Study Reveals Concerns Over Cannabis Use and Driving
A newly released study sheds light on how cannabis users perceive driving under the influence, raising concerns among safety experts. According to the research, 84% of marijuana users who smoke, eat, or vape cannabis within eight hours still choose to drive. Even more concerning, this behavior often occurs daily or multiple times per day.
Ryan Adcock of AAA, which commissioned the study, explains that the goal was not only to identify ways to reduce impaired driving but also to understand public perception. Alarmingly, 30% of Virginians believe that cannabis users are actually safer drivers—a dangerous misconception given the impairments marijuana can cause, including fatigue, brain fog, and altered visual and auditory perception.
Further research from the University of Illinois Chicago found a 10% increase in motor vehicle fatalities in states where marijuana was recreationally legalized, including California, Oregon, Alaska, and Colorado.
Adcock hopes this latest study will help shift public perception, emphasizing the importance of driving sober at all times—whether the impairment comes from cannabis, alcohol, or any other substance.
