Cannabis has recently been completely banned in Germany. However, anyone who wants to keep their driving license after smoking a joint should be very careful.
The ADAC advises people who occasionally consume cannabis to refrain from driving a car for a whole day. The automobile club has explained that one cannot be sure in advance whether one can still safely sit behind the wheel after consuming cannabis. The result was the result of their own tests, but only with three cannabis users.
Cannabis has been partially legal in Germany since April 1st. The limit for driving is three and a half nanograms of the intoxicating substance THC per milliliter of blood serum. The limit for novice drivers is one nanogram per milliliter.
Cannabis test subjects did not find the right gear
The study tested how cannabis consumption affects driving ability. Three test subjects were examined one hour, four hours and 20 hours after consumption. Blood samples were also taken to determine the THC concentration.
One hour after consuming cannabis, the test subjects’ self-assessment and performance in both the car and in the cognitive tests were far below the level they had achieved when they were sober. There were quite clear signs of impairment.
For example, the test subjects forgot to adjust the seat or mirrors correctly, couldn’t find the gears and were unsure, drove too fast or parked incorrectly. During the cognitive ability tests, the experts noticed limitations in memory performance and the ability to concentrate. The ADAC therefore assumes that the risk of accidents is significantly higher. The THC level in the test subjects was between seven and twelve nanograms per milliliter, which is significantly above the permitted limit.
Differences between occasional smokers and regular users
Four hours after consumption, the THC concentration in the blood was already below the future limit of three and a half nanograms per milliliter. However, the test subjects’ driving safety was still not fully restored. The automobile club says that the participants themselves and the experts also determined that they would not have been able to drive safely on the road.
It took around 20 hours for the test subjects to be fit to hit the road again. This was shown by both blood tests and expert assessments. The ADAC therefore advises all cannabis users not to drive for at least 24 hours after consumption. It is often not clear how much of the drug you have consumed and how long its effects will last.
Only occasional consumption was examined. If you smoke weed regularly – for example, several days a week – the THC is stored in your tissue. Due to a slow return to the blood, it takes several days for the level to fall below the limit. Experts from the German Society for Traffic Medicine (DGVM) and the German Society for Traffic Psychology (DGVP) point out that with “daily or multiple daily high consumption participation in traffic is excluded.” Only after several weeks of abstinence can one consider driving again.
Even if cannabis is consumed orally – for example as a cake or biscuit – the time it takes for the drug to take effect and become evident is significantly longer. In this case, you should wait longer than 24 hours before driving.
Sources:, with news agency AFP
Source: Stern
I’m a recent graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in journalism. I started working as a news reporter for 24 Hours World about two years ago, and I’ve been writing articles ever since. My main focus is automotive news, but I’ve also written about politics, lifestyle, and entertainment.
