23% of Cannabis Users Drove Within Two Hours of Use
Among nearly 1,000 cannabis users in Israel, 23% drove within two hours of use, with male sex, higher use frequency, and medical cannabis licenses associated with riskier driving timing.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Of 979 cannabis users, 23% drove within 2 hours of use (high risk), 37% waited 3-6 hours (moderate risk), and 40% waited 7+ hours (low risk). Being male (RRR=2.11) and more frequent use (RRR=1.21) predicted moderate risk. Male sex (RRR=1.89) and frequent use (RRR=1.70) also predicted high risk. Medical cannabis license holders had 4x higher odds of moderate-risk driving compared to non-medical users. Cannabis use frequency also predicted driving while feeling cannabis effects.
Key Numbers
979 cannabis users; 23% drove within 2 hours; 37% waited 3-6 hours; 40% waited 7+ hours; male sex RRR=2.11 for moderate risk; medical license RRR=4.14 for moderate risk; frequency RRR=1.70 for high risk
How They Did This
Cross-sectional online survey of 979 cannabis users in Israel. Measured reported wait times between cannabis use and driving (categorized as high risk: <2h, moderate: 3-6h, low: 7+h). Logistic and multinomial regression identified correlates.
Why This Research Matters
Nearly a quarter of cannabis users drove shortly after use, and medical cannabis users were more likely to drive at moderate-risk intervals, possibly due to daily dosing schedules. This has implications for how medical cannabis programs counsel patients about driving.
The Bigger Picture
As medical cannabis programs expand, the tension between therapeutic use and driving safety grows. Patients using cannabis daily for medical purposes face practical challenges in maintaining long wait times before driving.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-report data subject to social desirability bias. Israel-specific sample with different cannabis culture and laws. Cross-sectional design. Wait time does not directly measure actual impairment. Medical cannabis use patterns in Israel may differ from other countries.
Questions This Raises
- ?What wait time adequately reduces impairment risk across different cannabis products?
- ?Should medical cannabis programs include specific driving guidance as part of treatment plans?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Evidence Grade:
- Moderate: adequate sample size with multivariate analysis, but self-report cross-sectional design in a single country.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication
- Original Title:
- Haven't I waited long enough? The role of wait times and subjective impairment in cannabis-related driving behavior.
- Published In:
- The International journal on drug policy, 135, 104654 (2025)
- Authors:
- Har-Even, Ayelet(2), Lewis, Nehama(4), Eliash-Fizik, Hadar(3), Sznitman, Sharon R
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06633
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06633APA
Har-Even, Ayelet; Lewis, Nehama; Eliash-Fizik, Hadar; Sznitman, Sharon R. (2025). Haven't I waited long enough? The role of wait times and subjective impairment in cannabis-related driving behavior.. The International journal on drug policy, 135, 104654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104654
MLA
Har-Even, Ayelet, et al. "Haven't I waited long enough? The role of wait times and subjective impairment in cannabis-related driving behavior.." The International journal on drug policy, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.drugpo.2024.104654
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Haven't I waited long enough? The role of wait times and sub..." RTHC-06633. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/har-even-2025-havent-i-waited-long
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.