Medical cannabis and driving: what the law says

This is one of the most misunderstood points about medical cannabis: holding a medical authorization gives you no right to drive impaired. Driving law applies the same way it does with alcohol.

The basic rule

In Canada, driving while impaired by cannabis is a criminal offence, whether the cannabis is medical or recreational. A prescription is not an exemption.

THC and driving

THC can impair coordination, reaction time and judgment. These effects vary by dose, format and person, and can last several hours.

In practice

Discuss with your practitioner the wait times to respect before driving based on your treatment. When in doubt, don't drive. Your safety and others' comes first.