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Abstract
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In addition to setting a legal limit for cannabis, experts say that random roadside testing is the best deterrent for drug-impaired driving. Canada has neither. Meanwhile, seven US states, Australia and 16 European countries have set legal limits. And nine of the European nations plus Australia allow random roadside saliva tests.
Canadian law enforcers are waiting for an accurate roadside test to measure levels of cannabis use (CMAJ Mar. 16, 2015), but they may have a long wait because detecting impairment from cannabis is not as straightforward as detecting alcohol because of the complex nature of the drug and lack of conclusive research about the dose–effect of cannabis.
Other nations have gone ahead and implemented laws, says the President of the European Commission’s Working Group on Alcohol, Drugs, Medicines and Driving Laws. Dr. Alain Verstraete stated in an email that, “The idea is the same as for alcohol, a legal limit is set. Not all people will be impaired with a [blood alcohol count] of 0.05 or 0.08, but they will be sanctioned.”
Once Canada establishes a limit, the next roadblock is testing. Random roadside testing is allowed in at least 10 countries. This is justified on the basis of its proven efficacy in reducing alcohol-impaired driving (WHO report Drinking & Driving ). There is also some evidence that people who are drug-impaired are less likely to drive when the perceived risk of apprehension is increased ( Accident Analysis & Prevention 2006;38:854–61).
But unlike some jurisdictions, Canadian police do not have the authority to demand screening tests without reasonable grounds for suspicion, such as erratic driving or the smell of marijuana. The requirement for reasonable grounds, means our laws are lagging behind other countries such as Australia, says Robert Solomon, national director of Legal Policy for Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Canada ...
Keywords: Cannabis impaired driving; DUID; Ethanol impaired driving
Language: en |