Investigating higher-risk use and impaired driving : development and implementation of the cannabis legalization impact questionnaire (CLIQ)

Abstract

In 2018, Canada became the second country in the world to legalize recreational cannabis. As legalization plays out, investigation of changes in public health outcomes related to cannabis use and impaired driving is required. The current thesis aimed to identify groups, attitudes, and behaviours related to cannabis-related risks, and determine if prevalence of higher-risk behaviours changed after legalization. An online survey of behaviours, attitudes, and demographics was developed and completed by 608 post-secondary students. Comparative analysis showed relations between attitudes and higher-risk behaviours exist, including associations between impaired driving attitudes and cannabis-impaired driving behaviours. Regression analysis accurately predicted higher-risk cannabis use and impaired driving behaviours. Novel cannabis-related attitudes were predictive of higher-risk behaviours and in some cases more predictive than demographic variables. Analysis of variance revealed that changes in higher-risk behaviours occurred after legalization, but no significant increases were identified. Implications for researchers, law enforcement, policymakers, and consumers are discussed.