Ohio officials are expanding a statewide education initiative aimed at reducing Marijuana-Impaired Driving among teenagers. The Ohio program, developed in partnership with AAA and Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), teaches high school students about the effects of marijuana on the brain and how it impairs the ability to drive safely.
For years, schools have implemented campaigns against drunk driving, but this Ohio program focuses on the growing concern surrounding Marijuana-Impaired Driving. The curriculum, titled Shifting Gears, helps students understand how THC the active component in marijuana affects reaction time, coordination, and judgment behind the wheel.
According to educators involved in the Ohio program, many teens underestimate the dangers of Marijuana-Impaired Driving, often believing that marijuana use makes them calmer or more focused. “We hear students say it doesn’t affect them or even improves their driving,” said one instructor. “Those are the misconceptions this program works to correct.”
The Ohio program highlights how THC impacts the developing brain and explains why driving under its influence poses similar, if not greater, risks than alcohol-impaired driving. The goal is to help young drivers recognize that Marijuana-Impaired Driving is not just unsafe it’s also illegal.
Under Ohio law, it is unlawful for individuals under 21 to use non-medical marijuana. Yet, state data shows that Marijuana-Impaired Driving continues to be a growing issue. In the past year alone, the Ohio State Highway Patrol reported 785 arrests involving marijuana impairment and 587 arrests for combined marijuana and other drug impairment.
As part of the expansion, the Ohio Traffic Safety Office is training additional presenters to bring the Ohio program to more schools across the state. So far, 187 educators and community members have been certified to teach about Marijuana-Impaired Driving, ensuring that more high school students receive life-saving information.
The Ohio program uses interactive demonstrations, real-life stories, and scientific explanations to help students visualize how cannabis affects motor skills and decision-making. Officials believe this hands-on approach makes the dangers of Marijuana-Impaired Driving more relatable to young drivers.
Ultimately, the Ohio program reinforces one clear message: impaired driving is dangerous regardless of the substance involved. Whether it’s alcohol or marijuana, Marijuana-Impaired Driving endangers everyone on the road. By expanding this initiative, state officials hope to curb risky behavior, save lives, and create a new generation of responsible, well-informed drivers.
