Psychoactive substances, including cannabis, can affect the ability to carry out normal functions by altering perceptions, judgement, short-term memory, and cognitive abilities. Thus, it is illegal in many settings such as driving, to be under the influence of cannabis. Cannabis use has been associated with impairment of psychomotor and cognitive functions while driving, which increases the risk of crashes (Azofeifa, 2019).
In 2024, 11.7 million (4.3%) people aged 16+ in the US drove under the influence of cannabis in the past year (NSDUH).
In 2024, young adults aged 21-25 (8.6%) had the highest prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis in the past year compared to those underaged 16-20 (5.2%) and adults aged 26+ (3.8%) in the US.
From 2022 to 2024, past year driving under the influence of cannabis decreased among those underaged 16-20 and young adults aged 21-25, while remaining relatively stable among adults 26+ (Figure 1).
In 2024, among those aged 16+ in the US, males (5.9%) drove under the influence of cannabis at a rate that was over double that of females (2.9%).
Past year driving under the influence of cannabis gradually decreased among females from 2022 to 2024, while remaining relatively stable for males (Figure 2).
In 2024, those of two or more races (Multi-race, 7.8%) had the highest prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis in the past year compared to other race/ethnic groups, while Asians (1.3%) had the lowest.
Past year driving under the influence of cannabis increased from 2022 to 2024 among Blacks and Multi-race, while decreasing for Hispanic/Latinos and Whites (Figure 3).
In 2024 in the US, the prevalence of driving under the influence of cannabis in the past year was highest among those who were 200% or more over the federal poverty level (4.4%), followed by those less than 100% federal poverty level (4.3%), and then those between 100-199% of the federal poverty level (4.0%) (Figure 4).
In 2022, among LAC residents who ever used cannabis, over one third (35.6%) reported having ever driven a car while under the influence of cannabis.
In 2022 in LAC, ever users that drove under the influence of cannabis increased with age from 13.5% among youth aged 12-17 years, peaking at 39.1% among those aged 21-29, then decreased slightly to 38.3% among those aged 30+ years (Figure 5).
In 2022 in LAC, male ever users (44.8%) were more likely to have ever driven a car while under the influence of cannabis than female ever users of cannabis (25.6%) (Figure 6).
In 2022 in LAC, ever users who were Black (45.6%) were most likely to have ever driven under the influence of cannabis, followed by AIAN (42.0%), Whites (38.3%), Hispanic/Latinos (34.7%), those who were multi-race/ethnicity (34.6%), and then Asians (17.7%) (Figure 7).
In 2022 in LAC, 29.1% of people aged 12+ reported having been a passenger in a car when the driver was driving under the influence of cannabis.
In 2022 in LAC, cannabis users (58.0%) were more likely to have been a passenger in a car when the driver was driving under the influence of cannabis than non-users (12.5%) (Figure 8).
In 2022 in LAC, among cannabis ever users, the majority of adults aged 21+ had ever been a passenger when the driver was under the influence of cannabis, while 47.2% of youth aged 12-17 , and 33.1% of those underaged 18-20 reported ever being a passenger.
Among non-users, those aged 21-29 (19.6%) and aged 18-20 (19.2%) were most likely to have been a passenger of a driver who was driving under the influence of cannabis (Figure 9).
In LAC in 2022, male users (64.3%) were much more likely than female non-users (11.9%) to have been a passenger of a driver who was under the influence of cannabis (Figure 10).
In LAC in 2022, users who were American Indian/Alaska Native (65.3%), White (64.8%), and Black (64.7%) were most likely to have been a passenger when the driver was under the influence of cannabis, followed by Hispanic/Latinos (57.0%), multi-race/ethnicity (55.8%), then Asians (37.4%).
Among non-users, American Indian/Alaska Native (32.2%) were the most likely to have ever been a passenger when the driver was driving under the influence of cannabis, followed by Blacks (22.6%), those who were multi-race/ethnicity (17.3%), White (16.3%) Hispanic/Latinos (11.9%), then Asians (7.8%) (Figure 11).
Cannabis has been the second (after alcohol) most frequently found substance among drivers of fatal traffic accidents (FARS).
In LAC, from 2001 to 2024, there were 1,626 fatal traffic collisions in which at least one driver tested positive for cannabis (cannabis-involved), accounting for 30.3% of fatal collisions in which at least one driver tested positive for alcohol or drugs (AOD-involved; N=5,364), and 10.0% of all fatal collisions (N=16,307). The number of fatal collisions involving cannabis trended upward from 2003 to 2019, spiked in 2020, plunged in 2021, and increased sharply again in 2023 (Figures 12-13).
There were 1,822 fatalities from cannabis-involved fatal traffic collisions, accounting for 30.5% of AOD-involved fatalities from fatal collisions (N=5,967), and 10.4% of all fatalities from fatal collisions (N=17,437) (Figures 12-13).
Increases in fatal collisions involving cannabis co-occurred with the establishment of the Medical Marijuana Program in 2003, and the decriminalization of cannabis in 2010 which reduced the penalty for possession of <1oz from a misdemeanor to an infraction. The COVID-19 pandemic, along with enforcement and drug detection improvements, may have contributed to the drastic changes in cannabis-involved fatal collisions in 2020-2023 (OTS).
(Notes: Data for 2024 are preliminary and may undercount the number of cannabis-involved fatal collisions and fatalities for those years.
Clear legal THC limits have not been established to determine sobriety since THC concentration of the blood or other specimens and the actual levels of impairment can vary based on dosage, individual cannabis tolerance, and other factors.)
From 2001 to 2024, there were 1,642 drivers in fatal traffic collisions in LAC who tested positive for cannabis, of which 1,332 died (FARS).
(Note: Data for 2024 are preliminary and subject to change)
From 2001-2024, among drivers involved in fatal collisions in LAC who also tested positive for cannabis, over half (55%, N=894) were aged 21-34 years (Figure 14).
(Note: Data for 2024 are preliminary and subject to change)
From 2001-2024, drivers in fatal collisions in LAC who tested positive for cannabis were predominately male (88%, N=1,441) (Figure 15).
(Note: Data for 2024 are preliminary and subject to change)
From 2001-2024, among drivers in fatal collisions in LAC who tested positive for cannabis, Hispanic/Latinos (42%) and Whites (36%) accounted for the largest race/ethnic groups, followed by Blacks (19%), Asians (2%), multiple race/ethnicity (1%), and all other race/ethnic groups (Figure 16).
(Note: Race/ethnicity information available from death certificates. Data for 2024 are preliminary and subject to change)
From 2001-2024, among drivers in fatal collisions in LAC who tested positive for cannabis, 40% were positive for cannabis alone, 28% were positive for both cannabis and alcohol (BAC > 0.08), 20% were positive for both cannabis and other drugs, and 13% were positive for a combination of cannabis, alcohol, and other drugs (Figure 17).
(Note: Data for 2024 are preliminary and subject to change)
Azofeifa, A., Rexach-Guzmán, B. D., Hagemeyer, A. N., Rudd, R. A., & Sauber-Schatz, E. K. (2019). Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana and Illicit Drugs Among Persons Aged ≥16 Years – United States, 2018. MMWR. Morbidity and mortality weekly report, 68(50), 1153–1157. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6850a1
California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). (2022). 2021 California Annual Report. https://www.ots.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2022/11/Annual-Report-2021_Final_For-Remediation-compressed.pdf.
California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS). (2026). 2025 California Annual Report. https://www.ots.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/67/2026/03/FY_2025_Annual_Report_Final.pdf
Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2024). Results from the 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH): Detailed tables. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/data/report/2023-nsduh-detailed-tables. Tables 8.34B and 8.35B.
Marijuana Use and Public Perceptions in Los Angeles County: Findings from the 2022 Community Needs Assessment (CNA). Health Outcomes and Data Analytics, Substance Abuse Prevention and Control, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, April 2024. http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/sapc/MDU/SpecialReport/Marijuana-Use-and-Public-Perceptions-in-Los-Angeles-County.pdf. Retrieved 4/17/2024
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). https://www.nhtsa.gov/research-data/fatality-analysis-reporting-system-fars. Data as of 4/1/2026