Local officials concerned about road and workplace safety amid cannabis legalization
Battlefords officials want to remind people to exercise safety on the roads and in the workplace when cannabis becomes legal Oct. 17.
North Battleford’s Community Safety Officers (CSOs) are urging residents not to mix drugs with driving, or face the consequences. Monitoring drivers for impairment will be one of the CSO team’s new increased responsibilities.
“It’s no different than what we have now under the Traffic Safety Act,” Unit Commander Sgt. Ross MacAngus said. “If you are drinking alcohol in a vehicle we can charge you. If you’re walking down the street drinking alcohol we can charge you with drinking in a place other than a dwelling. It will be the same with cannabis.”
MacAngus said CSOs will be able to charge individuals for impaired driving from cannabis use just as they do for people driving while being over the legal limit for alcohol consumption. The city currently has six CSOs involved in bylaw enforcement as well as assisting the RCMP.