A new study examined the impact of cannabis use on driving performance in older adults who were regular cannabis users.
As noted in a recently published study, though cannabis use is increasing in older adults and studies have shown that cannabis consumption increases the risk of collisions, there is a lack of studies examining the how cannabis consumption in older adults affects their driving (1). Based on this, researchers in Canada intended to study the relationship between “retail cannabis available to the consumer, driving, and associated blood tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels in people over 65 years of age” (1). In the introduction to their study, “Cannabis and Driving in Older Adults,” researchers also noted that THC limits are used in driving impairment tests, though there is still some debate over their effectiveness, plus the possibility of THC tolerance in older cannabis users (1). The study was published in JAMA Network Open on January 18, 2024 (1).
In this study, 31 participants, who used cannabis regularly and were between the ages of 65 and 79, operated a driving simulator before and after smoking cannabis of their choice—most cannabis samples were dominant in tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and contained some cannabidiol (CBD) (1). Researchers tracked their speed, weaving, and reaction time and also measured THC and CBD metabolites in participants’ blood (1).
Researchers observed that weaving increased and speed decreased at 30 minutes after smoking cannabis but not after 180 minutes compared to the control conditions (1). Some of the other notable findings mentioned in the abstract also state (1):
The findings addressed the effects of cannabis, even a regularly used product, on driving. “The present study provides an ecologically valid demonstration that cannabis can impair driving in older adults when they smoke their usual product,” the authors concluded (1). “Consistent with emerging data, blood THC level was not correlated with driving behavior. Older drivers should refrain from using cannabis when contemplating operation of a motor vehicle.”
The study was conducted between March and November 2022 and funded by Transport Canada Enhanced Road Safety Transfer Payment Program (1).
Read more recent coverage on cannabis and older adults.
Reference
Ep 24, Part III: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Kahn
December 26th 2024In the final part of this episode, Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn discuss the need for a national entity to centralize cannabis data collection, moving from snapshot data to continuous updates. They emphasize the importance of accurate lab data and adverse event tracking, suggesting QR codes on packaging to report issues. Yasha suggests harsher consequences for result manipulation and suggests collaboration between state departments and federal entities to support underfunded regulators. They also discuss the potential benefits of off-the-shelf testing and the importance of stability testing. Finally, Yasha shares his top three reading recommendations for the audience.
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