From January to March in the City of Winnipeg, 97 people tested positive for cannabis consumption out of the 207 that were screened by police.
That's 47 percent during the city's Don't Drive High campaign. In Dauphin in 2024, the RCMP stopped over 50 Cannabis impaired drivers, varying in age and gender. The RCMP is pulling over people who believe that they drive safer or slower when they've consumed cannabis.
Cst. Barry Kirby is a Drug Recognition Expert with the Dauphin RCMP, and says that's not the case.
"It's the exact thing as being impaired by any type of drug or alcohol," said Kirby. "It impairs your fine motor skills. You'll have delayed reactions to stopping or seeing someone. It's equally as dangerous as driving impaired by alcohol."
If you are caught driving while under the influence of cannabis, harsh penalties will follow. The legal limit is 2 nanograms in your system. If you are between two and five nanograms, that will be a summary conviction offence. That includes a license suspension, including a fine up to $1,000.00.
If you are over five nanograms, fines range from $1,000.00 to up to 10 years in jail, based on past convictions. Your first conviction will include a driving suspension and a fine, and your vehicle will be impounded.
Whether you're under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you should plan not to drive.
"It's never worth it to drive. It could be someone in your vehicle or walking down the street," ended Kirby. "Even if you're not the impaired driver, it could be someone else. There is a wide range of impacts it can have, it's never worth it to get behind the wheel impaired."
Kirby has been working with the RCMP for 14 years and has responded to fatal collisions caused by drugs and alcohol.
