1 in 5 Older Cannabis Users Drive Within 2 Hours of Using
Among cannabis-using adults 50+, 20% reported driving within 2 hours of consumption, with daily users, men, and those using for mental health reasons at highest risk.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
20.2% of past-year cannabis users aged 50+ reported driving within 2 hours of consumption; daily use (OR=3.31), male sex (OR=1.72), and mental health motives (OR=1.93) were independent predictors of cannabis-impaired driving.
Key Numbers
3,379 total; 729 (21.4%) past-year cannabis users; 20.2% reported driving after use; 64.8% aged 50-64; 35.2% 65+; daily use OR=3.31; mental health motives OR=1.93; male OR=1.72.
How They Did This
Cross-sectional analysis of a nationally representative survey of adults 50+ (N=3,379, with 729 past-year cannabis users), examining correlates of self-reported driving within 2 hours of cannabis consumption.
Why This Research Matters
Cannabis use among older adults is surging, and this population faces unique driving risks from age-related cognitive changes compounded by cannabis impairment — yet they're rarely the focus of prevention efforts.
The Bigger Picture
With baby boomers driving cannabis market growth, the intersection of aging, cannabis use, and driving safety represents an emerging public health challenge that current prevention programs largely ignore.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported driving behavior likely underestimates true prevalence; cross-sectional design; 2-hour window is arbitrary; doesn't assess actual impairment or crash risk.
Questions This Raises
- ?At what THC dose and timing are older adults actually impaired for driving?
- ?Should age-specific cannabis-driving education be developed for 50+ users?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Nationally representative survey with appropriate regression analysis, but self-reported driving behavior and cross-sectional design limit conclusions.
- Study Age:
- Published in 2026, addressing the understudied intersection of aging, cannabis use, and driving safety.
- Original Title:
- Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication.
- Published In:
- Drug and alcohol dependence, 278, 112985 (2026)
- Authors:
- Bonar, Erin E(8), Lei, Lianlian(2), Kirch, Matthias, Hassett, Kristen P, Solway, Erica, Singer, Dianne C, Strunk, Sydney N, Roberts, J Scott, Malani, Preeti N, Kullgren, Jeffrey T
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08130
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Do older adults drive after using cannabis?
Yes — about 1 in 5 adults aged 50+ who use cannabis reported driving within 2 hours of consumption, a rate that may underestimate true prevalence due to social desirability.
Who is most likely to drive after using cannabis?
Daily cannabis users (3.3x higher odds), men (1.7x), and those using for mental health reasons (1.9x) were significantly more likely to drive after consumption.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08130APA
Bonar, Erin E; Lei, Lianlian; Kirch, Matthias; Hassett, Kristen P; Solway, Erica; Singer, Dianne C; Strunk, Sydney N; Roberts, J Scott; Malani, Preeti N; Kullgren, Jeffrey T. (2026). Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication.. Drug and alcohol dependence, 278, 112985. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112985
MLA
Bonar, Erin E, et al. "Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication.." Drug and alcohol dependence, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112985
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Driving after cannabis consumption among US adults ages 50 y..." RTHC-08130. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bonar-2026-driving-after-cannabis-consumption
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.