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| 4. Conclusion |
Because impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada, new drinking and driving laws for 2019 are harsher than ever before. Policy changes in 2016 added drug-impaired driving to drunk driving laws, enhancing the penalty for driving under the influence of drugs.
In 2017, there were over 69,000 impaired driving incidents in Canada—plus nearly 3,500 drug-impaired accidents. Now, the percentage of Canadian drivers who die due to drugs is higher than the rate of alcohol-related driver deaths.
Today, the Criminal Code prohibits operating a vehicle while impaired by a drug, alcohol, or a combination of the two. Penalties range from fines to life imprisonment, but many factors influence the judge’s sentencing decision.
Prohibited Levels
Blood tests can detect levels of THC—the psychoactive component in cannabis—down to two nanograms.
- Less severe offences measure between two and five nanograms per millilitre of blood.
- More severe offences measure five nanograms or more per millilitre of blood.
In short, if you have more than five nanograms of THC in your blood, you will need a good DUI lawyer.
Also, detectable amounts of drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, psilocin (“magic mushrooms”), ketamine, PCP, cocaine, methamphetamine, or 6-mam (a metabolite of heroin) violate drug-impaired driving laws, too.
How Drugs Affect Your Ability to Drive
Drugs affect your ability to drive by altering your motor skills, slowing reaction time, and causing you to “wander” across the road. Drug usage also interrupts your short-term memory and concentration functions, reducing your ability to respond to problems or handle unexpected obstacles in the street.
In short, using marijuana and driving is not advisable because of how it impacts your ability to drive competently. Many of the effects of marijuana usage mimic the symptoms of driving drunk. Neither is safe or optimal for operating a motor vehicle on Canadian roads.
Penalties for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs
Both federal and provincial areas mandate a minimum sentence for driving under the influence of drugs. You may be subject to both national and provincial penalties, depending on the ng per mL concentration of drugs in your blood.
Your prior convictions for similar offences also influence the penalties a judge may hand down. In some scenarios, the minimum sentence depends solely on your history of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Federal Penalties
The federal penalty for driving under the influence of drugs ranges from a $1,000 fine to up to a lifetime in prison. See the below table for details on the minimum and maximum penalties based on the THC range and accident result.
| Amount | Min. Penalty | Max Penalty |
| 2-5 ng of THC | None | $1,000 fine |
| 5+ ng of THC (1st offence) | $1,000 fine | 5 years in prison |
| 5+ ng of THC (2nd offence) | 30 days in prison | 5 years in prison |
| 5+ ng of THC (3rd offence) | 120 days in prison | 5 years in prison |
| Causing Harm | Same as above | 10 years in prison |
| Causing Death | Same as above | Lifetime prison |
Provincial Penalties
The provincial penalty for driving under the influence of drugs ranges from a $250 fine and license suspension for the first offence to mandatory treatment programs and vehicle impoundment by the third offence. Drug-impaired driving Ontario can also result in a six-month ignition interlock plus a compulsory medical exam.
Plus, Ontario penalties apply even if your blood levels are less than the limit of five nanograms per millilitre. See the below table for specifics on the minimum and maximum penalties depending on THC concentration and offence number.
Two to five nanograms of THC per millilitre:
| 1st offence | 3-day license suspension $250 fine |
| 2nd offence | 7-day license suspension $350 education program |
| 3rd offence | 30-day license suspension Treatment program 6-month ignition interlock $450 fine Mandatory medical exam |
Five or more nanograms per millilitre:
| 1st offence | 90-day license suspension 7-day vehicle impoundment $550 fine $198 license reinstatement fee |
| 2nd offence | 90-day license suspension 7-day vehicle impoundment $550 fine $198 license reinstatement fee Mandatory education or treatment program |
| 3rd offence | 90-day license suspension 7-day vehicle impoundment $550 fine $198 license reinstatement fee Mandatory education or treatment program 6-month ignition interlock after license is reinstated |
Post-conviction of five or more nanograms per millilitre of THC, in addition to federal penalties.
| 1st offence | Minimum 1-year license suspension Mandatory 1-year ignition lock when license is reinstated Mandatory education or treatment program Mandatory medical evaluation |
| 2nd offence | Minimum 3-year license suspension Mandatory 3-year ignition interlock when license reinstated Mandatory education or treatment program Mandatory medication evaluation |
| 3rd offence | 10 year to lifetime license suspension Mandatory 6-year ignition interlock when license reinstated Mandatory education of treatment program Mandatory medical evaluation |
How Much Can I Smoke?
Not much conclusive evidence exists in favour of using marijuana and driving safely afterward. Experts have suggested that even a single puff on a joint can cause TCH readings of over two nanograms.
Plus, THC is fat-soluble, meaning it can stay in your body for extended periods. A blood test weeks later may still show trace amounts of THC in your system. However, saliva tests won’t detect cannabis use after about six to eight hours.
Medical Cannabis Users
For many drivers, the question is, can you drive high with a medical card in Canada? Cannabis users who possess a valid prescription do not have the same blood and saliva testing restrictions as the general population.
However, people with medical cannabis prescriptions can still receive impaired driving charges if there is proof that they drove impaired. For example, erratic driving, slurred speech, and other symptoms of impairment in a roadside sobriety test can be enough to land you in court.
Conclusion
Lawmakers have cracked down on drug-impaired driving in Canada, and for good reason. Driving with drugs or alcohol in your system poses a risk to you, your loved ones, and people on public roads.
Plus, navigating drug-impaired cases can be emotional and stressful. If you are involved in a drug-impaired driving case in Canada, contact a knowledgeable lawyer for help today.
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