Driving Under the Influence of Cannabis: An Examination of Driving Beliefs and Practices of Medical and Recreational Cannabis Users across the United States

Trends toward the legalization of cannabis are raising concerns about driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC). The goal of this study was to examine the percentage of cannabis users who believe DUIC is safe, who drive within one hour of using cannabis, and who have experienced a DUIC-related incident (i.e., ticket/accident). We further sought to compare these percentages in exclusively medical versus exclusively recreational versus mixed cannabis users and in participants surveyed before versus after legal sales of recreational cannabis. Finally, we examined predictors of DUIC beliefs, practices, and incidents. An anonymous online survey was administered to cannabis users across the 50 United States (N=1773; 54% Male) to assess DUIC beliefs, practices, and incidents. 52.4% reported believing DUIC is safe, 52.1% admitted to driving within one hour of using cannabis, but only 3.9% reported experiencing a DUIC-related incident. No significant differences were found in exclusively medical, exclusively recreational, and mixed cannabis users or in WA respondents surveyed before- and after-legal sales in WA state. Older age, less education, higher frequency and quantities of use, and driving within one hour of use predicted beliefs DUIC is safe. Younger age, more education, higher frequency and quantities of use, younger age of first use, and beliefs DUIC is safe predicted driving within one hour of using cannabis. Male gender, lower income, and higher frequency of use predicted DUIC-related incidents. Rates of DUIC are high among cannabis users but self-reported accidents/tickets are low. Recreational cannabis sales do not appear to be exacerbating these rates. DOI: 10.26828/cannabis.2018.02.001