A Complete List Of The Punishments For Driving High On Marijuana In Every Canadian Province
Canada is just one month away from legal recreational marijuana.
While legalization is a federal initiative, it will be up to the individual provinces to devise regulations for both the distribution of weed and the enforcement of drug-related offenses.
The best advice to avoid these penalties: just don't drive high.
British Columbia
In B.C., driving high carries the same penalties as driving drunk with a few additions, according to the provincial government site.
First offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for three days, driver responsible for towing fees
– $200 fine
Second offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for seven days
– $300 fine
– possible driving course
Third offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for thirty days
– $400 fine
– driving course
– possible mandatory ignition interlock (device that measures THC or blood-alcohol level in blood to turn on a vehicle)
Alberta
The government of Alberta clearly lists the penalties for driving high.
First offense:
– immediate 90-day licence suspension
– immediate 3-day vehicle seizure
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– immediate 90-day licence suspension
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– mandatory 30-day imprisonment
Third offense:
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– mandatory 120-day imprisonment
Saskatchewan
This information comes from the Saskatchewan driver's licensing and vehicle registration agency.
First offense:
– license suspension for three days
– impounded vehicle for three days
– mandatory driving course
Charge:
– driver’s licence suspension until the court has disposed of the charge
– 30-day vehicle seizure, driver responsible for towing fees
– 60-day suspension if driver is also impaired by alcohol and has a blood alcohol concentration over .16
Conviction:
– one-year driving suspension to a maximum of five years
– fine of $1,250 to $2,500
– mandatory driving course
Manitoba
The Manitoba Public Insurance site clearly lists the penalties for driving high.
First offense:
– suspension of driver's license for one year
– possible 18 month imprisonment
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– five year suspension of driver's license
– minimum 30 days imprisonment
Third offense:
– ten year suspension of driver's license
– minimum 120 days imprisonment
Accident that leads to bodily harm or death:
– 5 year suspension of driver's license
– possible 10 year imprisonment
Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation lists three different categories of penalty: offense without indictment, charges, and court conviction.
First offense:
– 3 day suspension of license
– $250 fine
Second offense:
– 7 day suspension of driver's license
– mandatory education program costing $350
Third offense:
– 30 day suspension of license
– treatment program
– ignition interlock device for 6 months
– $450 fine
– mandatory medical exam
Court convictions:
First offence:
– licence suspension of at least 1 year
– mandatory education or treatment program
– ignition interlock device for at least 1 year
– mandatory medical evaluation
Second offence:
– licence suspension of at least 3 years
– mandatory education or treatment program
– ignition interlock device for at least 3 years
– mandatory medical evaluation
Third offense:
– lifetime licence suspension
– mandatory education or treatment programs
– ignition interlock device for at least 6 years
Quebec
Quebec's pentalties are perhaps the most straightforward and unforgiving. This information comes from the SAAQ.
First offense:
– immediate suspension of license for 90 days
– suspension of license for one year
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– $2,000 fine
– prison for period determined by court
New Brunswick
The government of New Brunswick is the least clear about penalties related to driving high. Though, it does list these possible punishments on its website:
– immediate short-term roadside suspensions (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– licence suspension (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– vehicle impoundment (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– mandatory driving course
– licence reinstatement fees for drug-impaired drivers
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is explicitly clear on its website:
First offence:
– $1,000 fine
– 1 year licence suspension
Second offense:
– imprisonment of up to 30 days
– three-year licence suspension
Third offense:
– imprisonment of up to 120 days
– five-year licence suspension
Fourth offense:
– indefinite revocation of licence
Prince Edward Island
The government of Prince Edward Island also separates penalties according to the serverity of legal proceedings.
First offense:
– 1 day suspension of your license
– 7 day driving ban
– vehicle impounded for 30 days
Second offense:
– 1 day suspension of your license
– 7 day driving ban
– vehicle impounded for 60 days
Charge:
– vehicle impounded for 6 months
Conviction:
First offense:
– revocation of driver's license for 1 year
– 1 year driving ban
Second offense:
– revocation of driver's license for 5 years
– 2 year driving ban
Third offense:
– revocation of license for 5 years
– three year driving ban
Newfoundland & Labrador
In Newfoundland & Labrador, those who drive high are subject to the same penalties as motorists that drive drunk, with some additions. This information comes from the provincial government and DUI.ca.
First offense:
– vehicle impounded for 7 days
– 1 year driving ban
– $600 fine
– mandatory driving course
Second offense:
– vehicle impounded for 7 days
– 3 year driving ban
– 14 days jail time
– mandatory medical exam
Third offense:
– 10 year driving ban
– 90 days imprisonment
– mandatory medical exam
Canada is just one month away from legal recreational marijuana.
While legalization is a federal initiative, it will be up to the individual provinces to devise regulations for both the distribution of weed and the enforcement of drug-related offenses.
The best advice to avoid these penalties: just don't drive high.
British Columbia
In B.C., driving high carries the same penalties as driving drunk with a few additions, according to the provincial government site.
First offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for three days, driver responsible for towing fees
– $200 fine
Second offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for seven days
– $300 fine
– possible driving course
Third offense:
– seizure of driver's license for ninety days
– vehicle impounded for thirty days
– $400 fine
– driving course
– possible mandatory ignition interlock (device that measures THC or blood-alcohol level in blood to turn on a vehicle)
Alberta
The government of Alberta clearly lists the penalties for driving high.
First offense:
– immediate 90-day licence suspension
– immediate 3-day vehicle seizure
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– immediate 90-day licence suspension
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– mandatory 30-day imprisonment
Third offense:
– mandatory driving course
– one-year participation in an igntion interlock program
– mandatory 120-day imprisonment
Saskatchewan
This information comes from the Saskatchewan driver's licensing and vehicle registration agency.
First offense:
– license suspension for three days
– impounded vehicle for three days
– mandatory driving course
Charge:
– driver’s licence suspension until the court has disposed of the charge
– 30-day vehicle seizure, driver responsible for towing fees
– 60-day suspension if driver is also impaired by alcohol and has a blood alcohol concentration over .16
Conviction:
– one-year driving suspension to a maximum of five years
– fine of $1,250 to $2,500
– mandatory driving course
Manitoba
The Manitoba Public Insurance site clearly lists the penalties for driving high.
First offense:
– suspension of driver's license for one year
– possible 18 month imprisonment
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– five year suspension of driver's license
– minimum 30 days imprisonment
Third offense:
– ten year suspension of driver's license
– minimum 120 days imprisonment
Accident that leads to bodily harm or death:
– 5 year suspension of driver's license
– possible 10 year imprisonment
Ontario
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation lists three different categories of penalty: offense without indictment, charges, and court conviction.
First offense:
– 3 day suspension of license
– $250 fine
Second offense:
– 7 day suspension of driver's license
– mandatory education program costing $350
Third offense:
– 30 day suspension of license
– treatment program
– ignition interlock device for 6 months
– $450 fine
– mandatory medical exam
Court convictions:
First offence:
– licence suspension of at least 1 year
– mandatory education or treatment program
– ignition interlock device for at least 1 year
– mandatory medical evaluation
Second offence:
– licence suspension of at least 3 years
– mandatory education or treatment program
– ignition interlock device for at least 3 years
– mandatory medical evaluation
Third offense:
– lifetime licence suspension
– mandatory education or treatment programs
– ignition interlock device for at least 6 years
Quebec
Quebec's pentalties are perhaps the most straightforward and unforgiving. This information comes from the SAAQ.
First offense:
– immediate suspension of license for 90 days
– suspension of license for one year
– $1,000 fine
Second offense:
– $2,000 fine
– prison for period determined by court
New Brunswick
The government of New Brunswick is the least clear about penalties related to driving high. Though, it does list these possible punishments on its website:
– immediate short-term roadside suspensions (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– licence suspension (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– vehicle impoundment (for a period of time presumably determined by court)
– mandatory driving course
– licence reinstatement fees for drug-impaired drivers
Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia is explicitly clear on its website:
First offence:
– $1,000 fine
– 1 year licence suspension
Second offense:
– imprisonment of up to 30 days
– three-year licence suspension
Third offense:
– imprisonment of up to 120 days
– five-year licence suspension
Fourth offense:
– indefinite revocation of licence
Prince Edward Island
The government of Prince Edward Island also separates penalties according to the serverity of legal proceedings.
First offense:
– 1 day suspension of your license
– 7 day driving ban
– vehicle impounded for 30 days
Second offense:
– 1 day suspension of your license
– 7 day driving ban
– vehicle impounded for 60 days
Charge:
– vehicle impounded for 6 months
Conviction:
First offense:
– revocation of driver's license for 1 year
– 1 year driving ban
Second offense:
– revocation of driver's license for 5 years
– 2 year driving ban
Third offense:
– revocation of license for 5 years
– three year driving ban
Newfoundland & Labrador
In Newfoundland & Labrador, those who drive high are subject to the same penalties as motorists that drive drunk, with some additions. This information comes from the provincial government and DUI.ca.
First offense:
– vehicle impounded for 7 days
– 1 year driving ban
– $600 fine
– mandatory driving course
Second offense:
– vehicle impounded for 7 days
– 3 year driving ban
– 14 days jail time
– mandatory medical exam
Third offense:
– 10 year driving ban
– 90 days imprisonment
– mandatory medical exam