The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has built one of the most comprehensive public education programs around cannabis impairment and driving, combining state data, research, prevention messaging, and practical guidance designed to help people make safer decisions before they get behind the wheel.
Its 2026 resources go well beyond a simple “don’t drive high” message. CDOT explains the difference between active and inactive THC, provides information about dose and the duration of impairment, addresses cannabis beverages and intoxicating hemp products, offers Spanish-language materials, and gives drivers tools for thinking through the many factors that can affect impairment.
Cannabis impairment cannot be reduced to a single number. Product type, amount consumed, route of administration, timing, individual tolerance, and the use of cannabis with alcohol or other substances can all influence how a person responds. CDOT gives people information they can use to consider those variables before deciding whether they are ready to drive.
The program also pairs education with a clear prevention message: if cannabis may impair you, plan another way home. By giving drivers more information about how cannabis can affect them while emphasizing sober transportation options, CDOT makes responsible decision-making more practical.
CDOT’s approach recognizes that effective cannabis driving education requires more than warnings. People need credible information about what impairment is, what can affect it, and why feeling confident or familiar with cannabis does not necessarily mean someone is safe to drive.
Learn More
2026 Cannabis Impaired Driving Resources:
https://www.codot.gov/safety/impaired-driving/druggeddriving/assets/2026-assets
Cannabis and Driving Data and Research:
https://www.codot.gov/safety/impaired-driving/druggeddriving/data
Program Website:
https://www.codot.gov/safety/impaired-driving/druggeddriving
Cast your vote for the Colorado Department of Transportation for the 2026 Roadwise Award.
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