Ulverston motorist banned after driving with cannabis in system for pain relief

An Ulverston motorist has been handed a driving ban after being found guilty of drug driving involving cannabis with the court hearing that he had been using the substance for pain relief purposes.

The driver was stopped by police during a routine check where concerns were raised about his condition. A roadside test and subsequent blood analysis confirmed the presence of THC the active compound in cannabis above the legal driving limit.

Under UK law the legal limit for THC is 2 micrograms per litre of blood and exceeding this level constitutes a criminal offence regardless of whether the drug was used recreationally or for medical or personal reasons.

In court it was heard that the driver admitted to using cannabis to manage ongoing pain but magistrates ruled that this did not provide a legal defence for driving while over the limit.

Drug driving laws in the UK are strict meaning that even if a substance is taken for self-medication drivers are still responsible for ensuring they are not over the legal threshold or impaired.

Following the evidence the court imposed a driving disqualification along with additional penalties in line with sentencing guidelines for drug driving offences.

Magistrates emphasised that cannabis use can affect reaction time judgement and coordination significantly increasing the risk of road traffic accidents regardless of the reason it was taken.

Police continue to carry out targeted roadside testing across Cumbria as part of ongoing efforts to tackle drug driving offences and improve road safety.

The case serves as a reminder that using controlled substances even for personal or perceived medical reasons can lead to serious legal consequences if driving is involved.

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