Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould announced on Aug. 27 that the federal government has approved the Dräger DrugTest® 5000, a saliva test police can use if they suspect a driver is high on drugs.
“Impaired driving is the leading criminal cause of death and injury in Canada,” said Wilson-Raybould in a release.
“We are giving law enforcement the tools, technology, and the resources they need to protect Canadians on the road.”
SEE RELATED: Feds approve roadside saliva test ahead of pot legalization
The test can screen for not just marijuana, but meth, opioids, cocaine and methadone, among other substances.
Wilson-Raybould’s announcement left some Citizen readers with a number of questions.
“So we need more info,” wrote Mark Roberts on the Citizen’s Facebook page. “How long after smoking is one considered to be impaired? According to [the] roadside test.”
“I’m curious on the specific details of this test,” added Stacie Eastman. “For example if you smoke one hour before driving, a day before driving, a week before driving etc. is it still going to come up as high levels?”
Trieanna Chantelle-Jean Butler and Tina Brenton wondered why pot is being singled out.
“What about all the people driving on prescribed meds?” asked Brenton.
“So when will they do roadside saliva test for opioids prescribed for pain or benzo [Benzodiazepines] for anxiety?” Butler asked. “People use those meds and abuse and drive and they even use them as needed and drive and it’s not illegal? Marijuana like any other medication has a window of adjustment where our bodies adjust to the medicine. How will we decide who is illegally impaired vs. medically treating a condition?”
To Florian Prenz, it “sounds like a case of being a user or a driver. Impaired is impaired in my opinion no matter what the substance is.”
Agreed, said Jacob Teufel.
“There are tons of people who know their limit,” he wrote.
sarah.simpson@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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