Author: Liaba Khan
It starts as a harmless thought: “I feel fine.” But feeling fine isn’t the same as driving safely. Every impaired driving crash begins with a decision someone thought was harmless. As marijuana use becomes more normalized, one dangerous myth continues to persist: that driving under the influence of marijuana isn’t really driving impaired.
The Ad Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) have launched a campaign challenging the misconception that it’s safe to drive after using marijuana or other cannabis products. Launched in November 2025, the “Tell That to Them” PSA campaign targets men aged 18 to 34, since this group is the most likely to drive while high. The ads use emotional storytelling to highlight the risks of drug-impaired driving.
Created by agency Standard Practice and produced by Spark & Riot, the series reveal common justifications used by young male drivers before driving while high. These include misconceptions that marijuana makes them better or more focused drivers. The central message of this campaign is: “If you feel different, you drive different.”
“Our research shows some young men don’t see the risk associated with driving while high—some even believe it makes them better drivers,” said Michelle Hillman, chief campaign development officer at the Ad Council. “We’re proud of this new work that builds on our 30-year partnership with NHTSA.” Education about the dangers of drugged driving can promote behavior change, but many young drivers remain unaware of its risks.
Despite evolving state laws on marijuana use, driving while high remains illegal in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. “Marijuana slows down a driver’s reaction time and impairs their coordination and judgment,” NHTSA Administrator Jonathan Morrison emphasized. He added “this new PSA reminds motorists that driving high puts us all at risk and can have deadly consequences.”
The campaign’s TV, digital, and print ads will appear nationwide. Since its 2019 debut, the Drug-Impaired Driving Prevention campaign has garnered more than $94 million in donated media value and over 7.5 billion impressions.
To learn more, visit AdCouncil.org or NHTSA.gov.
Source: The Ad Council and NHTSA Confront Dangerous Misconceptions Fueling Drug-Impaired Driving
Campaign Video: Tell That to Them
