Cannabis Use and Driving Impairment in Older Adults
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):
- Blood THC levels were significantly increased at 30 minutes but not 180 minutes
- Blood THC was not correlated with SDLP [weaving] or MS [mean speed] at 30 minutes, and SDLP was not correlated with MS
- Subjective ratings remained elevated for 5 hours and participants reported that they were less willing to drive at 3 hours after smoking
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
- Di Ciano, P.; Rajji, T. K.; Hong, L.; Zhao, S.; Byrne, P.; Elzohairy, Y.; Brubacher, J. R.; McGrath, M.; Brands, B.; Chen, S.; et al. Cannabis and driving in older adults. JAMA Network Open 2024, 7 (1) DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.52233.
Ep 24, Part II: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
December 12th 2024Evan Friedmann and Yasha Kahn, co-founder of MCR Labs, discuss the discrepancies between current regulations and data on mycotoxins and pesticides in cannabis products. They highlight the need for updated regulations based on new data, emphasizing the importance of accurate testing and labeling. They also discuss the issue of result manipulation, particularly in THC content, and the need for public health officials to address this. Yasha suggests making testing data public to enhance oversight and suggests a national entity to manage this data for better consistency and public safety.
Ep 24, Part I: Data Transparency in Cannabis Testing with Yasha Khan
November 21st 2024Evan Friedmann interviews Yasha Khan, co-founder of MCR Labs, about his journey into the cannabis industry and his efforts to promote transparency and integrity in laboratory practices. Yasha discusses the origins of MCR Labs, which began in Massachusetts to meet the needs of the soon-to-be legal medical cannabis market. He explains the challenges faced, including result manipulation by labs and the impact on public health. Yasha's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) project aimed to gather testing data from 37 states, revealed significant discrepancies in potency and mold results. Despite some states' reluctance to share data, Yasha has made much of this data public, leading to collaborative research and publications on various aspects of cannabis testing.
