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Medical marijuana laws and driving under the influence of marijuana and alcohol.
- Source :
-
Addiction (Abingdon, England) [Addiction] 2020 Oct; Vol. 115 (10), pp. 1944-1953. Date of Electronic Publication: 2020 Mar 26. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- Aims: Medical marijuana law (MML) enactment in the United States has been associated with increased cannabis use but lower traffic fatality rates. We assessed the possible association of MML and individual-level driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) and also under the influence of alcohol (DUIA).<br />Design and Setting: Three cross-sectional U.S. adult surveys: The National Longitudinal Alcohol Epidemiologic Survey (NLAES; 1991-1992), the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; 2001-2002), and the NESARC-III (2012-2013).<br />Participants: The total n was 118 497: 41 764, 41 184, and 35 549 from NLAES, NESARC, and NESARC-III, respectively.<br />Measurements: Across the three surveys, similar questions in the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule assessed DUIC and DUIA. Ever-MML states enacted MML between 1991-1992 and 2012-2013 (overall period). Early-MML states enacted MML between 1991-1992 and 2001-2002 (early period). Late-MML states enacted MML between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013 (late period). MML effects on change in DUIC and DUIA prevalence were estimated using a difference-in-differences specification to compare changes in MML and other states.<br />Findings: From 1991-1992 to 2012-2013, DUIC prevalence nearly doubled (from 1.02% to 1.92%), increasing more in states that enacted MML than other states (difference-in-differences [DiD] = 0.59%; 95% CI = 0.06%-1.12%). Most change in DUIC prevalence occurred between 2001-2002 and 2012-2013. DUIC prevalence increased more in states that enacted MML 2001-2002 to 2012-2013 than in never-MML states (DiD = 0.77%; 95% CI = -0.05%-1.59%), and in two early-MML states, California (DiD = 0.82; 95% CI = 0.06-1.59) and Colorado (DiD = 1.32; 95% CI = 0.11-2.53). In contrast, DUIA prevalence appeared unrelated to MML enactment.<br />Conclusions: Medical marijuana law enactment in US states appears to have been associated with increased prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis, but not alcohol.<br /> (© 2020 Society for the Study of Addiction.)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1360-0443
- Volume :
- 115
- Issue :
- 10
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Addiction (Abingdon, England)
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 32141142
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/add.15031