Driving under the
Influence of Cannabis:

Where Do You Stand, Legally?

If you're a driver and you drive having consumed cannabis, it's important you know your rights. I don't drive, but I know it's long been an issue of contention since cannabis was made available on prescription, so whereas I'm no expert, there are many people who have had to become such, hence this page.  So I'm sharing their expertise. I also strongly recommend you read the 'Law' and 'Guidance' pages on this website too, in that order, so that you're familiar with your rights in other areas of life too.  They're not light entertainment, but well worth knowing if you could be affected. The links for these are at the bottom of the page.

ESSENTIAL READING
for DRIVERS

Unfortunately, much as I would like to be giving people better news on this page, despite cannabis being legal on prescription for a number of years now, it does happen occasionally that even legally prescribed consumers get stopped from time to time as unfortunately, apart from a startling number of officers being unaware of the law change, my understanding is that road traffic laws haven't been updated accordingly, muddying the waters further. Your prescription is your legal defence, but it's still best to be as aware of your rights as you can be in case issues arise. This is about the most up to date set of resources you'll find and I'll endeavour to keep it that way, but if you're a driver I strongly you recommend you read them just in case. One is actually guidance aimed at assisting police by clarifying the legal actuality. Most were written by or involved Guy Coxall from Seed Our Future, and you'll struggle to find someone who knows more on the subject.

As they are all on one specific topic, I've divided them (each section alphabetically by author) firstly Government Publications and secondly, Published Guidance pertinent to Cannabis and Driving as I figured the second probably wouldn't make much sense if you hadn't read the first.

Government Publications and Law Pertinent to Cannabis and Driving

Department for Transport (UK) (updated August 2017) Changes to Drug Driving Limits. Gov.uk. Crown Copyright. Available online at: .https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/drug-driving#table-of-drugs-and-limits

Department for Transport (accessed 1 September 2023) Drugs and Driving: The Law. Gov.uk. Crown Copyright. Available online at: https://www.gov.uk/drug-driving-law

Department for Transport (UK) (5 April 2022) Medical Cannabis and Road Safety. Gov.uk. Crown Copyright. Available online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/medical-cannabis-and-road-safety


Published Guidance Pertinent to Cannabis and Driving

Cannabis Industry Council (2023a) Cannabis & Driving: Guidance for patients – Cannabis Industry Council. https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/resources/cannabis-driving/cannabis-driving-guidance-for-patients/.

Cannabis Industry Council (2023a) Cannabis & Driving - Recommendations – Cannabis Industry Council. https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/resources/cannabis-driving/cannabis-driving-recommendations/.

Cannabis Industry Council (2023b) Guidance for police: Prescribed Cannabis Medicine - Possession, Use and driving – Cannabis Industry Council. https://www.cicouncil.org.uk/resources/cannabis-driving/guidance-for-police-prescribed-cannabis-medicine-possession-use-and-driving/.

Seed our Future Campaign (2022) Cannabis and driving defences. https://www.seedourfuture.co.uk/2022/12/22/medical-cannabis-and-driving/.

Seed our Future Campaign (2022b) Driving and cannabis. https://www.seedourfuture.co.uk/2021/10/12/driving-and-cannabis/.

FURTHER READING


Ledger, E. (1 December 2022) Can You Drive If You Have a Medical Cannabis Prescription? Leafie Magazine. Available online at: https://www.leafie.co.uk/articles/medical-cannabis-driving/

Wicks, J. (19 August 2020) HGV Drivers, Drug Testing and The Law. Cansford Laboratories Ltd. Available online at: https://blog.cansfordlabs.co.uk/hgv-drivers-drug-testing-and-the-law

LINK TO LAW PAGE: 
https://alipinkandgreen.com/Cannabis_UK-Law.html

LINK TO GUIDANCE (FOR EXISTING PATIENTS): https://alipinkandgreen.com/Prescription_legal_guidance.html

Page updated: 28 December 2024