28% of Australian Medical Cannabis Users Reported Driving Under the Influence

28% of driving respondents reported DUIC. 49-56% typically drove within 6 hours of medical cannabis use. Non-medical cannabis was perceived as more impairing than medical cannabis. Predictors of DUIC included inhaled administration, THC-dominant products, illicit rather than prescribed use, believing cannabis does not impair driving, and not being deterred by roadside testing.

Cross-sectional survey subsection of the Cannabis as Medicine Survey 2020 (CAMS-20). 1,063 respondents who drove in the past 12 months answered driving-related questions about behaviors, attitudes, and perceptions. Binary logistic regression identified predictors of DUIC.

As medical cannabis programs expand, understanding driving behavior among patients is critical. The finding that half of patients drove within 6 hours of use and that many do not perceive medical cannabis as impairing suggests a significant road safety gap.

Medical cannabis patients face a unique challenge: they need their medication but may not recognize when they are impaired for driving. The finding that medical cannabis is perceived as less impairing than non-medical cannabis suggests patients may underestimate their impairment.

Self-reported driving behavior may underestimate actual DUIC rates. Cross-sectional design cannot establish causation. Sample drawn from an advocacy organization survey may not represent all medical cannabis users. Australian driving laws and testing may differ from other jurisdictions.