Pot-impaired driving cases spike in Quebec since legalization: SQ – Montreal

Its been one whole year since the Cannabis Act made it legal to consume and posses weed in Canada. 

In Quebec the provincial police released their one year assessment painting a portrait of the new reality for law enforcement.

READ MORE : Quebec to offer legal cannabis at $4.49 a gram, beating grey-market price

Since October of 2018 the Sûreté du Québec have opened 1,409 cases relating in the production and distribution of illegal cannabis.

More than 1,400 people have been accused and arrested during police search and seizures throughout the province.

The provincial police say 37,000 plants were seized with the deployment of several hours of helicopter reconnaissance in partnership with the Canadian Armed Forces.

READ MORE: One year after cannabis legalization, B.C. minister says there’s still work to do

Police Seizures between 18 October 2018 and  30 September 2019

• Cannabis plants and weed buds: more than 71 500 units
• Cannabis in bulk: 161 000 g
•  Oil: 15 800 g
• Edibles :23 460 units
• Cash: 180 000 $

WEED ON QUEBEC ROADS:

Cannabis is is one of the most frequently detected drugs behind the wheel in Quebec according to the Surete du Quebec.

Since the legalization of cannabis the provincial police have seen the number hibernated driving cases on Quebec roads jump.

Specialized drug enforcement officers conducted up to 421 evaluations on drivers under the influence,of those 113 were arrested.

An increase of 54 per cent compared to the 310 evaluations, and 75 arrests in 2017.

According to the SQ more than 93 per cent of patrol officers are trained to perform movement coordination tests on impaired drivers and may subject motorists to a blood tests.

READ MORE: Grey market cannabis sellers deeply undercutting legal market, data shows