Cannabis-impaired driving among young adults showed mixed trends after Washington State opened retail stores
In the five years after Washington State opened cannabis retail stores, alcohol-impaired driving decreased while cannabis-impaired driving held steady overall but decreased among cannabis users specifically.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
From 2014 to 2019, alcohol DUI decreased overall (AOR 0.93) and among drinkers (AOR 0.95). Cannabis DUI did not change overall (11% by 2019) but decreased significantly among cannabis users (AOR 0.91; 33% by 2019). DUI after combined use showed a non-significant decrease. All prevalence rates remained at concerning levels.
Key Numbers
12,963 participants; DUI-alcohol decreased (AOR 0.93, overall; 10% by 2019); DUI-cannabis stable overall (11% by 2019); DUI-cannabis decreased among users (AOR 0.91; 33% of users by 2019); DUI-combined trended down non-significantly
How They Did This
Weighted logistic regressions analyzing annual Washington Young Adult Health Survey data from 12,963 participants aged 18-25 across 2014-2019, assessing yearly trends in alcohol, cannabis, and combined substance impaired driving following cannabis retail store openings.
Why This Research Matters
One of the biggest concerns about cannabis legalization is increased impaired driving. This five-year post-legalization trend analysis provides reassurance that cannabis DUI did not increase while also highlighting that rates remain unacceptably high.
The Bigger Picture
The decrease in alcohol DUI alongside stable overall cannabis DUI after retail legalization suggests fears of dramatically increased impaired driving were not realized, though one-third of cannabis users still reporting DUI is a major concern.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported DUI; no comparison state or pre-legalization baseline; cannot attribute trends specifically to retail store openings versus other factors; Washington-specific results may not generalize; 18-25 age range only
Questions This Raises
- ?Why did cannabis DUI decrease among users but not overall?
- ?Is this because new cannabis users who entered after legalization have different DUI patterns?
- ?What prevention strategies could further reduce these rates?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 33% of cannabis users reported driving impaired in 2019
- Evidence Grade:
- Large annual statewide survey with five years of post-legalization data, though lacking a control comparison and relying on self-report.
- Study Age:
- 2024 publication analyzing 2014-2019 data
- Original Title:
- Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Impaired Driving After the Opening of Cannabis Retail Stores in Washington State.
- Published In:
- Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 25(5), 749-759 (2024)
- Authors:
- Hultgren, Brittney A(5), Calhoun, Brian H(3), Fleming, Charles B(7), Lyons, Vivian H, Rhew, Isaac C, Larimer, Mary E, Kilmer, Jason R, Guttmannova, Katarina
- Database ID:
- RTHC-05390
Evidence Hierarchy
Watches what happens naturally without intervening.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did cannabis retail stores increase impaired driving?
Overall cannabis-impaired driving rates did not significantly change after stores opened, holding steady at about 11% of young adults. Among cannabis users specifically, impaired driving actually decreased over the five-year period. Alcohol-impaired driving also decreased during this time.
How many cannabis users drove impaired?
By 2019, about one-third (33%) of young adult cannabis users in Washington State reported driving under the influence. While this represents a decrease from earlier years, it remains an alarmingly high rate that underscores the need for targeted prevention efforts.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-05390APA
Hultgren, Brittney A; Calhoun, Brian H; Fleming, Charles B; Lyons, Vivian H; Rhew, Isaac C; Larimer, Mary E; Kilmer, Jason R; Guttmannova, Katarina. (2024). Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Impaired Driving After the Opening of Cannabis Retail Stores in Washington State.. Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 25(5), 749-759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-024-01679-6
MLA
Hultgren, Brittney A, et al. "Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Impaired Driving After the Opening of Cannabis Retail Stores in Washington State.." Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research, 2024. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11121-024-01679-6
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Young Adult Alcohol and Cannabis Impaired Driving After the ..." RTHC-05390. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/hultgren-2024-young-adult-alcohol-and
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.