Former Liberal Treasurer Gives $25k To Fight Drug-Impaired Driving Law

Rifici helped to start Canopy Growth Corporation which is a prominent medical marihuana corporation based in Smiths Falls, Ontario. He stated, “I’ve been fortunate to do quite well in the cannabis industry, which isn’t that big. I’m passionate about creating better policy for cannabis impairment.”

In June 2018, Parliament passed Bill C-46, which created a new drug-related offence for drivers who consume drugs within two hours of driving.

If a driver is found to have at least 2 mg and not more than 5 mg of THC per milliliter of blood, he or she could face a fine up to $1,000. (THC is the primary psychoactive found in cannabis.) In more serious cases, the driver could end up serving a jail term.

There must be a positive blood test of a suspect before the government can secure a conviction. 

Legal Fund Starting

Rifici was the party’s chief financial officer from 2011 to 2016. He believes Bill C-46 draws an arbitrary line between impairment and sobriety which sets the bar too low.

Rifici said, “I’m there for drawing a line, which equals the blood level to impairment, but I don’t think it’s there.

Andrea Furlan, an associate professor of medicine at The University of Toronto, said “People may consume the drug, which may stay in their blood for a long time. The level in the blood is not the best measure of impairment. There should be more measures of behaviour of people performing certain tasks. It is difficult to determine one level of impairment for everybody.” 

C-46 and the Charter

To keep the country’s roads safe, the government has insisted on tougher laws. Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould maintains that Bill C-46 complies with the Charter of Rights.

Ms. Wilson-Raybould recently stated, “It’s my responsibility, as the Minister of Justice and Attorney General to examine legislation for consistency, with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.”.

She added, “By passing the C-46 law, Parliament has helped to make our roads safer.” In a media briefing last week, government officials noted that there have not currently been any new charges as yet involving the new drug-impaired driving offences. 

What if I am Arrested for Drug-Impaired Driving?

Protecting your future after an arrest is a priority when facing criminal charges. The criminal defence lawyers at Kruse Law are knowledgeable in Canada’s criminal laws and impaired driving laws and are committed to winning cases and protecting you from overly harsh sentencing by the Court.

When choosing a good criminal defence lawyer to handle your case, you should look for a firm that has experience handling cases similar to yours. At Kruse Law, our lawyers have successfully handled countless cases involving criminal charges and impaired driving. Our firm has the knowledge and experience needed to handle complex criminal and impaired driving cases. If you have been were arrested for any type of crime or impaired driving in Ontario, contact us at +1-800-699-0806 for a complimentary evaluation of your case, or send an email to defence@kruselaw.ca.