Keeping Canadian Roads Safe Post-Legalization
This sponsored content is from CAA Atlantic. Sponsored content does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Huddle.Today.
On April 13, the Trudeau government announced details on the legalization of marijuana in Canada- a campaign promise long-anticipated by many since the 2015 federal election.
If the tabled legislation is given the green light, it will regulate the production, sale, and usage of cannabis through Bill C-45 (Also known as The Cannabis Act). With the pledged July 1, 2018 deadline less than one year away, public discourse around the plethora of unknowns surrounding justice and public safety can be heard in board rooms and coffee shops across the Nation. Arguably one of the most pertinent issues surrounding legalization is that of Canadian road safety.
As an advocate for the motoring public for over 100 years, CAA is an active stakeholder on all issues related to public and road safety. As such, CAA has been an active contributor and participant in the work of the McLellan task force, the driving force behind federal legislation surrounding legalization.
What will happen to Canadian roads when legal pot is in local storefronts? With so many variables at play, it’s tough to say. Though some states South of the Border have taken the plunge on legalization, the concept remains relatively young, making it difficult to predict the future of road safety with utmost certainty. One thing many Canadians seem to agree on: we need to prepare for the worst. According to CAA polling, 63% of Canadians are concerned that road safety will decline when marijuana is legalized. Bill C-46 was introduced in April alongside The Cannabis Act in hopes of strengthening impaired driving laws to better penalize and deter those who get behind the wheel under the influence of marijuana. This bill would see changes made to the Criminal Code of Canada to include three new offences for those who are found to have a specific level of a drug in their blood within two hours of driving. The bill also proposes strengthening enforcement tools such as oral fluid testing systems as well as recognizing Drug Recognition Evaluators (DRE) as expert witnesses in Canadian courtrooms.
Though certainly, formal legislation is an important starting point, it is imperative that advocacy and government organizations address the issues surrounding legalization through clear and intensive public education. Concerningly, CAA polling shows that 26% of Canadians aged 18-34 believe a driver is either the same or better on the road under the influence of marijuana. This is a dangerous statistic that highlights the need for public awareness on this issue as marijuana impairs the cognitive and motor abilities necessary to operate a motor vehicle and doubles the risk of crash involvement, according to the Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse. It would appear the federal government understands the paramountcy this need for public education holds as they set aside $10 million dollars in funding for marijuana public education programming and surveillance activities in the March 2017 budget. CAA will continue to play a role in public education on this topic.
The specifics surrounding the federal government’s plan for legalization and road safety remain somewhat unclear. There must be a strong sense of urgency among government, police, advocacy groups, and the public to begin aggressively addressing this issue now.
The devil is in the details, which will continue to be unrolled in the months leading up to legalization.
To learn more, visit atlantic.caa.ca/drugdriving.