Alcohol vs Cannabis in Fatal Crashes — The Truth Behind the Numbers

“If you’re grown enough to get high, be grown enough to do it safely.”

There’s a line that doesn’t get talked about enough in cannabis culture—responsibility.

Not the fake kind.
Not the “I’ll be fine” kind.
The real kind.

Because the truth is simple:

Don’t drive high.

And let’s be even clearer—

It doesn’t matter if it’s mushrooms, alcohol, cannabis, or anything else.
Once your mind is altered, your decision-making is altered.
And when you're behind the wheel, that can turn into a mistake you can’t undo.

---

The Reality Nobody Wants to Admit

Every generation has that same conversation.

You’re sitting around a fire, passing something around, debating:

“What’s worse — drinking or smoking?”

Somebody pulls up stats.
Somebody argues feelings.
Somebody says, “Weed ain’t the same.”

And here’s where things get real.

There are two truths happening at once:

• A lot of people use cannabis
• A lot of those same people also drink

So when numbers come out, things get messy.

---

Breaking Down the Numbers (The Honest Way)

The graphic you’re using tells an important story:

• 32% of fatal crashes involve alcohol-impaired drivers
• 41.9% involve THC-positive drivers
• 26.1% fall into other or unknown categories

At first glance, that looks like cannabis is the bigger issue.

But that’s not the full truth.

Here’s what the numbers actually mean:

• Alcohol = Proven impairment
  • There’s a clear legal threshold (BAC 0.08%)
  • If you’re over it, you are considered impaired—period
• THC = Presence, not proof
  • THC can stay in your body for hours, days, even longer
  • A positive test does not mean the driver was high at the time
• Overlap exists
  • Many THC-positive drivers also had alcohol or other substances
  • That’s called poly-substance use, and it matters

---

So What’s Actually More Dangerous?

Let’s cut through the noise.

• Alcohol increases crash risk 4 to 12 times
• Cannabis increases crash risk by about ~25%

That doesn’t make cannabis “safe.”

It just means:

Alcohol has a stronger, more predictable link to impairment.

But here’s the part people miss—

Both can get you killed.

---

Kentucky Doesn’t Play About DUI

In Kentucky, driving under the influence isn’t a slap on the wrist.

You’re looking at:

• Fines
• License suspension
• Possible jail time
• Mandatory programs

And in some states?

You’ll be driving around with a marked license plate, letting everyone know exactly what happened.

That’s not just punishment.

That’s public accountability.

---

The Real Problem: Measuring Cannabis Impairment

This is where things get complicated.

With alcohol, we have a system:

• Breathalyzer
• Blood alcohol concentration
• Clear legal limits

With cannabis?

We’re still figuring it out.

The challenge:

• THC doesn’t behave like alcohol
• It doesn’t rise and fall predictably
• It lingers in the body long after the high is gone

So the real question becomes:

How do we measure when someone is actually impaired—not just positive?

---

Where Science Needs to Go

The future isn’t about guessing.

It’s about building tools that can answer one key question:

“Was this person impaired right now?”

Not yesterday.
Not last weekend.
Right now.

We need:

• Detection that reflects recent use (within hours)
• Tools that measure cognitive impairment, not just chemicals
• Standards that separate responsible users from dangerous behavior

Because without that?

We blur the line between truth and assumption.

---

Let’s Keep It Real

This isn’t about defending cannabis.

This isn’t about attacking alcohol.

This is about ownership.

If you’re grown enough to:

• Roll it
• Light it
• Eat it
• Drink it

Then you’re grown enough to:

Sit down, stay put, and not drive.

---

How We Change The Narrative

The culture is evolving.

Cannabis is becoming legal.
More accepted.
More normalized.

But with that comes responsibility.

Because the goal isn’t just to be free—

It’s to be smart.

It’s to be safe.

It’s to make sure the next time people sit around that fire debating what’s worse…

They can all agree on one thing:

Impaired driving—no matter the substance—is never worth it.

---

Stewart’s Passion

Change The Narrative.