Why you shouldn’t drive after consuming marijuana
A contributed post as written for The Safe Driver.
Marijuana is considered a relatively safe drug in Canada, following recent legalization. Marijuana can be medically considered safer than hard-core drugs like cocaine or even alcohol. However, that doesn’t mean marijuana doesn’t impair you in a manner that isn’t detrimental to driving. In fact, in Canada, you can get a DUI for driving after consuming marijuana.
Many Canadians don’t realize that marijuana is a substance that can get you arrested for driving after consuming. According to a State Farm survey conducted in 2016, as many as 44 percent of Canadians are unaware that marijuana can affect driving.
Don’t assume that cannabis use is harmless when it comes to driving. Read along to learn more about driving while impaired by cannabis and how to prevent a cannabis-related DUI:
How Does Marijuana Affect Your Driving Ability?
You may have heard from stoner friends that driving after smoking a joint actually helped them focus on the road ahead. That’s the problem with cannabis. It can make a driver too focused, often to the point of ignoring road hazards that appear out of nowhere.
Cannabis can interfere with your ability to stay alert as a driver in other ways too. The THC content in weed can affect your motor skills and slow down reaction time. It can interfere with your concentration and short-term memory. Cannabis can seriously affect your ability to react quickly, which means the risk of a road accident is high when the driver is high.
Because marijuana affects individual users differently, it’s difficult to establish a “safe” level for consumption before driving. The way you take marijuana, the quantity consumed, and the THC levels in the strain you used can all play a role in impairing you. The government of Canada advises cannabis users to simple not drive high.
What are the Legal Consequences of Driving While High on Weed?
Cannabis is considered a drug that can lead to a DUI charge under new laws in Canada. If you are caught driving while toked, you could lose your driver’s license, even if it’s your first offence, according to Jeff Mass, a Toronto-based criminal defense attorney.
The Bill C-46 sets certain limits of THC levels in blood per millimetre to determine punishment. A THC level of 5 nanograms in blood could result in a maximum fine of $1,000. If your blood has THC in higher concentrations, or if the police detect alcohol in addition, then the minimal fine is $1,000. You would also run the risk of facing jail time up to 10 years.
DUI charges in Canada are serious and you would face quite severe legal consequences if you drive after consuming marijuana.
Is There a “Safe” Level of Marijuana for Drivers?
The Canadian government has yet to determine a “safe” level of marijuana for driving. As mentioned earlier, cannabis affect different people differently. So, no level is currently considered safe for drivers.
Marijuana can potentially stay in your system for up to 12 hours, even if you only smoke a bit. Therefore, to be on the safe and lawful side, simply don’t drive after consuming any amount of marijuana. Have a designated driver, call a cab, or simply crash at a friend’s to prevent a DUI charge on your record.
Marijuana may have a favourable reputation as a drug, but don’t assume it’s harmless while on the road. Even a marijuana-related DUI charge can negatively affect your career prospects in the future.