According to USA Today, as many as 7% of Americans use CBD. CBD is a product derived from the cannabis plant, though it doesn’t contain THC, the active ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high. Many users of CBD tout its benefits. Federal regulation has approved CBD for the treatment of a rare form of epilepsy in patients under age 2, but CBD is not regulated to treat any other conditions. Despite this, people use CBD for a variety of ailments. CBD has been used to treat insomnia and has been used by people suffering from anxiety. Harvard Health Publishing noted that CBD may be able to help treat some types of pain. In one study CBD, when used on the skin, could reduce the pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. In another study, researchers studied whether CBD could help address neuropathic pain, which can be some of the most difficult pain symptoms to treat.
Because CBD doesn’t produce a high like marijuana, some users might think that it is safe to use it and drive. However, according to Harvard Health, side effects of CBD include nausea, fatigue, and irritability. Driving while fatigued can be incredibly dangerous. In fact, federal trucking regulations govern hours of service a truck driver can be on the road to prevent fatigued driving. If CBD makes you fatigued or interferes with your alertness, you could be posing a hazard to others on the road when taking this product and then driving. And if you were hurt in a car accident and suspect that the other driver might have been fatigued, you may have the right to seek damages for your medical expenses, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Eells & Tronvold, Law Offices, PLC is a personal injury law firm in Iowa City, Iowa that may be able to help you seek damages for your losses.
Legality of CBD in Iowa Under Question
To make matters more complicated, selling CBD in Iowa is irregularly enforced. According to the Des Moines Register, state authorities claim that CBD is a controlled substance because it is a marijuana derivative. Law enforcement has been raiding some stores that sell CBD products and confiscating these products. Why is CBD sold so readily in stores across the U.S. and yet faces law enforcement actions in others? When Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill it legalized the production of hemp that contained less than 0.3 percent THC. CBD oil is legal in Iowa if a person has a prescription for it from his or her doctor. The law provides for the prescription of CBD for Parkinson’s, Crohn’s, multiple sclerosis, cancer, and other maladies. However, without a prescription, Iowa officials say they are awaiting federal direction on what the implications of the new law should be. This leaves many vendors at a loss, as some law enforcement officials in Iowa choose to crack down on CBD while others do not. To make matters more complicated, common roadside drug tests cannot tell the difference between THC and CBD, reports the New York Times. This means that if you are pulled over, have taken CBD, are being asked to submit to a drug test, it is possible that THC could be found in your system, even if you were only taking CBD oil.
The enforcement of CBD remains complex in Iowa. But the reality is this, if you are pulled over under the suspicion of drunk driving or intoxicated driving in Iowa, you could face charges for driving while under the influence of marijuana. And if you are driving while impaired, and get into an accident, you could be held responsible for injuries caused in the crash. Furthermore, if you were a victim of a car accident and were injured, and suspect that the other driver might have been fatigued due to CBD use, you may have the right to seek compensation for your medical bills, rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Have questions about your rights under the law? Reach out to Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. Our Iowa City, Iowa personal injury lawyers may be able to help you.
Seek Justice If You’ve Been in a Crash in Iowa City, Iowa
Car accidents can be caused by a range of factors in Iowa City, Iowa. Fatigue, use of certain drugs, distraction, texting and driving, and more can contribute to dangerous and deadly crashes. If you believe that the other driver’s consumption of CBD or marijuana may have been a factor in your crash, reach out to Eells & Tronvold, Law Offices PLC, a personal injury law firm in Iowa City, Iowa. Or connect with USAttorneys.com to get matched with the personal injury lawyers at Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC today.
