Results are in from an Australian study investigating the effects of orally ingested and vaporised medical cannabis products containing the intoxicating cannabinoid THC on driving ability.
Carried out by researchers from the University of Queensland and the University of the Sunshine Coast, the study involved 78 participants – 41 of those oral users aged between 21 years and 67 years old and 37 consuming flower via vaporiser (aged 24 years to 67 years old). Participants were excluded if they had a positive drug indication at the start of either session.
The participants were first subjected to testing without consuming cannabis and again around a week later, with cannabis use. Testing involved assessing processing speed, attention, inhibitory control and mental flexibility. In the post-cannabis phase, those using cannabis oil were tested 90 minutes after ingestion and the flower users 15 minutes after use. The reason for the difference is that onset of effects generally takes much longer when using an orally administered oil.
The results indicate both flower and oil groups did not experience a change in information processing speed, divided and sustained attention, or inhibitory control performance; but there were significant reductions in TMT B performance (cognitive flexibility and executive functions). Furthermore, TMT ratio was significantly reduced post consumption of cannabis oil.
While stating TMT B may be sensitive to acute cannabis consumption in medicinal cannabis patients, the researchers say further research is required to determine effect nature and duration, and whether such effects vary depending on the population studied – for example, in regular versus new users.
The study has been published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Review.
In most Australian states and territories, it is illegal to drive with any blood level of THC, regardless of whether it has been legally prescribed or not, or whether any impairment is observed. Even CBD preparations with trace amounts of THC pose a risk of prosecution. And given THC can remain detectable in the body up to a couple of weeks after use, this puts medical cannabis patients needing to drive in a tricky situation.
Amid increasing calls to address this, there is a push in some states for this rule to be altered to be more in line with other prescription medications; i.e. patients can drive as long as they aren’t impaired. Currently in the state of Victoria, the government there has initiated a medical cannabis road safety trial, results from which aren’t expected to be available until the middle of next year.
Results are in from an Australian study investigating the effects of medical cannabis products containing THC on driving ability. Read More
