With the legalisation of cannabis in Canada, there has been an increase in the number of people charged with impaired driving. If you have been charged with impaired driving, it is important to understand the law and what your options are.
The seriousness of an offence like this requires an impaired driving lawyer, and for you to understand what charges you will be facing. This blog post will provide you with everything you need to know about cannabis and driving.
The Law on Cannabis & Driving
In Canada, it is against the law to drive while impaired by drugs or alcohol – including cannabis. The penalties for driving while impaired by drugs are the same as those for driving while impaired by alcohol. If you are convicted of impaired driving, you will face a fine, a jail sentence, and a driver’s licence suspension.
Cannabis can stay in your system for days or even weeks after you use it. This means that you could be charged with impaired driving even if you smoked cannabis days or weeks before you got behind the wheel.
If you are pulled over by the police and they suspect that you are impaired by drugs, they may require you to take a roadside sobriety test. If you fail the test, you will be arrested and taken to the police station where you will be required to provide a blood sample. The blood sample will be analysed for drugs and alcohol.
If the blood sample shows that you were impaired by drugs at the time of driving, you will be charged with impaired driving. Even if the blood sample does not show that you were impaired by drugs at the time of driving, you may still be charged if the police have other evidence that you were impaired, such as witness testimony or video footage.
Defending an Impaired Driving Charge
If you have been charged with impaired driving, there are a few defences that may be available to you, and an impaired driving lawyer can help coach you through the process of knowing what to say, and how to approach your legal situation.
Some defences that your lawyer may argue is that you weren’t impaired at the time of driving. Another is that your Charter rights were violated when the police pulled you over or when they took your blood sample. This defence can also be difficult to prove because it requires expert testimony about police procedure.
Regardless of your defence or case, it will be up to your lawyer to conduct the legal brief or argument to defend you to the best of your ability. With any luck, the court will grant you reduced or dropped charges.
Conclusion
If you have been charged with impaired driving, it is important to understand the law and what your options are. This blog post has provided you with everything you need to know about cannabis and driving. If you have any questions about your specific situation, please contact a criminal lawyer for advice.
Joel Chevrefils of Alberta Criminal Defence Lawyers is here to defend you against all criminal charges. When charged with a criminal offence, such as impaired driving, domestic violence, or DUI, the first thing you should do is call your trusted Calgary criminal defence lawyer. His professionalism can help you with all concerns regarding your charges and the complex nature of Canada’s legal system. Chevrefils can help you with your charges in and outside Calgary, including Provincial Courts in Cochrane, Airdrie, Okotoks, Red Deer and Edmonton. Trust your case to Calgary’s most experienced criminal lawyer. Call Alberta Criminal Defence Lawyers today at (403) 830-1980.
