B.C. holds off on legislation targeting stoned drivers

B.C. Minister of Public Safety Mike Farnworth said there’s not yet any framework in place to crack down on impaired drivers as the legalization of marijuana looms.

The comments came as Ontario said it plans to introduce tougher penalties for drivers caught behind the wheel while under the influence of cannabis.

READ MORE: Ontario introducing tougher laws, stiffer penalties for drug-impaired drivers

Instead, the province is waiting to see what changes will be made by the federal government with Bill C-46, legislation that will amend Canada’s impaired driving laws, Farnworth said Tuesday.

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“What I’d like to see British Columbia do is work with other provinces so we have a common regime right across the country. That would probably be the best way to go,” he said.

“At this particular time, we haven’t put in place what a specific penalty would be.”

READ MORE: Canadian police look for guidance on marijuana legislation

As for intoxication tests, Farnworth said the province will also look to Ottawa for help.

“I know there’s been a lot of work done on saliva tests, for example. [The federal government has] indicated to us that they will be there to support the province in that regard.”

WATCH: Will B.C. follow Ontario’s lead when it comes to distributing marijuana?


But issues surrounding testing for marijuana-related impaired driving will need to be resolved by the time pot is legalized July next year, Farnworth insisted.

Last week, Ontario’s public safety minister said that province will bring in increased fines and longer suspensions for drivers who break the law.

READ MORE: As pot legalization looms, will police keep making arrests?

Ontario is also implementing a zero tolerance policy for teens aged 21 and under, novice drivers and all commercial drivers in the province.

Senior Canadian police officials have also asked Ottawa to postpone the legalization date, over concerns that more time is needed to teach officers how to enforce new laws.

Ottawa has pledged to table legislation legalizing marijuana for recreational use by July 2018.

Another solution looking for a problem. If they can't arrest you for this they'll make another law and arrest you for that. Legalization is like taking shit, when it's finally done it still feels like you gotta big turd up there.

Zero tolerance for commercial drivers? What a crock of shit. What anyone does on their own time is none of anyone's business. A lot of the best drivers in this country smoke cannabis. Cannabis use (except strong edibles) does not change that ability. These dumb politicians are painting us with the same brush as new drivers. All this is is more "cannabis culture discrimination" due to legalization.

So because of your profession as a commercial driver, you will NEVER be able to partake in a completely legal substance? "Legal for all except if you drive for a living"

CalyxCrusher said:

So because of your profession as a commercial driver, you will NEVER be able to partake in a completely legal substance? "Legal for all except if you drive for a living"

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No I guess I should get wasted drunk every night and be head bobbing hung over in the mornings when kids are getting on and off school busses eh?

Farmer J BCNL said:

Zero tolerance for commercial drivers? What a crock of shit. What anyone does on their own time is none of anyone's business. A lot of the best drivers in this country smoke cannabis. Cannabis use (except strong edibles) does not change that ability. These dumb politicians are painting us with the same brush as new drivers. All this is is more "cannabis culture discrimination" due to legalization.

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I challenge any of these legislators to any test of reflex or thinking, while I am stoned. If they lose, they should resign.

I have been training a new worker that just moved from Ontario. He took commercial vehicle driving school. The course cost him $10000 and he had to pass a piss test before he could enroll. The school failed to teach him that you have to warm-up a diesel engine before moving it at highway speeds. They failed to show him how to shift gears without using a clutch. They failed to show him that a diesel engine needs to cool down before shutting it off. There's more things they left out but I was shocked at the lack of training he got for a hard earned Ontario $10000. I told him to forget the course and have begun to properly train him. Clutches cost $5000 lol

I have taught guys how to drive 18 speeds down bush roads while passing joints back and fourth. These guys got paid while I was teaching them to drive and operate equipment. I'll tell you what, the guys i trained are more knowledgeable and are better drivers than someone who passed a piss test and a certified course.

CalyxCrusher said:

So because of your profession as a commercial driver, you will NEVER be able to partake in a completely legal substance? "Legal for all except if you drive for a living"

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They know that they can't prove impairment, so it's a Blanket prohibition for even trace amounts, because they don't know what else to do. its too bad that THC stays in blood for 30 days, unlike coke or booze 24-36hrs. Hopefully things will come out in the wash, everything is still in it's infancy. Science should prevail and prove THC isn't as detrimental as the "straights" claim.

Itsme.

I will refuse any road side THC test they come up with. Even if they suspended my license I could pay a lawyer $8000-$10000 and get off. Small price to pay to keep a job that makes hundreds of thousands of dollars per year.

its a huge liability issue, that's why companies have zero tolerance. We all get choices in life, some choose to be responsible and refrain from puffing on duty, and some do not. Crash or kill somebody high and your screwed for life, impaired or not . Truck driving has random testing in BC, imo not worth the risk vs reward. The rest of us can't be randomly tested, only if an accident has occurred that they (WCB,ICBC)) can demand a blood sample. Cannabis affects people differently, some get high and impaired while others don't. It's tricky, so they just put us "stoners" under one blanket. I know some people that absolutely should not be driving high, while it makes others better drivers. How can they differentiate the two?

Itsme.

itsmehigh said:

its a huge liability issue, that's why companies have zero tolerance. We all get choices in life, some choose to be responsible and refrain from puffing on duty, and some do not. Crash or kill somebody high and your screwed for life, impaired or not . Truck driving has random testing in BC, imo not worth the risk vs reward........

Itsme.

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The rewards are worth the risk imo. Don't be an idiot and you won't crash or kill someone, stoned or sober , commercial unit or personal vehicle, it applies to both.

It'sthesame.

I wonder what kind of device they will come up with for over sleepy drivers?
or ones that are effected by food and IBS....
or ones that worked way to hard and are tight and sore from the day and cant react like they should be able to
or an old man or woman in the 80's...or 90's even

this shit is just SHIT people.. cant prove something that's not an issue by just saying it is...
look where that thinking has got our government
...and where our rights and truths have come to the forefront.. COURT OREDERD

Farmer J BCNL said:

The rewards are worth the risk imo. Don't be an idiot and you won't crash or kill someone, stoned or sober , commercial unit or personal vehicle, it applies to both.

It'sthesame.

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Even if it's not your fault, you will be screwed. There are so many terrible "straight" drivers out there, being a pro I shouldn't need to tell you. Being in a crash, your fault or not, a demand can be made to prove your innocence. IMO if it was me and my livelihood/family depended on it I would refrain from puffing while behind the wheel on duty, too many fucktards on the road to take that chance.


Itsme.

gb123 said:

I wonder what kind of device they will come up with for over sleepy drivers?
or ones that are effected by food and IBS....
or ones that worked way to hard and are tight and sore from the day and cant react like they should be able to
or an old man or woman in the 80's...or 90's even

this shit is just SHIT people.. cant prove something that's not an issue by just saying it is...
look where that thinking has got our government
...and where our rights and truths have come to the forefront.. COURT OREDERD

Click to expand...

They are trying to put those on the books right now in BC, as distracted driving. You can bet your ass if your in an accident your insurance provider is going to do everything to dismiss any claim. its in peoples best interest to pay attention while driving, it's not too much to ask.

Itsme.

This happened here today. A freight truck tipped on its side on the Highway.
I once saw this before, probably half a mile, as the crow flies, from that spot.
We were next to the truck and I just moved the fuck to the side when I saw the speed at which it was approaching the bend into the harbour.

Not being at least a bit stoned for me is distracted driving.

itsmehigh said:

Even if it's not your fault, you will be screwed. There are so many terrible "straight" drivers out there, being a pro I shouldn't need to tell you. Being in a crash, your fault or not, a demand can be made to prove your innocence. IMO if it was me and my livelihood/family depended on it I would refrain from puffing while behind the wheel on duty, too many fucktards on the road to take that chance.


Itsme.

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I agree with you about the other idiots on the roads. These ppl should not take up a career as a commercial driver. They should instead rely on public transportation to get them from a to b; stoned or sober. They are shitty drivers because they are lacking common sense and skill.
But I can't see what difference it makes if I partake on duty or not. Even if I only smoke at home on private property the elements in the smoke are still going to be in my blood. So if a serious incident should occur I am best off to refuse them the sample either way. It takes a lot of paperwork to force someone to give a blood test so I would have to be seriously in the wrong for them to make me.

It doesn't matter to your employer or insurance if your high or not, but you can bet your ass that they will try their hardest to pass blame to you, to avoid liability or payment. Just saying that to me it's not worth it to jeprodize a 6 figure job. The onus will then be on you to prove your innocence, pretty hard to prove innocence if your passing doobies while training people. Just saying, not the best way to do things. I'm sure your a big boy and can make those judgment calls yourself. Not judging, I drive high all the time, but I know where to draw the line. I refrain when my responsibilities out weigh my personal beliefs, like at work or with kids in the truck, I would rather be safe than sorry.

Itsme.

To be clear, I'm not passing doobies through cities or highways, I said bush roads. There is nobody but other commercial drivers on these roads to begin with. The point I am making is weather I smoked off duty or on duty, the elements of that smoke are in my blood and do not prove impairment. The way I'm comprehending what you are saying is that because I have a good job I should quit cannabis all together because if an accident happened either way I'd loose everything. If that's the case, cannabis use isn't really legalized, it's just something to discriminate certain folks.

Love the discussion btw, hope you don't take offense to what I have shared even though we don't completely agree on the subject.

"Love the discussion btw, hope you don't take offense to what I have shared even though we don't completely agree on the subject."

Never, opinions are just like assholes.......everyone's got one....lol
I like to make people think, that's all. I'm kinda a hypocrite, I like to weigh the pros and cons and let people make their own judgements. I'm the last person who would tell anybody how to run their lives. Knowlage is power, you can't go through life with blinders on.

I agree it's not right to prosecute someone someone with THC in their system, without proving impairment. But currently you can bet the "man" will do everything in his power to shift blame to you. Hell, I should know better but I still puff while I'm driving. If the time comes I will just have to man up and take resonasbilty, I know the concequeses, it's my choice, and yours.

You wouldn't pass doobies in the city or traffic, while on duty?

Itsme.

Maybe if I was driving but not a trainee