Can I Drive After Smoking Cannabis?
Can I Drive After Smoking Cannabis?
If you smoke cannabis, you may believe it’s okay to drive either straight after you’ve had a ‘joint’ or at least within a few hours of smoking one.
However, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whereas having a drink before getting behind the wheel has an upper limit, smoking drugs carries an almost zero tolerance level across the United Kingdom.
How much cannabis before you’re over the legal limit?
The answer?
Not much.
The legal limit of tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis, or THC as it’s known officially) allowed in your bloodstream when you get behind the wheel is 2mg (micrograms). However, smoking an ‘average’ sized joint is likely to leave you with 120mg in your system.
In reality, it’s possible to have one single puff of cannabis and be over the legal driving limit.
So, in the light of this evidence, the next question we’re often asked is:
How long after smoking cannabis should I wait before driving?
Like any drug, be it alcohol or THC, the presence of a drug in your system is measured by what is called its ‘half-life’.
The ‘half-life’ of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of the drug in your system to reduce by half.
However, working out the ‘half-life’ of THC is tricky.
Why?
Because THC has over one-hundred metabolites, all with differing ‘half-life’ rates and the time it takes to leave your system also has to take into consideration your:
- Height and weight
- Metabolic rate, and
- Medication, if you currently take any
Not to mention the strength and type of cannabis you’ve smoked.
So, getting back to the question: How long after smoking cannabis should I wait before driving?
If we take an average joint, which contains 120mg of THC, it’ll take around twelve hours before your blood level drops to the acceptable 2mg limit.
How long should you wait?
Our advice?
No sooner than 24-hours BUT you still risk being over the limit.
What is the penalty for being caught ‘Drug Driving’?
Cannabis is still an illegal substance in many countries, especially in the UK, and should you be caught you’ll receive a minimum twelve-month disqualification with the possibility of up to six months in prison.
So, can you drive after smoking cannabis?
The real question should be:
Is it worth it?
*If you found this article helpful and need legal advice on driving under the influence of drugs, call today on 0800 999 5535, or fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you.
Can I Drive After Smoking Cannabis?
If you smoke cannabis, you may believe it’s okay to drive either straight after you’ve had a ‘joint’ or at least within a few hours of smoking one.
However, the reality couldn’t be further from the truth.
Whereas having a drink before getting behind the wheel has an upper limit, smoking drugs carries an almost zero tolerance level across the United Kingdom.
How much cannabis before you’re over the legal limit?
The answer?
Not much.
The legal limit of tetrahydrocannabinol (cannabis, or THC as it’s known officially) allowed in your bloodstream when you get behind the wheel is 2mg (micrograms). However, smoking an ‘average’ sized joint is likely to leave you with 120mg in your system.
In reality, it’s possible to have one single puff of cannabis and be over the legal driving limit.
So, in the light of this evidence, the next question we’re often asked is:
How long after smoking cannabis should I wait before driving?
Like any drug, be it alcohol or THC, the presence of a drug in your system is measured by what is called its ‘half-life’.
The ‘half-life’ of a drug is the time it takes for the amount of the drug in your system to reduce by half.
However, working out the ‘half-life’ of THC is tricky.
Why?
Because THC has over one-hundred metabolites, all with differing ‘half-life’ rates and the time it takes to leave your system also has to take into consideration your:
• Height and weight
• Metabolic rate, and
• Medication, if you currently take any
Not to mention the strength and type of cannabis you’ve smoked.
So, getting back to the question: How long after smoking cannabis should I wait before driving?
If we take an average joint, which contains 120mg of THC, it’ll take around twelve hours before your blood level drops to the acceptable 2mg limit.
How long should you wait?
Our advice?
No sooner than 24-hours BUT you still risk being over the limit.
What is the penalty for being caught ‘Drug Driving’?
Cannabis is still an illegal substance in many countries, especially in the UK, and should you be caught you’ll receive a minimum twelve-month disqualification with the possibility of up to six months in prison.
So, can you drive after smoking cannabis?
The real question should be:
Is it worth it?
*
If you found this article helpful and need legal advice on driving under the influence of drugs, call today on 0800 999 5535, or fill in the form below and we’ll get back to you.
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When I was told that I would have to appear at the magistrate’s court for the charge of drunk in charge of a motor vehicle I was unsure whether I needed legal representation but after speaking to Millars I understood that it would be a risk going it alone.
Time was taken to understand the circumstances prior to the court date and then Carl had an in-depth chat with myself on the day.
The CPS attempted to change the charge on the day of the hearing. Carl handled it all and was able to mitigate this for me. Had I been on my own I wouldn’t have known what to do, what to plead and what the chances of defending it would be.
All I would say is do not hesitate to speak to Millars solicitors and instruct them for your defence. Do not risk your driving licence.
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