Just because cannabis has been legal since 2018, doesn’t mean you can use it and legally drive. That’s the message from SGI as the Crown Corporation announces this month’s Traffic Spotlight – cannabis impairment.

Spokesperson, Tyler McMurchy says the mission along with law enforcement is to share some information to help drivers understand what the laws are. The misconceptions run from people thinking because it’s legal, they can drive right after using it, to those who believe that because there is a ‘zero-tolerance for drug-impaired driving, they will fail a roadside test, even if they used cannabis several days ago, or within the last month. McMurchy explains that zero tolerance means driver shouldn’t get behind the wheel with any level of impairing drugs in their system. Saskatoon Police Service Staff Sgt. Patrick Barbar says, “THC has a shorter lifespan in saliva than it does in urine or blood. For most people, THC will no longer be present in saliva after 12 to 24 hours.

McMurchy says the number of impaired driving roadside suspensions for those under the influence of drugs is on the rise, from 76 licence suspensions in 2020 to 523 last year. Police use federally approved roadside saliva testing devices to determine the presence of THC. They can also detect drug impairment using Standardized Field Sobriety Tests.

Consequences include licence suspensions, vehicle impoundments, financial penalties and the requirement to complete an impaired driving education program. (CJGX)