Cannabis detected in nearly 1 in 10 Brazilian motorcyclists

This Brazilian cross-sectional study examined cannabis use among motorcyclists in São Paulo and Campinas, revealing that 9.6% of the 502 riders tested positive for THC during roadside screening. Using advanced liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry analysis of oral fluid samples, researchers identified cannabis as the most commonly detected psychoactive substance among this high-risk population. The findings suggest that cannabis use is a notable public health concern among motorcyclists, a group already at elevated risk for serious traffic injuries and fatalities.

Age emerged as a significant predictor of THC positivity, showing a non-linear relationship where cannabis use peaked around age 32 before declining in older riders. Perhaps most concerning, motorcyclists with a history of prior crashes showed significantly higher odds of THC positivity (more than 2.6 times greater), suggesting a potential link between cannabis impairment and traffic accidents. While the study found that app-based delivery workers were more frequently using cannabis, this association was not statistically significant after controlling for other factors, indicating that job type alone does not explain the pattern.

These findings underscore the importance of drug-impaired driving prevention in Brazil and highlight the need for more sophisticated monitoring strategies that can identify cannabis-using drivers before they cause accidents. The research emphasizes that policymakers must address the intersection of cannabis use and road safety through evidence-based interventions, public awareness campaigns, and potential legal frameworks governing substance-impaired operation of motor vehicles.