Submitted by Coquitlam RCMP
On October 17th non-medical cannabis became legalized. The laws are different in each province, so we’re breaking down B.C. laws and RCMP legislation for you here:
- Can I smoke it in car? Can I smoke it in a bar?” No, drug-impaired driving is illegal in Canada. Impaired driving remains a leading criminal cause of death. Driving after using drugs, even prescription drugs, is just as dangerous as drinking and driving. Smoking and vaping is not permitted in any fully or substantially enclosed public place or workplace, or in the buffer zone around doors, open windows and air intakes to these locations. To learn more about smoking legislation, visit the Province of BC website.
- Can I take it on a bus? On a train? On a plane?” Don’t cross the border with cannabis. It’s illegal to transport cannabis across the Canadian border. It doesn’t matter whether you’re leaving or entering Canada, or what the laws of your destination are. As for travelling between provinces, cannabis laws are different between provinces and territories. This includes legal age, where you can smoke or vape, consume, and buy cannabis. Make sure to learn the laws before you travel. To learn more about cannabis and the border, visit the Government of Canada website.
- Can I make it in a cake so I can sell it where I bake?” The sale of edibles containing cannabis and cannabis concentrates is not currently legal.
- Try it, try it, they all say!” Actually, marijuana use among Canadians aged 15 or older only sits at around 12%. So no, not all your friends are trying it. A reminder that in B.C. you must be 19 years or older to buy, use, possess, or grow non-medical cannabis in B.C. Youth under 19 years of age are banned from entering cannabis stores. It is an offence to sell or supply non-medical cannabis to individuals under 19 and there are strict penalties.
- I drive better when I am stoned, far and away.” Don’t drive high. It does not make you a better driver. Not only can cannabis slow your reaction time and affect your ability to drive, impairment can last for more than 24 hours after use, well after other effects have faded.
Police officers are trained to detect drug impairment and are conducting roadside drug screenings.
Five on the fifth is an occasional series of five lesser known facts about well-known crime and safety issues. Five on the Fifth is compiled and released by the Coquitlam RCMP Communications and Public Affairs Team when the 5th of the month falls on a weekday. Follow #FiveOnTheFifth on Twitter to get the latest updates.
