well-known cannabinoid was THC. However, in recent years, the popularity of THC has lost ground to CBD, at least in terms of Google searches.
The popularity of CBD has also increased dramatically when it comes to products due to its ability to treat various diseases. The increase in popularity is also due, in large part, to CBD policy reforms around the world.
The growing rate at which consumers and patients are using CBD products is raising concerns in some regulatory circles about whether it is causing too much deterioration.
CBD and driving
A team of researchers in Switzerland recently explored the relationship between the use of CBD products (cigarettes) and the ability of a consumer to drive a motor vehicle safely.
“To investigate the effects of cannabidiol-rich marijuana (CBD) smoking on conduction capacity and to determine the free concentrations of CBD and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) in capillary blood samples, a randomized, two-way crossover pilot study double-blind, placebo-controlled study with 33 participants the researchers stated.
“Participants smoked a set containing 500 mg of tobacco and 500 mg of marijuana rich in CBD (16.6% total CBD; 0.9% total THC) or 500 mg of a placebo substance, and then went perform three different dimensions of the Vienna TRAFFIC test system test: reaction time, stress behavior and concentration performance.For a more detailed assessment of participants’ ability to drive, three tests were performed. balance and coordination and vital signs (blood pressure and pulse) were measured, ”the researchers said.
“The results did not reveal significant differences between the effects of smoking CBD-rich marijuana and placebo on reaction time, motor time, stress behavior, or concentration performance,” the researchers concluded.
Beware of DUII Laws Per Se
Regulators around the world are developing specific cannabis policies for driving under the influence of drugs (DUII). It is one of the many facets of public policy that is reviewed when cannabis laws change.
DUII laws, for any intoxicating substance, fall into two categories of “detection method.” One is to detect DUII using a complete set of field sobriety tests.
The other category for the detection method is based on a limit per se. For example, most jurisdictions have a per se limit for alcohol, such as 08 BAC in the United States.
Many regulators try to rely on a limit per se for THC, falsely believing that cannabis affects the human body just like alcohol.
With that in mind, CBD consumers could, in theory, have accumulated THC in their body fluids, and if they have too much of it and get caught driving in a jurisdiction that has a law of its own, it could have some unfortunate consequences.
