How Cannabis Users Evaluate Risks, Monitor their Use, and Plan to Get Home Safely: Identifying user groups based on their self-regulation and associations with driving risks

Objective. Preventing Cannabis-impaired driving involves understanding how users assess risk, monitor their use, and plan to get home safely. While extant research has shown substantial heterogeneity in patterns of cannabis use among different user groups, far less research has examined self-regulation among users. The current study aims to identify sub-groups of cannabis users based on how they perceive risks, monitor their impairment, and plan to avoid driving under the influence of cannabis (DUIC) to examine how the different profiles relate to DUIC outcomes. Methods. A BC sub-sample of regular cannabis users from the International Cannabis Policy study (N = 886, Mage = 43.58, SDage = 13.67; 63% female) completed a 2022 online survey. Risk perception, impairment monitoring, planning ability, DUIC-related behaviours, Cannabis use, and related problems were assessed. Results. Latent profile analysis identified cannabis user groups based on level of risk perception, monitoring, and plan to avoid DUI. A three-profile solution had the best fit (LL=-3053.30; BIC=6194.83; entropy=.72). Majority (51%) showed moderate self-regulation with average levels of risk perception, monitoring, and planning. A ‘highly self-regulated’ group (20%) had greatest risk perception, monitoring, and planning. A ‘low self-regulated’ group (29%) had lowest risk perception, less confidence in monitoring, and lower DUI planning. There were significant differences between the profiles and DUIC outcomes. Cannabis users with high self-regulation were less likely to be passengers of drivers under the influence and more likely to intervene to stop friends from driving while impaired, compared to those with low or moderate self-regulation. However, there were no profile differences in reports of having ever driven under the influence of cannabis. Conclusions. Differences in risk perception, monitoring, and planning are associated with self-regulatory abilities. Understanding diverse self-regulation patterns among cannabis users can help identify and mitigate risky behaviors, including DUI.