Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41776711›Full record

ArticleJournal of cannabis research2026

Driving by frequent cannabis users 'the morning after' last use of smoked cannabis: an observational driving simulator study.

Christina Zakala, Sampson Zhao, Alex Battistuzzi, Adrien Nette, Justin Matheson, Bernard Le Foll, Bruna Brands, Christine M Wickens, Pamela Kaduri, Omer Hasan and 3 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of cannabis research, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Christina ZakalaInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Sampson ZhaoInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Alex BattistuzziInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Adrien NetteInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Justin MathesonInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Bernard Le FollInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Bruna BrandsInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Christine M WickensInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Pamela KaduriAddictions Division, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Omer HasanInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada.
Wei WangBiostatistics Core, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Sheng ChenBiostatistics Core, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Patricia Di CianoInstitute for Mental Health Policy Research, Toronto, Canada. patricia.diciano@camh.ca.

Funding

Transport Canada ERSTPP
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundIt is well-established that cannabis can affect driving in the hours after cannabis use, but the exact duration of these effects, and relationship with delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) concentrations in blood and oral fluid, remains to be determined.

methodsFrequent (≥ 4 times a week) users of smoked cannabis drove a simulator the morning after (12-15 hours) last use of smoked cannabis; a control group of non-cannabis users matched for age and sex was also included. Concentrations of THC, cannabidiol (CBD) and metabolites were measured in oral fluid and blood at the time of the drive.

resultsIn total, 65 participants (mean age 30 years; 33 males) in each group completed all study procedures. Participants were generally well-matched (age, sex, driving experience, amount of driving per year/week, hours of sleep) but differed in racial breakdown and years of education. Under both standard and dual task (distacted) conditions, standard deviation of lateral position (SDLP) was higher in the control group (standard: 0.305 meters; dual task: 0.272 meters; n=65) compared to the cannabis group (standard: 0.28 meters; dual task: 0.256 meters; n=65); these differences were small (Cohen’s d -0.389 (standard) and -0.359 (dual task)) and were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Measures of speed and following distance were not impacted. Neither blood nor oral fluid THC, CBD or metabolites was significantly correlated with any measure of driving after correction for multiple comparisons; mean concentrations of blood THC was above 2 ng/mL. After correction for multiple comparisons, trends between driving and concentrations of the psychoactive metabolite 11-hydroxy-THC (11-OH-THC) were found. Participants who smoked cannabis the night before reported higher levels of subjective intoxication, and more willingness to drive before the drive, that was not significant after correction for multiple comparisons.

conclusionsThe regular cannabis use group showed no significant impairment in driving performance 12-15 hours after last cannabis use the night before, compared to the control group. Blood and oral fluid THC concentrations may not be an accurate correlate of driving behavior. Large-scale studies are needed to determine whether less frequent users are impaired the morning after last use, and whether the present findings also extend to different routes of administration.

Indexed as

CBDReaction timeSpeedStandard deviation of lateral positionTHC

Identifiers

PMID41776711
PMCPMC13127016

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.