Is driving after consuming CBD prohibited?

The Court of Cassation ruled:

To the question: "Can you drive after consuming CBD?" “
The answer is: YES if the CBD does not contain any trace of THC.

What the law says

The Court of Cassation decided last week in a judgment of June 21, 2023 ( Crim, June 21, 2023, n° 22-85530) that the simple detection of THC in a driver's system is sufficient to apply article L235- 1 of the Highway Code, which criminalizes driving after using narcotics. This is independent of the fact that the level of narcotics detected is below the minimum threshold set by the decree.

What to understand:

Cannabis is made up of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). THC is a psychotropic substance, illegal in France with the exception of drugs included in the experimental medication program. CBD meanwhile has soothing properties and its sale is legal if it does not exceed a certain level of THC. (0.3%)

In the eyes of the law:

On 19 November 2020, the Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that on the basis of current scientific knowledge and international conventions, CBD oil does not constitute a narcotic,
However, consumption of CBD containing a legal level of THC (less than 0.3% but still present) does not make it safe to drive. And, although CBD consumption is legal, it has not been legal before driving since last week.
It doesn't matter whether you've consumed CBD only or THC, the few traces of THC contained in some CBD extracts would be enough to put you in breach of the law if you got behind the wheel.
So consuming CBD is the same as consuming tiny doses of THC, and if you are tested for THC, you could end up with a positive result.

The solution :

Use CBD that contains NO THC.
Choose the right extract and a trusted brand.
At Sowé, we use a CBD extract that contains NO TRACE of THC.
There are 3 main types of CBD on the market:

CBD isolate

A molecule which, as its name suggests, has been isolated from the plant's other molecules. Mainly used by the cosmetics industry. At Sowé, our CBD isolate is 99.9% concentrated.

Full spectrum oil or Full spectrum

Full spectrum CBD comes from the complete extraction of the plant. In addition to CBD, it contains other cannabinoids such as CBN, CBG, CBDV, CBDA and CBGA, as well as THC.

Broad spectrum oil or Broad Spectrum

Oil that contains other important cannabinoids in addition to CBD, such as CBG, CBN, CBDV, CBDA or CBGA. No psychoactive effect and the patient will benefit from the entourage effect, which helps to sublimate the effect of CBD.

It is this type of extract that we use for Sowé CBD oils (which you will also find in our massage oil or our anti-imperfection Roll-on).

To ensure that our product contains NO trace of THC, we have opted for a cold extraction, called 'super-critical' . Not only does this technique ensure that the product is non-toxic, but in our case it completely eliminates the undesirable compounds, including THC.

In conclusion :

If Mr X had consumed Sowé CBD, Mr X would not have needed to appeal this decision and the Rouen Court of Appeal would have acquitted him of driving a vehicle while using narcotics.
Mr X, make the right choice: use the WELCOME discount coupon (to benefit from a 10% discount) to order our THC-free CBD oil and stop risking arrest for consuming CBD.

Back to blog