A national awareness campaign developed by FIA Member Club the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) has been urging young drivers to plan a safe ride home if they are intending to consume cannabis edibles.

This comes as CAA polling of 2,896 Canadians in September 2025 revealed that one in five drivers (20%) report having either driven while high or ridden as a passenger with someone driving under the influence of cannabis.

Since being legalised in 2018, there has been a shift in preference from young people towards cannabis edibles over smoking.[i] Due to the delayed onset of effects of edibles, which can often catch users off-guard, and the long driving lives of this age group, CAA’s campaign aims to instil safe driving habits at an early stage to make a lasting impact for road safety.

By taking examples from everyday tasks such as eating, tying shoelaces or answering the door, which become more difficult after consuming edibles, the campaign urges viewers to have a plan to get home safely if they choose to get high.

The national ad campaign ran for six weeks across various social media and digital platforms from November 2025 to December 2025 and reached over 2 million Canadians across the country (25% of the youth population in Canada).

Kristine D’Arbelles, Senior Director of Public Affairs at CAA National, said: “Our campaign flips the typical public education ad formula. Instead of shock tactics, it leans into relatable moments with humour, and encourages young Canadians to plan ahead responsibly.

“The message is simple – if you choose to get high, have a plan, just like you would with alcohol.”

The campaign was also informed by new research from the University of Saskatchewan and funded by the CAA, which has been submitted for peer review, where researchers used a simulator to evaluate driving performance following consumption of cannabis edibles.

The study found that critical driving skills, such as reaction time, lane discipline, and speed control, were impaired, with the risk of collisions noticeably increasing.

In as little as 1.5 hours post-consumption, nearly one-third (30%) of participants were involved in a collision, rising to 44% at 2.5 hours and 58% at the 4-hour mark, highlighting the prolonged impact of cannabis on driving performance.