The Impact of Cannabis Decriminalisation on Road Safety in the ACT

<p dir="ltr">On 31 January 2020, the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) formally decriminalised the possession and use of cannabis with the enactment of the Cannabis Act. Residents can now possess up to 50 grams of dried cannabis, cultivate up to two plants per person, and consume cannabis in their own home1. Data collected so far suggests that cannabis use rates have remained stable following decriminalisation, while charges for cannabis offences have continued to trend downwards. One key question that has not yet been addressed is whether the enactment of the Cannabis Act has had a detrimental impact on road safety. This project sought to answer this question through a retrospective analysis of crashes occurring in the ACT between 1st January 2010 and 31st December 2023. Crash data were provided by ACT Police and Roads ACT.</p>