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Want to curb cannabis-related crashes? Don’t forget older adults

Among people over 50 who use cannabis, those most likely to drive after partaking are men, people who use daily and those who use for mental health reasons

With cannabis-related vehicle crashes on the rise, a study suggests that prevention campaigns shouldn’t focus just on young people.

In fact, 20% of people over 50 who use cannabis products reported that at least once in the past year, they had driven within two hours of using the drug.

That means they likely got on the road while the THC in cannabis still impaired their reaction times, attention and other abilities that are important to driving safely.

The findings, from a University of Michigan team led by addiction psychologist Erin E. Bonar, Ph.D., are published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.

The data behind the study come from the National Poll on Healthy Aging, based at the U-M Institute for Healthcare Policy and Innovation.

Bonar and the poll team published an initial analysis in late 2024, but the paper dives deeper into the data.

“So much of the effort to reduce ‘driving while high’ through awareness campaigns has focused on young people, but our findings show this is a cross-generational issue,” said Bonar, a professor of psychiatry at the U-M Medical School.

“Targeting messages at those middle age and older adults with the highest risk of post-use driving could also include message about the options for addressing the health issues that they may be trying to self-treat with cannabis.”

Those most likely to drive after using cannabis

Adults age 50 and over who use cannabis products daily or nearly daily were three times as likely to say they had driven soon after using, compared with those who only use cannabis rarely, the study finds.

Those who use cannabis for mental health reasons were twice as likely to say they’d driven after using it, compared with those who didn’t list mental health among their reasons for choosing to use cannabis.

And men over 50 who use cannabis were 72% more likely to drive after using THC-containing products, compared with women in the same age group who use cannabis.

In all, the poll showed that 21% of people age 50 and up had used a cannabis product at least once in the last year, including 27% of those aged 50 to 64 and 17% of those aged 65 and up.

Of the 729 respondents over 50 who said they had used cannabis in the past year, 27% said they use it daily or almost daily, while 43% had used it only once or twice. The rest were divided between those who use monthly (14%) and weekly (16%).

Beyond the riskiest groups

While the study results suggest some groups of people over 50 who could especially benefit from targeted preventive messaging about the risks of driving after using cannabis, broad-based messaging appears to be needed, Bonar says.

In all, 65% of the people in the survey who said they use cannabis were between the ages of 50 and 64, with the rest over 65. But there was no difference between the age groups in likelihood of post-cannabis-use driving.

There were also no differences in post-use driving by age, race, ethnicity, income, history of loneliness, or caregiver status.

Those who live in states where recreational cannabis has been legalized were no more likely to drive after using the drug than those living in other states.

In addition to mental health, the poll asked about other reasons that adults over 50 might use cannabis, including several related to health.

In all, 52% of people over 50 who use cannabis cited a mental health or mood-related motive for using cannabis, and 67% cited a sleep-related motive.

There was no difference in whether participants drove after cannabis use based on using it for pain, other medical reasons or sleep-related reasons, once the researchers adjusted the data.

However, there was some signal that those who use it for sleep reasons may be more likely to drive after using.

This suggests a need to help adults age 50 and up understand that there are options for treating these conditions that have much more evidence behind them than cannabis, says Bonar.

It also highlights the need for more robust research on which health conditions cannabis might address most effectively.

Age-specific messaging

Bonar and her coauthors also note that driving guidelines for people over age 50 who choose to use cannabis should also consider the effects of aging on cognitive and motor abilities, and the potential for interactions between cannabis and the prescription drugs that these adults are more likely to take.

Helping adults over 50 who choose to use cannabis understand the potential impacts of today’s more potent cannabis, compared with the forms available in their younger years, is also important, says Bonar.

And when advising people over 50 about reducing driving risks related to their cannabis use, she says, health care providers and public health agencies may want to focus on strategies like using cannabis at times when they’re unlikely to need to drive, such as before bedtime, and the importance of planning ahead for safe transportation via a designated driver or ride share service.

Bonar is a member of IHPI and of the U-M Addiction Center, the U-M Injury Prevention Center and the U-M Eisenberg Family Depression Center.

In addition to the paper on cannabis use and driving among people over 50, the National Poll on Healthy Aging recently issued a report on driving behaviors among people age 65 and over.

Bonar and colleagues also recently published an Injury Prevention Center report on the impact of recreational cannabis legalization in Michigan, including data on motor vehicle crashes and fatalities linked to cannabis.

Additional authors: In ad
dition to Bonar, the study’s authors are Lianlian Lei, Matthias Kirch, Kristen P. Hassett, Erica Solway, Dianne C. Singer, Sydney N. Strunk, J. Scott Roberts, Preeti N. Malani, and NPHA director Jeffrey T. Kullgren.

Funding/disclosures: The poll is funded by Michigan Medicine.

Paper cited: "Driving after cannabis consumption among U.S. adults ages 50 years and older: A short communication," Drug and Alcohol Dependence. DOI: 10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2025.112985

https://www.michiganmedicine.org/health-lab/want-curb-cannabis-related-crashes-dont-forget-older-adults

I have never EVER in my whole 57 years of life, seen someone NOT drive because they smoked pot. Not real THC pot.
That's a bullshit study with numbers pulled out of their ass, because "Pot is bayud, umkay?"

Everyone with a drivers license that smokes pot will drive after smoking.

They also seemed very focused on people over 50. Are they new Boomers, the wiser older generation that academia, media and family loathers everywhere, must villainize.

If the study has a modicum of truth to it, then they would be talking about people 16 to 30, they are more likely to smoke enough higher quality stuff to the point, it would hinder them sufficiently enough to be too impaired to drive. I have only been high enough after smoking a few times, less than 5. And driving was the last thing I wanted to do. And that was either because it was wax, or it was high strain of THC, that also had a high amount of CBD.

I would say those that use CDB definitely should not drive. CDB is a different animal, it doesn't mentally impair you or have the same effect as THC. It impairs your muscles, and makes you narcoleptic. Fall asleep mid sentence.

Point is technically there's plenty of instances of marijuana uses, that would fall in the scope of people shouldn't use and drive.
But straight up regular weed, not trying to be the most potent medical grade known to man, usage is safer than drive while smoking it. Than it is to be traveling with a nagging wife in the passenger seat, fully engaged in bitch mode.
And you don't have to be over 50.
What a strange study, and the angle what a hoot. People over 50 can smoke pot and make way better life choices than a 18 year old frat boy on spring break.

Tenpoundbass says

Everyone with a drivers license that smokes pot will drive after smoking.

Smoking weed that increases paranoia and anxiety can give rise to a thrilling experience when driving solo across a long suspension bridge. So I’ve been told.

I used to be a great fan, thinking that while smoking anything has to be bad for you, there were no downsides to edibles. But there are some. One is that if you take it to help sleep, eventually you can't sleep without it. Though even with that, if you just stop for a week, that problem goes away.

Another is that daily use of edibles causes asthma in me. I know people say it cures asthma, but not in my case. That's one reason I stopped. Also makes it harder for me to piss, not that anyone asked. I think it it must have some blood vessel dilation effect in lungs and prostate.

Then there's the memory thing. Daily use definitely causes short-term memory impairment. That problem also seems to go away after a week or two if you stop.

I've read it increases the rate of psychosis among teens who use it, but not adults. Something about doing it while the brain is still developing seems to be bad.

Never drove while stoned or drunk. That's one perfect record I've got in life at least.

And now, the upsides! It's fun and pretty cheap. Makes sex amazing. That's something most people don't usually mention. Also enhances all foods, which everyone does mention. And music is so much better when stoned.

And unlike alcohol, no hangover. Maybe a bit of grogginess.

Helps break the mind out of ruts. Gives me suddenly very different and creative thoughts.

And of course, it's great for insomnia, until you get dependent on it.

On the other hand, when you're dependent on it, you learn to function quite well while stoned. If you're not used to weed and get very stoned, you can't even tie your own shoes. But once used to it, it seems you can act pretty much normal. When I started working in San Francisco, I would wonder at people who were getting stoned in the morning after getting off the train. But now I see that they probably function OK in their jobs anyway, especially if it's a really boring job like being a building guard.

It's pure corruption that weed is still federally classified as on the same level as fentanyl. No one ever died from a weed overdose. The reason it's still a scheduled drug is that the prison guards union and beer distributors lobby against legalization.

Then again, the increased rate of psychosis among teen users does argue for strictly keeping it away from teens.

The guy I know who admits to smoking weed is addicted.

This is even better than the bitcorn misinformation thread!!

In my observations and others I know, the legalization of marijuana cut into the profits of Big Pharma. That is why they have spent so much in lobbying against weed, amongst other nefarious things. That "research" mentioned above seems funded by them.

For those interested in edibles, be warned: everyone makes the same mistake at first of taking some, thinking it's not working, and then taking more. Then when it hits they are quite miserable for four or six hours, because being way too stoned makes you feel panicked, nauseous, paranoid, fast heart rate, all kinds of badness. The one comfort is knowing it's actually harmless and you'll be OK.

Everyone makes this same mistake until they learn to wait at least two hours before taking more. 5mg is good to start. 10mg is a bit much. I once ate a cookie labeled "420" but didn't realize it meant 420 fucking mg. Holy shit that was unpleasant, but I was fine in the morning.

Two hours, not less. If it's not enough in two hours, OK try more, but not until then.

Tenpoundbass says

They also seemed very focused on people over 50. Are they new Boomers,

Yeah! That's smack dab in the middle of the upper segment of the lower Gen-X generation. Puns intended.

A tip for the budget-conscious: if you buy the "flower" sold to be smoked, toast it for 20 minutes at 250 degrees, and grind it to powder, you've just made a vast supply of edibles. You can literally just eat the powder at that point, though it's hard to measure how much THC you're getting. Start small, just powder the tip of one finger by tapping it in the toasted weed, lick that, and wait two hours.

When people smoke the stuff, the large majority of the THC literally just goes up in smoke. By toasting and eating, you get all of it.

If you don't toast it, it does nothing at all.

Patrick says

For those interested in edibles, be warned: everyone makes the same mistake at first of taking some, thinking it's not working, and then taking more. Then when it hits they are quite miserable for four or six hours, because being way too stoned makes you feel panicked, nauseous, paranoid, fast heart rate, all kinds of badness. The one comfort is knowing it's actually harmless and you'll be OK.

Edibles are literally a different drug. It's absorbed differently and processed by the body differently. If they bake it it's still differently processed but the same drug yet it's still not the same because the liver etc., get their turn to modify it 1st.

Adding heat decarboxylizes it which is less likely to induce paranoia, so I've read. So smokers are getting the decarb'd version for the most part.

Home-Pros bake it before attempting to make things like cannabutter at home - not sure what the edible industry does. But if you make something like butter out of it and don't bake it 1st, that's a mistake.

There are temp vs. time tables available online that help with this endeavor.

Not that I've ever tried that spending most of my life in apartments. That's how one might start getting nasty letters from the neighbors. Especially if you smoke it and blow it up a bathroom vent without knowing the vents are shared, and that you're smogging their bedroom

That definitely never happened to me in my younger years. But I have heard stories. I might have also seen letters posted on all of the doors on my apartment complex wing. With maybe one personalized. Followed by a general warning letter to all tenants from manaement instead of panzy ass neighbors who don't appreciate the complex nuance of the various varieties that a bud tender might sell you.

Did you know Belmont even outlawed smoking cigarettes anywhere? I think that was a great move. I hate those things. I hold my breath when I pass by a smoker. I made the mistake of walking past a smoking bar in the Vegas airport this week while getting exercise waiting for my next connection.

Airplane connection. Not that other kind of connection.

Patrick says

Holy shit that was unpleasant, but I was fine in the morning.

I ate so much by accident one time that I woke up the next day still high and got scared thinking i had fucked up my brain and was going to stay like that for a long time. Some beers and another good night sleep got me over it.

Maga_Chaos_Monkey says

Not that I've ever tried that spending most of my life in apartments.

Good point. When you toast the flower, using, say, a toaster oven, it's going make the whole apartment or house reek very intensely of weed.

It's advisable to take the toaster oven outside and do the toasting there if you can. Or maybe you live in your own house and like the smell of weed. I actually find the smell pleasant, though a lot of people don't.

I've heard cooking it in say a slow cooker / crock pot with butter and water might offend sensitive neighbors as well.

Also that the toaster should be at such a low temperature no smoke should be produced. A color change should be expected but it shouldn't turn burnt/brown or it's too hot. Maybe. I think so?

You might be right.

Patrick says

If you don't toast it, it does nothing at all.

Pot firecrackers is one way to go. I’d use peanut butter and not the unhealthy nutella. And as Patrick advised, don’t forget to decarboxylate.

I had a buddy who would make a big batch, take it to work, and eat spoonfuls. He said he got through four years at his job doing this and nobody caught on. Or maybe they did?

https://weedmaps.com/learn/products-and-how-to-consume/how-to-make-firecrackers

Cannabis stocks surge on report Trump seeks to ease restrictions

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Shares of cannabis companies jumped on Friday after the Washington Post reported U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to push the government to dramatically loosen federal restrictions on marijuana.

U.S.-listed shares of Tilray Brands gained 28%, while SNDL , Canopy Growth (WEED.TO), opens new tab and ETF AdvisorShares Pure US Cannabis (MSOS.P), up between 13.5% and 32.5% in premarket trading.
.
According to the report from Thursday, Trump plans to direct agencies to reclassify marijuana as a Schedule III drug, reducing oversight of the plant and its derivatives to the same level as some common prescription painkillers and other drugs.

"We believe this would open the door for pharmaceutical companies to seek approval for more cannabis products, which could then be dispensed the same as other prescription drugs," TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg said in a note.

Trump's administration has been looking to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, a shift that could ease criminal penalties and reshape the industry through potentially lower taxes and by making it easier to secure funding.

Funding remains one of the biggest challenges for cannabis producers, as federal restrictions keep most banks and institutional investors out of the sector, forcing pot producers to turn to costly loans or alternative lenders.

https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/boards-policy-regulation/cannabis-stocks-surge-report-trump-seeks-ease-restrictions-2025-12-12/

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Pot firecrackers is one way to go. I’d use peanut butter and not the unhealthy nutella.

The irony here is amazing. Like "When I make moonshine, I use the peach flavoring that does not have any unhealthy preservatives."

HeadSet says

The irony here is amazing.

Well bless your heart, but marijuana is in no way as toxic as ETOH.

I'm convinced that a small amount of alcohol is good for you. The key is keeping it small.

Exhibit A: The Jews. A good Jew is obligated to drink two glasses of wine each week, Friday night and Saturday night, with an optional third glass during the day on Saturday. They have a longer life expectancy than most other ethnic groups. On the other hand, Jews are famous for not drinking otherwise. "Jews don't drink" is a phrase you sometimes hear.

Exhibit B: Studies show consistently lower mortality in light drinkers than teetotalers, though high alcohol intake clearly shortens life expectancy:

https://www.mayoclinicproceedings.org/article/s0025-6196(13)01002-1/fulltext

Habitual light to moderate alcohol intake (up to 1 drink per day for women and 1 or 2 drinks per day for men) is associated with decreased risks for total mortality, coronary artery disease, diabetes mellitus, congestive heart failure, and stroke.

Many teetotalers don't drink because of their poor health.

Never thought of that.

https://www.vice.com/en/article/trump-might-ease-federal-cannabis-restrictions/

The Washington Post reported that six people familiar with the administration’s discussions have indicated that President Trump is expected to push the government to reschedule cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance.

The sources spoke anonymously, as they were not authorized to speak publicly about the topic. Four of those sources claimed Trump spoke with House Speaker Mike Johnson—who reportedly opposed the idea—about issuing an executive order to reclassify the drug.

This phone call reportedly came after Trump discussed the matter with health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz.

A source familiar with the matter told CNBC that Trump is expected to issue an executive order as early as Monday.

This would be a real accomplishment by Trump against the forces of corruption (prison guards' union and beer distributors lobbyists).

RWSGFY says

Many teetotalers don't drink because of their poor health.

Why not, if moderate amounts are supposedly healthy?

I think heavy liver damage makes it dangerous to drink at all.

I don't think smoking pot is necessarily a good thing (I smoked it through univeristy and a few years after), but downgrading it from Schedule I to Schedule III is common sense.

It keeps the population tranquilized if nothing else. I wonder what the flouride in the water and the pot do together on the ole brain-o.

Ceffer says

I wonder what the flouride in the water and the pot do together on the ole brain-o.

No cavities and no memory.

Patrick says

I think heavy liver damage makes it dangerous to drink at all.

Drinking is fine. So is smoking.

Drinking is moderation. And if you go crazy drinking for months and go cold turkey it's possible to die. Moderation you could drink 2 beers a day until 80 and have no issues if you don't eat like shit.

Weed, you're generally just dumber in my option. Not a knock, know plenty of people making good money but it holds them back from making really good money.

Food is the bigger drug if you think about it and look around. Drunk might have a beer belly, but the rest of the frame generally seems healthy. Most weed smokers are on the lean side regardless of the munchie thing. Food people are just plain fat. That'll kill you before the 2 prior items.

Food addictions are the worst. I can't imagine what that would be like. I've known some bulimics... Weed will make you stupider if you use it frequently but apparently it wears off.

I'm not sure that there is any safe level of alcohol, research papers or not. But small amounts aren't too bad.

EtOH is one of the strongest drugs out there and it's sanctioned by the state and church!

Hopefully some of these people with felonies from selling a wee bit o weed get that exponged. Did I spell exponged correctly? Patrick's spell check doesn't think so but it doesn't give me any alternative options either.

I have a great friend from high school who can't buy a gun to protect his house due to the fact that he's a 'felon'. That's what I'd like to see come out of this - give single issue non-violent 'offenders' back their freedoms as long as they weren't giving it to kids or something. Or selling something much worse.

My pal is wicked smart and at one point wanted to get into politics. He feels like he can't now due to this issue. He predicted 911 and it freaked me out after it happened. Technically he read about it in a book but he's well informed. Such a waste...

HeadSet says

No cavities and no memory.

The cavities migrate from the teeth to the brain.

Couch lock is a state of extreme sedation and lethargy often experienced after consuming certain cannabis strains, particularly those high in the terpene myrcene. It can make you feel heavy and immobile, as if you're glued to the couch, and while some people enjoy this sensation, others may find it undesirable.

Understanding Couch Lock

Couch lock is a term used to describe a state of extreme sedation or lethargy that can occur after consuming cannabis. It often leaves users feeling heavy and immobile, as if they are "stuck" to the couch. This effect can be enjoyable for some, while others may find it undesirable.

Causes of Couch Lock

Couch lock is primarily influenced by the following factors:

Cannabis Strain: Indica strains are more likely to induce couch lock due to their relaxing properties. They often contain higher levels of myrcene, a terpene that enhances THC's effects.

Terpenes: Specific terpenes contribute to couch lock, including:

Myrcene: Known for its sedative effects.

Linalool: Associated with calming properties.

Beta-caryophyllene: Provides soothing effects.

Consumption Method: Edibles and high-temperature vaping can increase the likelihood of experiencing couch lock compared to other methods.

Effects of Couch Lock

When experiencing couch lock, users may notice:

Heavy limbs and a strong desire to remain seated.

Extreme relaxation and reduced motivation.

Difficulty concentrating or moving.

Managing Couch Lock

If you find yourself in a couch lock state and wish to alleviate it, consider the following tips:

Stay Hydrated: Drink water to help counteract the effects.

Engage in Light Activity: Gentle movement can help shake off the lethargy.

Change Your Environment: A different setting may help stimulate your energy.

Couch lock can be beneficial for muscle recovery or relaxation, but it’s essential to be mindful of its effects and manage your consumption accordingly.

Al_Sharpton_for_President says

Couch lock is a state of extreme sedation and lethargy often experienced after consuming certain cannabis strains, particularly those high in the terpene myrcene. It can make you feel heavy and immobile, as if you're glued to the couch, and while some people enjoy this sensation, others may find it undesirable.

Understanding Couch Lock

I call that butt glue. And it's the Indica strain, and batches with high CDB content.
Lately I have rediscovered the Sativa strain. It's not as upfront intense like Indica. Where it zonks you out for 15 minutes, then aside from being dead ass lazy, you don't feel any head effect. Sativa in my experience is a gradual slow release high. And unless you smoked it like a frat boy at a Dead concert. You perform normally at your daily routine, without losing interest in them. Like happens with the Indica strain.

It seems for the last 20 years or so, Indica has been 90% of all weed available whether from a dispensary or your local weed man. Which is why I'm certain, your local weed man is supplied by legal channels that customers rejected or wasn't up to par with their quality expectations. Before legal and medical legalization, most weed I always encountered was the Sativa variety.

I was never one that enjoyed eating thc products, it puts my stomach in knots. Like someone is holding me while someone else is punching me in the gut.

As for heating weed in the oven to dry it out, don't do that. Weed has a full spectrum of cannabinoids, that are activated at different temperatures.

Which is why I suspect I don't care for wax, edibles, or oil. None of those carry the full spectrum.
To really experience this try smoking flower in a vaporizer bong. You will see the difference in the effects, as you heat it up after each toke.

When prescribed by a Doctor, a patient my be instructed to smoke it at a low temp, then discard the rest. At this point what is left, smells and tastes like a toasty pop corn. Another user could roll that up and smoke it, and it will give you a quick blast. As the canibinoids that makes you really high, are activated at higher heat. But if you did, you will notice, nuances missing the high you get.

In truth the truly medicinal properties in pot, is activated at low heat. So if you heat it up in the oven, the stuff that's left, wouldn't be medicinal at all.