1. Youth Driving Under the Influence of Marijuana
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program
Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department
December 2017

2. Youth Marijuana and Driving
First driver’s license at age 16
No driving between 1am-5am (first year)
No passengers under age 20, except family (first six months)
No more than 3 people under age 20 (second six months)
Marijuana purchase or possession illegal for anyone under age 21
License revoked for minor in possession
Range of penalties for under the influence
Information Sources:
Youth driving laws
Youth driving with other youth
Youth marijuana laws
DUI laws
MIP laws
Referred to as DUID (Driving Under the Influence of Drugs)
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

3. Washington Driver Guide
The risks of smoking marijuana are different from those associated with the consumption of marijuana-infused foods. Inhaling any kind of smoke harms your lungs. Consuming marijuana-infused foods can also be dangerous because it takes longer to feel the effects. It’s easier to have too much because the effects are delayed.
Road traffic arrest and fatality data indicates that after alcohol, marijuana is the most frequently detected psychoactive substance among driving populations. Marijuana has been shown to impair performance on driving tasks and on driving courses for up to 5 hours. Decreased car handling performance, slower reaction times, impaired time and distance estimation, inability to maintain headway, subjective sleepiness, motor coordination, and impaired ability to focus have all been reported.
Marijuana may particularly impair monotonous and prolonged driving. Decision times to evaluate situations and determine appropriate responses increase. Mixing alcohol and marijuana may produce greater impairments than either drug on its own.
Washington State Department of Licensing.
Studies show vigilance, time and distance perception, lane tracking, motor coordination, divided attention tasks and reaction time for marijuana. Marijuana alone increases crash risk, alcohol plus other drugs is an extreme increase in crash risk. Washington and Colorado focus groups with adults show marijuana users do not view use as increasing crash risk and even lean toward thinking it may help them drive.
Source: Drug Impaired Driving: A Guide for States, Governors Highway Safety Association, April 2017
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

4. Fatal Traffic Crash Data
Source of following fatal crash data is the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

5. Seven Counties
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

6. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Cowlitz County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 2 6
33%
Young Adults age 20-29 3 16
19%
Adults age 30-64 49 4%
Adults age 65 and up 0%
All Ages Combined 7 77 9%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Cowlitz County was:
2010 = 1
2011 = 1
2012 = 0
2013 = 1
2014 = 2
2015 = 1
2016 = 1
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

7. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Grays Harbor County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 3 0%
Young Adults age 20-29 2 8
25%
Adults age 30-64 37 8%
Adults age 65 and up 11
All Ages Combined 5 59
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Grays Harbor County was:
2010 = 2
2011 = 0
2012 = 2
2013 = 0
2014 = 0
2015 = 1
2016 = 0
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

8. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Lewis County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 2 0%
Young Adults age 20-29 9
22%
Adults age 30-64 5 44
11%
Adults age 65 and up 18
All Ages Combined 73
12%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Lewis County was:
2010 = 0
2011 = 0
2012 = 1
2013 = 0
2014 = 2
2015 = 4
2016 = 2
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

9. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Mason County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 1
100%
Young Adults age 20-29 2 17
12%
Adults age 30-64 39 5%
Adults age 65 and up 13 0%
All Ages Combined 5 70 7%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Mason County was:
2010 = 0
2011 = 1
2012 = 0
2013 = 1
2014 = 1
2015 = 1
2016 = 1
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

10. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Pacific County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 1 0%
Young Adults age 20-29 4
25%
Adults age 30-64 12 8%
Adults age 65 and up 5
All Ages Combined 2 22 9%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Pacific County was:
2010 = 0
2011 = 0
2012 = 0
2013 = 1
2014 = 0
2015 = 0
2016 = 1
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

11. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Thurston County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 2 17
12%
Young Adults age 20-29 7 38
18%
Adults age 30-64 93 8%
Adults age 65 and up 23 0%
All Ages Combined 16
171 9%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Thurston County was:
2010 = 3
2011 = 1
2012 = 2
2013 = 0
2014 = 4
2015 = 3
2016 = 3
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

12. % of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Wahkiakum County
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 0%
Young Adults age 20-29
Adults age 30-64 2
Adults age 65 and up
All Ages Combined 4
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for Wahkiakum County was:
2010 = 0
2011 = 0
2012 = 0
2013 = 0
2014 = 0
2015 = 0
2016 = 0
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

13. Seven Counties Combined
Drivers in Fatal Traffic Crashes under the influence of Marijuana (THC)
Fatal Crashes
# of Drivers with THC
# of Drivers
% of All Fatal Crashes involving THC
Teens age 16-19 5 30
17%
Young Adults age 20-29 17 92
18%
Adults age 30-64 20
276 7%
Adults age 65 and up 2 78 3%
All Ages Combined 44
476 9%
Total number of drivers in fatal crashes with THC by year for the seven counties combined was:
2010 = 6
2011 = 3
2012 = 5
2013 = 3
2014 = 9
2015 = 10
2016 = 8
THC = The main chemical compound in marijuana that produces effects. Presence confirmed through toxicology testing.
If drivers age was unknown, data was excluded from counts.
Data Source: Washington Traffic Safety Commission.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

14. Driving Under the Influence Data
Source of following youth marijuana impaired driving data is the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

15. Seven Counties
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey 2016.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

16. Seven Counties Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey 2016.
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle when you had been drinking alcohol?
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey 2016.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

17. Seven Counties
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey 2016.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

18. Seven Counties
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) Does anyone who lives with you now use marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
The graph reads the following way:
In Cowlitz County, 17% of 10th graders who live with someone who uses marijuana drove under the influence of marijuana in the past month.
In Cowlitz County, 6% of 10th graders who live in a home where no one uses marijuana drove under the influence of marijuana in the past month.
Based on Healthy Youth Survey data, living in a home with someone who uses marijuana increases the likelihood that youth will drive under the influence of marijuana.
Parents talking with children about using marijuana showed little difference in percent driving under the influence of marijuana.
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey 2016.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

19. Cowlitz County 2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female 8%
Male
10%
All 10th Graders 9%
12th Graders
Female
13%
Male
22%
All 12th Graders
17%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
26%
Male
23%
All 10th Graders
24%
12th Graders
Female
28%
Male
24%
All 12th Graders
26%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

20. Grays Harbor County
2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female 9%
Male
14%
All 10th Graders
12%
12th Graders
Female
14%
Male
16%
All 12th Graders
15%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
25%
Male
27%
All 10th Graders
26%
12th Graders
Female
30%
Male
19%
All 12th Graders
24%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

21. Lewis County 2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female
12%
Male
13%
All 10th Graders
12th Graders
Female
24%
Male
22%
All 12th Graders
23%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
24%
Male
21%
All 10th Graders
22%
12th Graders
Female
33%
Male
31%
All 12th Graders
32%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

22. Mason County 2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
15%
All 10th Graders
12th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
22%
All 12th Graders
17%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
20%
Male
26%
All 10th Graders
24%
12th Graders
Female
22%
Male
All 12th Graders
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

23. Pacific County 2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 10th Graders
15%
12th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 12th Graders
14%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
39%
Male
N/A
All 10th Graders
28%
12th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 12th Graders
22%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

24. Thurston County 2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female
10%
Male
12%
All 10th Graders
11%
12th Graders
Female
17%
Male
22%
All 12th Graders
19%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
21%
Male
19%
All 10th Graders
12th Graders
Female
27%
Male
30%
All 12th Graders
29%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

25. Wahkiakum County
2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 10th Graders 7%
12th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 12th Graders
10%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 10th Graders
33%
12th Graders
Female
N/A
Male
All 12th Graders
25%
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

26. Seven Counties Combined
2016: Recent Driving Within 3 Hours of Using Marijuana
10th Graders
Female 9%
Male
11%
All 10th Graders
10%
12th Graders
Female
15%
Male
19%
All 12th Graders
17%
2016: Recent Riding with Someone who was Using Marijuana
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you drive a car or other vehicle within three hours after using marijuana?
(Healthy Youth Survey 2016) During the past 30 days, how many times did you ride in a car or other vehicle driven by someone who had been using marijuana?
10th Graders
Female
20%
Male
18%
All 10th Graders
19%
12th Graders
Female
25%
Male
26%
All 12th Graders
Data Source: Healthy Youth Survey N/A = not available.
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program

27. Contact Information
Mary Ann O’Garro
Thurston County Public Health & Social Services
Youth Marijuana Prevention and Education Program