As cannabis use becomes more and more accepted, impairment while driving has also increased leading to challenges in how to educate those behind the wheel.

According to the American Automobile Association (AAA) cannabis is the third most commonly used substance in the United States, following nicotine and alcohol.

Cannabis consumption is legal in 38 states, with 24 states allowing recreational use and 14 states permitting medical use only.

Unlike alcohol, cannabis affects drivers in complex ways that are not easily quantified.

Effects can vary from person to person but may include fatigue/sleepiness, brain fog, changes in visual or auditory perception, impaired body movement and hallucinations/delusions.

Impaired driving due to cannabis use can lead to a heightened risk of crashes, injuries and fatalities.

Although impairment detection due to cannabis is not as straightforward as with alcohol, police are still able to identify cannabis impairment, the AAA said.

“Understanding what motivates cannabis consumers to drive under the influence can be helpful in developing effective safety strategies,” said Dr. David Yang, president and executive director of the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. “With insights on perceptions, decision-making, and behavior, we aim to inform policies and interventions that make our roads safer for everyone.”

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety conducted two separate studies to analyze cannabis consumers’ thoughts, perceptions and reasons for driving under the influence and to develop messages to deter the behavior in the future.

One study used surveys to gain a deeper understanding of cannabis consumers’ behaviors and perceptions of themselves.

The surveys were developed with input from a panel of public health, law enforcement, traffic safety and cannabis subject matter experts.

Survey respondents who are confirmed cannabis consumers reported daily and frequent consumption, with 44.1 percent reporting they consume cannabis multiple times per day.

More than half (57.8 percent) reported that they drive daily.

Nearly 85 percent of respondents reported that they drive the same day that they consume cannabis, with 53 percent saying they consumed an hour or less before driving.

Many believe consumption has little effect on driving, with 46.9 percent believing they either drive the same, a little better (14.7 percent), or much better (19.4 percent).

Nearly 40 percent of respondents indicated they would trust messaging about cannabis use and safe driving from cannabis industry groups and cannabis brands/companies.

While the second study also gauged habits, behaviors and perceptions, it primarily focused on what types of impaired driving messages resonated most with participants who are regular cannabis consumers.

Participants identified specific qualities that they found most engaging:

• Messages that highlighted personal responsibility and safety concerns performed better than messages based on legal risks.
• Participants also strongly preferred realistic, positive and diverse messaging that avoids exaggerated stereotypes.
• To ensure relevancy, messages should be tailored to the intended audience (no one size fits all).

“Effective messaging about cannabis-impaired driving needs to include credible voices, real-world scenarios, and respectful language,” said Jake Nelson, AAA’s director of traffic safety advocacy. “Individuals who consume cannabis come from all walks of life and that should be reflected in the messaging.”

AAA recommended policymakers partner with the cannabis industry to develop impactful and engaging messaging on the dangers of impaired driving.

“Combating impaired driving must be multifaceted — employing policy, enforcement, environmental strategies and health information, all to improve public safety,” the association stated.