Impaired driving and legalization of recreational cannabis

This review is an excellent contribution to cannabis and traffic accident prevention research. However, reviews ‘lack of focus and information on youth tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) vaping and driving'. Recently, Canada has approved cannabis for medicinal and non-medicinal use. These changes have also spawned novel cannabis products and formulations including THC vape products (2). Vaporization is an increasingly popular method for cannabis administration, among youths. According to recent research youth cannabis use is increasing in Canada. Vaporization is an increasingly popular method for cannabis administration, among youths (3, 4).
It should be noted that during 2019-2020, both CMAJ and BC Medical Journal reported serious cases of e-cigarette-related lung injury. These cases were predominantly related to THC vaping. Evidence from the recent US/Canada outbreak of e-cigarette, or vaping, associated lung injury (EVALI)-cases of life-threatening pulmonary illnesses caused by THC-containing vaping products. The Government advise that the Canadians should not use vaping products that contain cannabis (According to a recent Canadian Pediatric Society position statement-usually with higher concentrations of THC than traditional dried cannabis)- https://www.cps.ca/en/documents/position/protecting-children-and-adolesc...)- https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/vaping-pulmonar...
Vaping has changed the youth’s tobacco smoking landscape and now the same with cannabis. A recent JAMA study shows that vaping in fact, intensifies the drug effects of cannabis (2). Will the Health Canada and Government of Canada which have become more aggressive in limiting vaping of tobacco also do so for cannabis? Will they step up and disseminate current evidence of extreme danger of THC vaping and driving? This is necessary as it is well known that young drivers are at particularly high risk of crash involvement, in part as a result of their relative inexperience with the complex demands of driving. Moreover, cannabis is the most common illicit drug found among young drivers who die in crashes in Canada (3, 4, 5). These data must inform future road traffic safety legislation and tailor youth targeted appropriate prevention efforts. In addition, this evidence must guide public health policy and clinical interventions surrounding the use of cannabis among youths.
According to a recent position statement of Canadian Pediatric Society (2021), Pediatric health care providers and primary care physicians should address the risks of vaping with all the adolescents they see and further routinely assess youth for vaping, with evidence-based screening tools when needed. Every pediatric patient encounter is an opportunity for a “teachable moment” and clinicians can educate, empower and increase awareness among pediatric patients, parents and caregivers on the extreme danger of mixing THC vaping and driving.