Cannabis consumption poses risks behind the wheel

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The cannabis of today is not your parents’ marijuana.

“From my experience of what we are seeing, it’s either genetically manipulated or it is chemically or synthetically enhanced,” said Tommy Farmer, special agent with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. “Even in the 80s, we would see THC levels at one, two, three percent, a high THC would have been four or five percent. Now, on average, we’re seeing in plant material, on average in Tennessee, that’s grown in Tennessee, it’s close to 14% THC.”

Farmer is in charge of the TBI’s Dangerous Drugs Task Force. He said cannabis coming in from out of state can have levels of THC above 40%. Some oils, as high as 98%.

“Those are incapacitating, simple as that,” Farmer said.

Products containing more than 0.3% THC are illegal in Tennessee. But if they contain the hemp-derived cannabinoid Delta 8, they are legal and do have psychoactive effects. It’s available in gummies, vape products and even drinks. The effects of edible products take longer to set in than smoking a joint.

“They take one, they feel no effects. They take another, they feel no effects, or they drink a little bit more, they start to feel the effects. They’re getting more and more and more saturation into their bloodstream, and so their impairment intoxication level increases significantly,” Farmer explained.

Farmer said people might think they’re okay to drive, until the effects hit them when they’re behind the wheel. Cannabis can slow reaction time, impair judgment of time and distance and decrease coordination.

“The danger is killing someone else. The danger is wrecking; the danger is obviously impairment,” Farmer said. “These are not harmless, by no stretch of imagination. A gummy bear can be absolutely deadly.”

According to data from the Tennessee Department of Safety & Homeland Security, crashes where at least one driver drug tested positive for marijuana increased 47% from 2017 to 2022.

Confounding the danger is people consuming cannabis products in combination with alcohol, other drugs or prescription medication. The National Institute on Drug Abuse reports that studies show the risk of getting in a crash is higher when drivers take multiple substances.

“Many people don’t understand the contraindications or the interactions of these drugs, whether it’s the interaction of an opioid or a stimulant with a cannabinoid, so the interaction of all of these,” Farmer said.

Farmer said the solution is simple.

“Don’t go to any bar or consume any type of product that causes or can cause impairment and then turn around and operate a vehicle and get on the road,” Farmer said. “That’s number one, don’t do it.”

Under Tennessee law, it is illegal to drive under the influence of any drug, controlled substance or medication that affects your central nervous system and impairs your ability to operate a vehicle. It is considered a DUI, just like drinking and driving.

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