Drug-impaired driving has skyrocketed in Canada since the legalization of marijuana

by Clare Marie Merkowsky

The rate of drug-impaired driving offenses jumped 105% overall, with British Columbia seeing a 212% increase.

(LifeSiteNews) — Canada has seen incidents of driving while drug impaired skyrocket since marijuana was legalized by Parliament under the Liberal Party.

According to statistics released by Blacklock’s Reporter, Cannabis Crime Statistics has reported that cases of Canadians driving while under the influence of drugs have more than doubled since 2018 when cannabis was legalized under the leadership of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

“The rate of drug-impaired driving offences increased 105 percent from 2017 to 2020, from nine to 19 offences per 100,000 population, respectively,” according to Cannabis Crime Statistics.

“Due to the new legislation, police have additional means available to detect drug-impaired driving which may in part explain this increase,” it added. “The rate of drug-impaired driving offences increased in all but two jurisdictions.”

The two unaffected regions were Nunavut and the Northwest Territories.

According to the Cannabis Crime Statistics, the highest rates of drug-impaired driving were in British Columbia where the numbers jumped 212%.  The other provinces and territory saw less drastic increases with Yukon up 163%, Prince Edward Island 142%, Ontario 133%, New Brunswick 130%, Québec 88%, Newfoundland and Labrador 83%, Saskatchewan 65%, Nova Scotia 58%, Manitoba 48%, and Alberta 47%.

When cannabis was legalized in 2018, Statistics Canada warned that it was unable to determine how the legalization would impact drug-impaired driving.

“I cannot predict,” testified Yvan Clermont, then-director of StatsCan’s Centre for Justice Statistics.

“Do you have any statistics where you’ve asked people whether they will use marijuana or use it more often after it’s legalized?” Senator Denise Batters of Saskatchewan asked.

“We have not asked that,” Clermont replied.

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Categorised in: Canadian News