Cannabis edibles and alcohol mix impairs driving more than either alone, study finds
The Story
New research from Johns Hopkins Medicine indicates that combining cannabis edibles with alcohol impairs driving more than using either substance alone. The study also found that standard field sobriety tests often failed to detect cannabis-related impairment, whether consumed alone or with alcohol.
Key Facts
- The research was published in JAMA Network Open and led by Johns Hopkins Medicine investigators.
- Thirty healthy adults aged 21 to 55 were enrolled; 25 completed all sessions.
- Participants consumed cannabis brownies with 10mg or 25mg of THC, or a placebo, and alcoholic beverages adjusted to 0.05% or 0.08% breath alcohol level, or a placebo.
- Combined use produced more severe and longer-lasting driving impairment than either substance alone.
- Standard field sobriety tests only identified significant intoxication during the highest alcohol condition (0.08% BrAC) when compared with placebo; cannabis-related impairment often went undetected.
- Lead author Austin Zamarripa stated the interaction between cannabis edibles and alcohol may be synergistic, not merely additive.
- Principal investigator Tory Spindle noted this is the first controlled study examining how cannabis edibles and alcohol interact.
Conflicting Reports
No conflicting reports identified in the source article.
Still Unclear
No open questions identified in the source article.
Misconceptions
No widespread misconceptions addressed in the source article.
Key Figures
- Austin Zamarripa, Ph.D., lead author, assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Tory Spindle, Ph.D., principal investigator, associate professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
- Other researchers: Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., Elise Weerts, Ph.D., David Wolinsky, M.D., Denis Antoine, M.D.
Sources: ScienceDaily
