Driving After Cannabis Use Rose in Canada Post-Legalization, But Not Among Regular Users
Five years after legalization, overall driving after cannabis use increased (5.7% to 7.6-8.8%), but among past-year consumers, the rate slightly declined, suggesting the increase reflects more people using cannabis rather than riskier behavior.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Overall driving after use rose from 5.7% (2018) to 8.8% (2022, OR=1.43) and 7.6% (2023, OR=1.20). Among consumers, it fell from 19.9% to 18.3% (OR=0.81). No change in passenger behavior.
Key Numbers
93,933 participants; 6 waves; overall rose 5.7% to 8.8%; consumers fell 19.9% to 18.3%.
How They Did This
Repeat cross-sectional surveys (ICPS) 2018-2023. 93,933 Canadian participants aged 16-65. Logistic regression by demographics.
Why This Research Matters
The nuanced finding that individual users are not becoming riskier while overall rates rise is critical for policy.
The Bigger Picture
Canada shows legalization increases the user pool without making individual users more reckless.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Self-reported. "Within 2 hours" window. Cross-sectional tracks populations not individuals. Cannot measure impairment.
Questions This Raises
- ?Did public awareness campaigns drive the consumer decline?
- ?Do crash data match these trends?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Consumer driving-after-use fell from 19.9% to 18.3% post-legalization
- Evidence Grade:
- Large-scale multi-year nationally representative data from a real policy change.
- Study Age:
- 2025 publication covering 2018-2023.
- Original Title:
- Cannabis and driving: A repeat cross-sectional analysis of driving after cannabis use pre- vs. post-legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.
- Published In:
- Addictive behaviors, 170, 108419 (2025)
- Authors:
- Kucera, Ava(2), Hammond, David(36)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-06869
Evidence Hierarchy
Follows a group of people over time to track how outcomes develop.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Did legalization increase impaired driving?
Overall rates rose, but among consumers, driving after use slightly declined. The increase reflects more people using cannabis.
How many Canadians drive after cannabis?
7.6% of all respondents and 18.3% of consumers in 2023.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-06869APA
Kucera, Ava; Hammond, David. (2025). Cannabis and driving: A repeat cross-sectional analysis of driving after cannabis use pre- vs. post-legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.. Addictive behaviors, 170, 108419. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108419
MLA
Kucera, Ava, et al. "Cannabis and driving: A repeat cross-sectional analysis of driving after cannabis use pre- vs. post-legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada.." Addictive behaviors, 2025. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2025.108419
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Cannabis and driving: A repeat cross-sectional analysis of d..." RTHC-06869. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/kucera-2025-cannabis-and-driving-a
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.