Young Canadians face heightened crash risk after consuming cannabis

Young Canadians are more at risk of a vehicle crash even five hours after inhaling cannabis, according to results of a clinical trial conducted at the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (RI-MUHC) and McGill University, and funded by the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA). The research found that performance declined significantly, in key areas such as reaction time, even five hours after inhaling the equivalent of less than one typical joint. The participants' driving performance, which was tested in a driving simulator, deteriorated as soon as they were exposed to the kinds of distractions common on the road. The peer-reviewed study is published online today at 6:00 a.m. EST at  CMAJ Open , an online sister journal to CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal). The trial examined the impact of cannabis on the driving ability of 18 to 24 year old occasional users. CAA polling has found that a significant number of young Canadians - one in five - believe they are as good or better drivers stoned as they are sober. "This new trial provides important Canadian evidence that cannabis can affect the skills needed to drive safely even five hours after consuming," said Jeff Walker, CAA chief strategy officer.