Combining cannabis edibles and alcohol significantly increases driving impairment

At each experimental session before dosing, participants completed baseline assessments, including a simulated drive, standard field sobriety tests, cognitive/ psychomotor performance tests, subjective drug effect questionnaires and a blood sample to measure THC and THC metabolite levels. Participants consumed either a cannabis-infused brownie or a placebo brownie one hour after breakfast, and 45 minutes later, they were given either alcoholic beverages or placebo drinks - which provided similar sensory cues as the alcohol drinks to maintain dose blinding - consumed over a 15-minute period. Participants completed the same series of driving and other assessments repeatedly throughout the day for up to 7.5 hours after brownie consumption. Study sessions were spaced at least one week apart to ensure enough time for the drug to leave the body between visits.

Other Johns Hopkins Medicine faculty who were co-investigators on the study and authors on the paper include Ryan Vandrey, Ph.D., Elise Weerts, Ph.D., David Wolinsky, M.D., and Denis Antoine, M.D.

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Johns Hopkins Medicine

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