Frequent cannabis users show no driving impairment after two-day break
Study finds no driving impairment in frequent cannabis users after 48 hours of abstinence.
Why it matters
- Implications for public health and enforcement of cannabis-related driving laws.
- Challenges the reliability of blood THC concentrations as indicators of impairment.
By the numbers
- Study involved 191 cannabis users and a smaller comparison group of non-users.
- About 15% of Americans currently use cannabis.
- Most intensive users smoked an average of four joints per day.
The big picture
- Cannabis usage is widespread and understanding its effects on daily activities like driving is crucial.
- Unlike alcohol, there is no reliable biological test for cannabis intoxication.
What they're saying
- Some comments question the relevance and purpose of the study.
- One comment sarcastically notes that it's unsurprising that a drug with a short duration has no effects after two days of abstinence.
Caveats
- Study conducted in a controlled lab environment.
- Did not address all possible driving scenarios.
- Nonuser comparison group was small.
What’s next
- Further research needed to explore real-world driving scenarios and larger comparison groups.