Bill C-46 sets maximim THC levels and penalties for drivers across Canada

Between 2 and 5 nanograms ( ng ) per millilitre ( ml ) Blood $ 1,000 max . fine

aBove 5 ng / ml , or more than 2.5 ng / ml plus Blood-alcohol level aBove 0.05 % First offence : $ 1,000 min . fine second offence : 30 days min . imprisonment Further offences : 120 days min . imprisonment

police in alBerta can also penalize drivers under the province ’ s traFFic saFety act

2 ng / ml or more

• Immediate three-day vehicle seizure

• 90-day licence suspension

• One-year mandatory participation in an ignition interlock program

• Mandatory participation in remedial course

* Impaired drivers may be charged with additional , more serious offences if their actions cause injury or death .

Can I drive under the influence of cannabis ? Cannabis and other drugs have an impact on your ability to safely operate a vehicle , and drug-impaired driving is already a crime . Unlike alcohol — for which there ’ s a simple breath test to determine intoxication — proving impairment by cannabis requires an expert to make observations about a driver ’ s behaviour . Bill C-46 attempts to fix this problem by specifying blood-concentration limits for tetrahydrocannabinol ( THC ), the main active ingredient in cannabis . If a driver is found with more than the legal maximum amount of THC in their body within two hours of driving , they can be charged with a criminal offence .

Cannabis and driving

Not every driver caught driving under the influence of cannabis will be criminally charged . In late 2017 , amendments to Alberta ’ s Traffic Safety Act created a number of new provincial offences for drivers caught with alcohol or drugs in their blood .

Drivers who are hit with a provincial penalty for impaired driving will face stiff consequences : a 90-day licence suspension and mandatory participation in a remedial course . In addition to such administrative penalties ,

Alberta police may also consider charges under the Criminal Code , including imprisonment for repeat offenders and more serious offences .

Scott Wilson , senior policy analyst at AMA , is optimistic about the impact of the new penalties . “ The legislative framework in Alberta is pretty robust ,” he says . “ But there ’ s a need for continued research about the link between THC and impairment .” Wilson also cautions that the job of preventing cannabisimpaired driving won ’ t be complete until drivers know about the risks . To that end , CAA National , as well as federal and provincial governments , have all begun publiceducation campaigns about the risks of mixing cannabis and driving .

Under the influence There ’ s broad scientific agreement that cannabis intoxication can change driver behaviour . What ’ s less clear , however , is the amount of the drug that ’ s needed to impair driving , and the extent to which it increases the risk of a crash . Each person is affected by cannabis differently ; there ’ s no agreed-upon level of THC that ’ s “ safe ” for everyone . Therefore it ’ s generally best if drivers take a zerotolerance approach .

Unlike alcohol , which has a profound effect on physical coordination even at relatively low levels , cannabis ’ s most

blood test : Glow wellness / alamy ; keys : adrIan blaCk / IstoCk