Dagga users at risk, insurers warn

People who drive after smoking dagga double their risk of being in a crash and one in 10 daily users become dependent on the drug.

According to PPS‚ a company which provides insurance for professionals‚ that is what is known so far regarding the risks associated with recreational dagga use.

The company was commenting on how dagga’s use could affect people’s insurance.

In 2018, the Constitutional Court ruled that the private cultivation‚ possession and use of dagga was legal.

PPS chief underwriter John Kennedy said as access to dagga increased internationally‚ the effects of it would be a great topic of interest to the insurance industry.

He said evidence was still inconclusive regarding the health risks and potential benefits of smoking dagga.

“On the one hand‚ no deaths have been reported‚ and no studies have clearly documented an increased mortality from the use of the drug.

“On the other hand‚ there’s no consensus among qualified experts that marijuana is safe and effective for use in treating a specific‚ recognised disorder‚” Kennedy said.

Further studies would be necessary to reach a definitive conclusion on the long-term health and mortality impacts of dagga consumption.

The insurance industry must carefully consider the underwriting implications of widespread use, Kennedy said.

“The key considerations will include the frequency‚ purpose‚ and admission of use‚ as well as the type of marijuana used‚ the applicant’s age‚ history of accidents‚ risky behaviour‚ and other substance abuse.”

He said given the many different forms of dagga‚ such as vaporisers and oils‚ an underwriter needed to be able to quantify not only the dosage but the strength involved.

Kennedy said for now‚ PPS would not make any changes to its existing underwriting policy for recreational dagga use.