The effect of recreational cannabis legalization on rates of traffic injury in Canada

Abstract

AbstractAimsTo measure the impact of Canada's recreational cannabis legalization (RCL) in October 2018 and the subsequent impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) lockdowns from March 2020 on rates of emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations for traffic injury.DesignAn interrupted time series analysis of rates of ED visits and hospitalizations in Canada recorded in population‐based databases from January/April 2010 to March 2021.SettingED visits in Ontario and Alberta and hospitalizations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, the Prairies (Manitoba and Saskatchewan) and the Maritimes (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Prince Edward Island).ParticipantsMonthly counts of presentations to the ED or hospital for motor vehicle injury or pedestrian/cyclist injury, used to calculate monthly rates per 100 000 population.MeasurementsAn occurrence of one or more International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision, Canada (ICD‐10‐CA) code for motor vehicle injury (V20–V29, V40–V79, V30–V39 and V86) and pedestrian/cyclist injury (V01–V09 and V10–V19) within the National Ambulatory Care Reporting System and Discharge Abstract Database.FindingsThere were no statistically significant changes in rates of ED visits and hospitalizations for motor vehicle or pedestrian/cyclist injury after RCL after accounting for multiple testing. After COVID‐19, there was an immediate decrease in the rate of ED visits for motor vehicle injury that was statistically significant only in Ontario (level change β = −16.07 in Ontario, 95% CI = −20.55 to −11.60, P = 0.000; β = −10.34 in Alberta, 95% CI = −17.80 to −2.89, P = 0.008; α of 0.004) and no changes in rates of hospitalizations.ConclusionsCanada's recreational cannabis legalization did not notably impact motor vehicle and pedestrian/cyclist injury. The rate of emergency department visits for motor vehicle injury decreased immediately after COVID‐19 lockdowns, resulting in rates below post‐recreational cannabis legalization levels in the year after COVID‐19.