Ontario: The findings of a brand new examine counsel that legalization of leisure hashish could also be related to a rise in deadly motorcar collisions primarily based on information from the US.
The authors of the examine mentioned the implications for Canada in an evaluation printed in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Affiliation Journal).
“Analyses of knowledge counsel that legalization of leisure hashish in United States jurisdictions could also be related to a small however important enhance in deadly motorcar collisions and fatalities, which, if extrapolated to the Canadian context, may lead to as many as 308 extra driving fatalities yearly,” says Ms. Sarah Windle, Woman Davis Institute/McGill College, Montreal, Quebec, with co-authors.
In Canada, the variety of individuals reporting hashish consumption elevated from 14 per cent in 2018 (earlier than legalization) to 17% in 2019 (after legalization). Amongst hashish customers with a driver’s license, 13 per cent reported driving inside 2 hours of hashish consumption, with the variety of people who reported driving after current hashish use growing from 573,000 to 622,000. An evaluation of 2012 information estimated the price of cannabis-related collisions in Canada to be USD 1.1 billion yearly in societal and financial prices, with drivers aged 34 years and youthful answerable for the majority of the prices.
Well being care suppliers can play a job in educating sufferers, and the authors counsel assets to assist.
“Well being care professionals have a chance to coach sufferers in regards to the safer use of hashish merchandise, together with advising towards hashish use and driving (particularly together with alcohol), with a advised wait time of at the least 6 hours earlier than driving,” the authors say.
Authorities regulation and public consciousness may additionally assist scale back the chance of accidents and deaths from driving after hashish use.
“Implementation of impaired driving laws and academic campaigns, together with federal THC driving limits and public consciousness of those limits, could contribute to the prevention of potential will increase in cannabis-impaired driving in Canada,” the authors conclude.
