Can You Drive After Using Cannabis?

How does cannabis affect driving?

Driving depends on quick reactions, steady attention and good judgment. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (opens in a new tab) and the CDC (opens in a new tab), cannabis can slow reaction time, reduce coordination and make it harder to judge time and distance. Those are exactly the skills that keep you and others safe on the road.

Many people underestimate how impaired they are, especially with stronger products like infused pre-rolls and vapes.

Is it legal to drive after using cannabis?

Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in every state, including states where adult-use cannabis is legal. Legal to buy doesn't mean legal to drive on. Penalties can include arrest, fines, licence suspension and much worse if someone is hurt. Many states also have rules about how cannabis must be carried in a vehicle, such as in a sealed container out of the driver's reach; check your state's rules, and see California's what's legal (opens in a new tab) page if you're there.

How long should you wait before driving?

There's no reliable rule of thumb, because effects vary with the amount, the format, the product's strength and the person. Feeling 'fine' isn't a dependable test. The safest choice is not to drive at all on a day you've used cannabis, and to plan your transport before you start.

What are safer ways to get home?

• Choose a designated driver who isn't using cannabis or alcohol.
• Use a rideshare, taxi or public transport.
• Stay the night where you are.
• Plan your evening around somewhere you won't need to drive from.

Never ride with a driver who's impaired, either.

Does mixing cannabis and alcohol make it worse?

Yes. Using them together can increase impairment beyond either one alone, and makes effects less predictable. If you choose to use cannabis, it's best not to combine it with alcohol, and never before driving. Our start low, go slow post covers other ways to use cannabis more comfortably.

What should you do if you're not sure you're okay to drive?

Don't drive. Doubt is a good enough reason to choose another way home. Call a friend, book a rideshare or taxi, take public transport, or wait until the next day. It's always better to be inconvenienced than to risk your life or someone else's.

If you host friends who use cannabis, help them plan ahead: agree on a designated driver at the start of the evening, keep rideshare numbers handy and offer a place to stay. Our post on starting low and going slow has more tips for a comfortable, safe session.

Does the type of product change the risk?

Stronger products and larger amounts make impairment more likely and longer-lasting. Infused pre-rolls and vapes are more potent than plain flower; see what THC percentage means. But no product is safe to drive on. The format changes how strongly and how quickly you feel effects, not whether driving is safe.

What about passengers and storage in the car?

Using cannabis in a vehicle, even as a passenger, is generally illegal. If you're carrying cannabis, keep it sealed in its original, labelled packaging and out of reach, such as in the trunk, and follow your state's specific rules. Never take cannabis across state lines; see can you travel with cannabis?.

This post is general information for adults 21 and over and isn't legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time.

Planning a night in instead? Browse kits and pre-rolls for a relaxed evening at home.