Are you allowed to drive if you use CBD oil? We get asked that question regularly. In this article we set out where things stand.
Are you allowed to drive with CBD oil?
CBD oil is legal in the Netherlands and CBD does not get you high. As a driver, you are still responsible yourself. If CBD makes you drowsy, or if you use it together with medication or alcohol, do not drive. Other rules may apply abroad.
THC is a different story. That is the psychoactive compound from cannabis that does affect your driving. Dutch law states that CBD products may contain a maximum of 0.05% THC, a negligible amount.
Worth knowing: research from the University of Granada (Addiction, 2025) found no difference in driving performance between participants who vaporised CBD and a placebo group. That is one study, with vaporised CBD rather than drops, and no guarantee for everyone.
CBD and the endocannabinoid system
CBD interacts with your endocannabinoid system, a system of the body’s own that is involved in regulating a wide range of processes. What CBD means for people exactly is still very much under research.
There are currently no EU-approved health claims for CBD. It is a food supplement, not a medicine.
How do you use CBD oil if you drive?
Are you considering using CBD and do you drive regularly? Then keep to these points:
- Test at home first: start at a moment when you do not have to drive, so you can calmly experience how your body responds.
- Start with a low dose: for example 2 to 3 drops of 5% CBD oil, and stick to the dose on the label.
- Choose reliable quality: use only CBD oil from brands with external test results, such as Dutch Hemp and Wedihemp. The lab report shows how much THC it contains.
- Consider broad spectrum: if you want no THC at all, choose broad spectrum CBD oil, which contains no THC.
Frequently asked questions about CBD and driving
Is CBD a drug?
No. CBD is not psychoactive, it does not make you high and CBD oil is legal in the Netherlands. THC is the substance that does make you high, and CBD products may contain no more than 0.05% of it. If you need to avoid THC completely, choose broad spectrum: with full spectrum, that small amount of THC can be picked up by a very sensitive drug test.
What are the negative effects of CBD?
CBD can cause side effects. Large doses can sometimes lead to drowsiness, a dry mouth or slight dizziness, and CBD can interact with medicines. If CBD makes you drowsy, or you use it together with medicines or alcohol, do not drive. If you take medicines, talk to your doctor or pharmacist first.
How much CBD can you take per day?
Start low, for example with 2 to 3 drops of 5% CBD oil, and stick to the dosage on the label. Try it at home first, at a moment when you do not need to drive. That way you can calmly see how your body responds before you get behind the wheel.
What do you feel when you use CBD oil?
It does not make you high, because legal CBD oil contains no more than 0.05% THC. We do not say what else CBD does for you: there are no EU-approved health claims for CBD. People do respond to it differently, which is why trying it at home before you drive is sensible.
Questions about CBD?
At Dutch Balance you will find CBD products that are legal and tested by external labs. Questions about which CBD oil suits you best? Feel free to get in touch.
