Impaired driving
Drug-impaired driving has been a criminal offence since 1925.
Impaired driving is the leading cause of criminal death and injury in Canada.
Cannabis-impaired driving can result in injury or death for you, your passengers and others. Cannabis:
impairs your judgment
impairs your ability to react
increases your chances of being in a crash
Never get into a car with an impaired driver. It is not worth the risk.
Mixing cannabis with alcohol increases your level of impairment and leads to an even greater risk of an accident.
How long cannabis effects last
Some effects of cannabis use, for example drowsiness, can last up to 24 hours, well after other effects may have faded.
The time it takes for the effects of cannabis to wear off depends on:
how much and how often you have consumed it
whether it was smoked or ingested
There is no standard waiting time to drive after using cannabis. If you are using cannabis, do not drive. Find an alternative:
stay over
call a taxi
share a ride
use public transit
have a designated driver
Policing
Law enforcement officers are trained to detect drug-impaired driving. They enforce drug-impaired driving laws using:
Standard Field Sobriety Testing (SFST)
typically administered at the roadside
Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) evaluation
includes a series of tests and a toxicological sample (urine or blood)
Oral fluid drug screening equipment
Law enforcement can require a driver provide an oral fluid sample on approved oral fluid drug screening equipment
Blood samples
Law enforcement can demand a blood sample from a driver if they believe the driver has committed an offence
Law enforcement across Canada have SFST and DRE trained officers and the number of officers being trained is increasing. They also have training and access to approved oral fluid drug screening equipment.
Working together against impaired driving
We are working with provincial and territorial partners, as well as other groups such as:
Consequences
You could face consequences like a fine, criminal charges or even jail time if you drive impaired by cannabis or other drugs. Learn more about how impaired driving laws are enforced in Canada.
Check out the Don't Drive High website on the dangers of drug-impaired driving. The site has a number of videos about the impacts of cannabis impairment.
Workplace impairment
Everyone has a role to play in workplace health and safety. Both employees and employers have a responsibility to address impairment in the workplace, whether it is caused by the use of cannabis or anything else.
The Labour Program, through Employment and Social Development Canada, oversees occupational health and safety for federally-regulated workplaces in Canada. Read about impairment and cannabis in the workplace to find out about your responsibilities as an employer and employee.
You will also find links to tools and resources for employers and employees at the same site.