Intro
More drivers than ever are grappling with decisions about when it is — and isn’t — OK to drive after consuming marijuana, which is now legal for adults to use recreationally in 10 states and Washington, D.C.
Laws and best practices for drivers who drink alcohol have been established by decades of science, but research on the effects of marijuana on driving is far more limited.
Here’s what we know:
- Marijuana causes impairment. Studies show that marijuana can impair motor skills, cognitive function, and other driving abilities. If you’re impaired or are unsure if you’re impaired, experts agree you should not drive.
- It’s unclear how long impairment lasts. Research is underway to establish how long drivers should wait to drive after consuming marijuana, but current recommendations range anywhere from 2 to 24 hours, depending on who you ask. Washington’s Liquor and Cannabis Board recommends at least 5 hours for inhaled marijuana (or longer if it’s an edible). Blood tests can show if someone has used marijuana, but not how impaired a driver is. Regular users can test positive for THC for days after their last use, even though impairment likely lasts just hours.
- Marijuana’s contribution to car crashes and traffic fatalities is unclear. Marijuana’s role in car crashes isn’t as clear as the link between alcohol and crashes, according to IIHS, which found early evidence that crashes increased in recreational marijuana states. Marijuana’s impact on road safety is still being studied and debated.
- Guidelines around marijuana use and driving are limited. Drivers who drink alcohol can look to established guidelines to know how a beer or two could affect their driving, and how long they should wait. Such guidelines haven’t been established for marijuana — and creating them could be complicated. Colorado suggests that occasional users are likely to be impaired after using 10mg of THC or more, but individual results vary.
Experts agree more study is needed, but marijuana’s federal classification as a Schedule I controlled substance adds a tricky barrier. Researchers need federal government approval to use marijuana in studies.
In the meantime, it’s difficult for public safety officials to issue guidance about when it’s safe to get behind the wheel again after using marijuana in legal states, leaving drivers largely on their own to decide.
In order to understand how drivers are currently navigating these difficult choices, The Zebra launched the most comprehensive survey yet among drivers who use marijuana in recreational states.
Definitions
THC: Short for tetrahydrocannabinol, the psychoactive component of marijjuana that makes users feel “high.”
Edible: A marijuana or THC-infused food or drink. The altering effects usually take longer to set in, and they can be longer-lasting and more intense than inhaled marijuana.
Vaping: Using an electronic device that heats marijuana or a marijuana concentrate to release a breathathable vapor.
Key Findings
-
Almost 60% of drivers who use marijuana in legal states admit to driving under the influence
-
Most drivers decide if they’re OK to drive under the influence of marijuana based on how impaired they feel
-
Nearly half of drivers noticed that their driving skills were impaired while they were under the influence of marijuana
-
Drivers are seeking better guidelines around marijuana use and driving, but they’re skeptical of regulations
“It doesn’t matter how much I smoke, I drive fine.”
While 60% of drivers appeared willing to trust their own feelings, they notably did not endorse it as a reliable consideration for all drivers who use marijuana.