April 16th 2018 - Social Affairs Committee with Various Witnesses

Senator Poirier: Thank you for being here. In speaking with different people over the last months about the cannabis bill, I came to realize that there seems to be a perception out there that there is no danger in taking or smoking cannabis and being out there and driving. At first, it was among some of the youth that I was hearing this, but I’m even hearing it among some adults lately. They don’t see the danger of it. They would not drive with someone who has drunk alcohol, but they don’t see the danger when they’re smoking cannabis. I know you work with people who have had cannabis issues and addictions in the past. Do you feel that somebody smoking cannabis or under the influence of cannabis is safe at the wheel and driving?

Dr. Levy: Absolutely not. There is good empirical data that backs that up. People who are regular cannabis users often feel they are better drivers. There is a reason for that. Because of the way cannabis affects the brain, they feel more confident. Their actual skills are poor. We’ve seen it in the United States. The rates of car accidents go up.

The Chair: Dr. Kahan, you have the final word on this.

Dr. Kahan: There is no question. They’re continuing to do studies on it, but the risk of cannabis-related car accidents goes up with the amount consumed and the amount of cannabis in the blood. There are good experimental and case-controlled studies to show that cannabis unquestionably impairs driving ability and is a risk factor for fatal accidents. The combination of cannabis and alcohol is even worse than either alone.

The Chair: Thank you very much. I thank both Dr. Levy and Dr. Kahan for being part of our discussions and dialogue today.

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