Researchers from McGill University and Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research in Montreal, Canada, took on the task of examining the ethical considerations physicians face when patients admit to cannabis-impaired driving. As of October 2018, dried forms of cannabis became legal in Canada for adults age 18 and older, and edibles and concentrates followed in October 2019. This widespread use of cannabis is thought to be one cause of the recent increase in motor vehicle accidents in the country. The research team undertook an ethical analysis in the form of a critical interpretive review. Their synthesis of the available evidence came up with 3 take-home points:
For patients who report driving frequently and using cannabis, the frequency of use, dosage, form of cannabis, tolerance levels, and withdrawal symptoms should be discussed, while informing the patient of the risks, harms, and legal consequences associated with cannabis-impaired driving.
The practitioner’s primary responsibility in the cannabis-impaired driving context is to provide care to patients who drive and consume cannabis, which may include referring patients to mental health care to manage addictive or problematic behaviors associated with cannabis use.
Practitioners may have a duty to report cannabis-impaired driving to legal authorities (such as law enforcement) when the user engages in harmful behavior to themselves or others.
Source: Huerne K, Ells C, Grad R, Filion KB, Eisenberg MJ. Cannabis-Impaired driving: ethical considerations for the primary care practitioner. Ann Med. 2023 Dec;55(1):24-33. doi: 10.1080/07853890.2022.2151716.
