BCAA is raising concerns over road safety over the holidays after releasing survey results Tuesday that reveal people’s plans to mix cannabis and alcohol. File photo.
The BC Automobile Association (BCAA) says this first holiday season with legalized cannabis could be a dangerous one based on results of a survey released Tuesday.
BCAA says the survey, conducted by Insights West with pot users and non-users in B.C, reveals peoples plans to mix cannabis and alcohol at holiday parties.
The company says results also show a concerning misconception about cannabis impairment.
The survey found 67 per cent of marijuana consumers expect to use or are open to using cannabis at holiday events, with 54 per cent of that group saying they will likely use both cannabis and alcohol.
BCAA says 11 per cent of cannabis non-users are open to trying it for the first time over the holidays, which goes up to 18 per cent if offered by a relative or friend.
The director of community impact with BCAA, Shawn Pettipas, says he is concerned about a stat that says 38 per cent of respondents say they are safe to drive after consuming the equivalent of one joint.
In a release, Pettipas pointed to a McGill University study found drivers to be “significantly” impaired for at least five hours after consuming one joint.
BCAA says it is also closely watching other research including a Statistics Canada cannabis study that found 25 per cent of users said they drove within two hours of using both marijuana and alcohol, up from 15 per cent in 2017.
“It’s a new era and parties may be a bit different from now on,” Pettipas said.
“BCAA just wants everyone to have fun and make good decisions. We continue to implore people not to use cannabis and drive. Stay where you are. Find another way home. Never take chances.”
The survey also said 93 per cent of participants said they are worried about people getting behind the wheel that have mixed alcohol and cannabis this holiday season.
CHEK News
