with How important is your Driving License?

The DVLA is responsible for issuing driving licenses and can revoke yours if you test for drug driving. If Cannabis users test with over 2µgrams of THC per litre of blood your license will be at risk.
It is impossible to say exactly how much cannabis you would need to consume to be over the limit but it could be just a few puffs.
points to note:

• The police can randomly stop any vehicle. It is an offence under section 163 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 not to stop.
• If you are driving, the police may drug test you, but officers must have grounds to make the request for testing.
• If you have been involved in an accident the police can require a drug test.

What does this actually mean? Well, If you test over the limit of 2µgrams which is just 2 millionths of a gram of THC in 1 litre of blood your license is at risk. The roadside test Drugwipe is only an indication of Cannabis use. The Police will require a full blood test will be taken at the station. The sample will be processed and if found over the limit, action will be taken and you will probably be charged and a notification sent to the DVLA. who will take action on your license. 

The penalties for driving over the THC limit can include the following depending on repeat offenses

• 12 – 36 month driving ban
• Prison sentence of up to 6 months (the most serious cases)
• Unlimited fine – This is judged case by case
• A conviction leads to a criminal record which can limit international travel and job prospects
• Your licence is endorsed for 11 years  which leads to higher insurance premiums

The only legal defence for driving over the limit of THC is to have an active medical cannabis prescription.

If you are stopped and drug tested please tell the officers you prescribed medical cannabis. If you have proof of your prescription, please provide it during the stop. AccessKaneh can provide a patient portal for you to upload your scripts. Click here for an initial conversation with us where we can help if authority challenges you.

A medical cannabis prescription provides a medical defence as noted in the Sativex leaflet produced by the DVLA. Please make sure you follow the following points

• Only used prescribed cannabis medications
• Only use your Cannabis medications as outlined in the medicine information leaflet
• All Medical Cannabis prescriptions will advise that operating machinery and driving will be affected, make sure you follow the instructions.
• Make sure you do not drive while feeling impaired

The medical defence will only cover the THC limit. There is no defence for impaired driving and we strongly urge any cannabis users not to drive impaired – you risk the safety of everyone.

To highlight the limit for illicit users who combust, remembering medical cannabis requires you vaporise.

An average-sized blunt will have around 25 milligrams of THC in it. If consumed the peak concentration in the blood would occur in around 1o minutes with peak blood levels of around 120 to 160 µgrams of THC. The legal limit is 2µgrams!

The half life of the THC will vary but  between  4 to 6 hours is required for the intoxication and impairment levels to reduce. Impairment depends on the THC tolerance of any individual. This is just a rule of thumb guide to show the legal limit is only achieved around a day after consumption of 1 blunt for a cannabis naïve user.

The DVLA are currently evaluating drug driving and Seeking evidence on the idea of creating a drug-drivers high-risk offender and rehabilitation scheme for more information click here. Medical Cannabis is being looked at differently and the latest research commissioned by the DVLA is here.

Things are changing – watch this space and keep up to date with Accesskaneh!