Under Canadian law, it is illegal to drive while under the influence of drugs - any substance which impairs one's ability to make rational decisions and act appropriately - including alcohol.
Cannabis and prescription painkillers fall under federal legislation's definition, while blowing over 0.08% is illegal under state-specific rules.
Legality
Canadian law is extremely stringent when it comes to impaired driving, which is defined as operating any type of vehicle while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, including passenger cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and even boats and ATVs.
Any amount of alcohol or cannabis westcoastbud.io , including THC (the main psychoactive component found in marijuana), in your system is illegal. Furthermore, possessing certain other substances like LSD, psilocybin mushrooms magic mushrooms ketamine PCP cocaine or 6MAM (6MAM is a metabolite of heroin) are prohibited as well.
Drug-impaired driving offences depend on your blood's concentration of cannabis or other drugs and your prior convictions, but entering Canada after having been charged may prove challenging if an impaired driving conviction exists. However, special permission can be obtained by showing proof of having fulfilled their sentence successfully - such as receipts for payments to MADD victim impact panels and an Ignition Interlock Device Removal Document - but only under certain conditions.
Penalties
Doing anything which impairs your ability to safely drive is illegal. This includes cannabis, prescription medications and even over-the-counter remedies such as cold and allergy medication.
Driving under the influence of cannabis impairs you due to changes in depth perception, attention span and concentration, slow reaction time and reduced muscle strength and hand steadiness. THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), one of the active chemicals found in cannabis can also cause hallucinations as well as alter your thinking and mood.
An arrest for driving under the influence of cannabis can bring heavy fines and license suspensions; repeat offences could even result in jail time.
Canadian DUI law distinguishes between indictable and summary offenses; American citizens with outstanding DUI offenses should provide evidence of completion such as receipts for payment of fines, certificates from MADD Victim Impact Panel or Ignition Interlock Device removal documents before entering Canada.
Effects
Consuming cannabis while driving remains strictly forbidden. Canada has established a legal limit of two to five nanograms of THC per millilitre of blood to indicate impaired driving; an oral fluid drug screener measures this concentration.
Driving while under the influence of any detectable levels of other drugs within two hours before driving is illegal; with GHB (also known as grievous bodily harm, liquid ecstasy or cherry meth) naturally produced in low levels by humans being the only exception. Erratic driving, slurred speech or impaired performance on roadside sobriety tests are indicators of impaired driving.
Alcohol and drug-impaired driving incidents have drastically increased since cannabis legalization in Canada. If you have been charged with DUI in the US, chances are it may prevent entry to Canada without special permission from immigration.
Safety
Federal law prohibits having certain concentrations of alcohol, cannabis or other drugs in your system within two hours prior to driving - an offense punishable with fines or jail time.
Many stakeholders emphasized the need for public education on low-risk cannabis use in communities at greater risk of impaired driving, and requested that government consider making it simpler for those who had committed minor offenses to expunge their records.
Youth representatives proposed creating a youth-led advisory body similar to Health Canada's Youth Leadership Team on tobacco and vaping to inform public education efforts and criminalization of cannabis possession for individuals under 18 years of age.
Police-reported impaired driving incidents in 2017 mostly involved alcohol, but some cases involved cannabis as well. While data regarding drug-impaired driving is still emerging, early research indicates cannabis may be contributing to increases in rates of impairment-related incidents in certain jurisdictions.