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Taking the High Road ? a look at how legalizing marijuana impacts road safety
Canada is on the Cusp of significant changes as the federal government considers legalizing marijuana for recreational use . Although Alberta hasn ’ t experienced the recent boom in dispensaries seen in B . C . and Ontario , the province already has one federally licensed producer currently serving some 3,000 medical marijuana users — with more likely to follow when new legislation is introduced in spring 2017 . Legalizing marijuana is a complicated issue on many fronts , not least of which are those connected to driving . AMA doesn ’ t choose sides : We focus our attention on marijuana and traffic safety . As Canada moves closer to legalization , a recent study by the American Automobile Association ( AAA ) offers a timely reminder that with the impending changes to cannabis laws , attention to road safety issues is vital .
To date , five American jurisdictions have legalized recreational and medical marijuana use , while another 20 states have legalized it for medical use and 20 more are considering doing so this
By RoBin sChRoffel
year . Washington went legal in 2012 , and research conducted in the state between 2010 and 2014 found that the percentage of drivers involved in fatal crashes who ’ d recently used marijuana more than doubled between 2013 and 2014 ( rising from eight to 17 percent ). In other words , one in six drivers involved in a fatal crash had marijuana in their bloodstream .
Closer to home , a 2015 report by the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse shows that among young drivers , it ’ s more common to drive after cannabis use than after drinking ; that marijuana use impairs the cognitive and motor abilities necessary for driving and doubles the risk of crash involvement ; and that after alcohol , marijuana is the most commonly detected substance among drivers who die in crashes .
It ’ s important to note that a growing
Studies show that marijuana use impairs the cognitive and motor abilities necessary for driving and doubles the risk of crash involvement
body of evidence suggests marijuana impairment isn ’ t as straightforward as alcohol intoxication . The level of tetrahydrocannabinol — a . k . a . THC , the main psychoactive component in marijuana — in the bloodstream that results in intoxication is not yet known . And the drug affects individuals differently : One person with a high amount of THC in their system may not be impaired , while another with low levels may be unable to safely operate a vehicle . As such , limits like those for alcohol have not been introduced in Canada .
Exactly how marijuana use affects drivers is not completely understood . It ’ s clear that more research needs to be done to gain a thorough understanding of the effects of marijuana use on drivers , but also to learn how to reliably detect impairment and to develop consistent and fair guidelines in order to ensure road safety .
In Canada , new technologies are being examined . The RCMP is considering roadside saliva screening devices , like those used in Europe and Australia , to detect the presence of THC . Alberta law enforcement agencies are taking steps to ensure officers are able to recognize impairment through behaviour , with some undergoing additional drug-recognition training .
AMA and CAA strongly advocate for more such research and testing . We are currently conducting our own study , and we ’ ll use the results to better understand marijuana legalization and road safety . This study will provide a launching point for collaboration with the federal government to ensure that road safety is kept at the forefront of the legalization issue .
Public education will play a key role in raising awareness about issues connected to driving and marijuana , just as it does in drinking and driving . AMA recognizes the importance of these impending changes in Canadian law and we will be here to make sure road safety doesn ’ t take a back seat .
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