No matter your medication, you should never drive whilst impaired. Your dose and prescription can affect you differently from someone else, so you should always speak to your specialist doctor about possible impairment while taking your medication. We would recommend that you do not operate heavy machinery or undertake fine motor tasks whilst using plant medicine.

‍Side effects

Like all prescribed medication, there can be side effects. The most common side effects will be explained to you during your consultation(s). It is important for you to report any side effects that haven’t been explained to you, or that you are concerned about. You can do this by contacting us by calling +44 1283 244025. If you require urgent assistance, please dial 111 or follow this link for further guidance.

Alternaleaf clinic follows the UK guidance which is in line with DVLA guidance and the Faculty of Pain Medicine regarding medical cannabis and driving: Patients should not drive if they feel impaired. Patients should also consider the interaction of medical cannabis with other medications and monitor their responses to their medication, including those likely to impair driving.
 

The guidance from the Faculty of Pain Medicine is as follows:

The ‘Drug Driving’ law

If you have been prescribed one of the following medications you may be affected by this law: morphine or related drugs (such as codeine, tramadol or fentanyl), ketamine, clonazepam, diazepam, methadone, oxazepam, temazepam, lorazepam, flunitrazepam, amphetamine (e.g. dexamphetamine or selegiline), cannabinoids (e.g. sativex). 

From 2015 there is a new offence of driving above a specified limit for these medications (like the current rules on alcohol and driving). If you are stopped and tested by the police you may test above the legal limit - depending on the dose you have been prescribed or the type of medicine. 

If however you are taking these medications in line with advice from a Doctor or Pharmacist and your driving is not impaired you may use a ‘medical defence’. 

If the police are satisfied that a driver is taking the relevant medicine on the advice of a healthcare professional, and your driving is not impaired, you should not be prosecuted. 

It may be useful for you to keep suitable evidence with you (such as a copy of your clinic letter and prescription) to show the police if you are ever stopped.

However, if your doctor feels it is not safe for you to drive and you continue to do so, you will be breaking the law.