Ontario Improving Road Safety Ahead of Cannabis Legalization

Ontario Improving Road Safety Ahead of Cannabis Legalization

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Cannabis education and awareness campaign - mosaicedition.ca-ea - file photo
Cannabis education and awareness campaign - mosaicedition.ca-ea - file photo

September 18 2017

Ontario plans to introduce legislation this fall that would increase the consequences and costs for those who drive under the influence of drugs, including cannabis. The measures add to Ontario’s comprehensive cannabis plan introduced in advance of the federal government’s plans to legalize recreational cannabis by July 2018.

In Ontario, the penalties for impaired driving are already among the toughest in Canada. The province has been working closely with public health and safety experts, police, and federal and municipal governments to develop the proposed measures, which build on Ontario’s recent action to align penalties for drug-impaired driving with those already in place for drunk drivers.

New, tougher laws against drug-impaired driving will include zero tolerance for young drivers aged 21 and under, novice drivers — G1, G2, M1 and M2 licence holders and all commercial drivers.

Zero tolerance means that drivers should not get behind the wheel if they have any detectable presence of drugs or alcohol in their system. For cannabis, the federal government will be approving a screening device and setting the thresholds for detectable presence in the coming months.

Ontario’s legislation would also increase monetary penalties for all drivers who fail, or refuse to perform, a sobriety test.

 

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