DATAC News

According to Ontario’s chief medical officer of health, Dr. David Williams, the number of Ontario residents taking carfentanil and dying from it has undergone a “sharp increase” since the beginning of the year. Earlier in June the Ministry of Health sent a letter to public health organizations across Ontario containing a preliminary report on the … Continued

Michelle Gray, Halifax resident and medical cannabis user, had her license suspended after her saliva tested positive for cannabis in January. Her lawyer, Jack Lloyd, has confirmed that his law firm plans to initiate a constitutional challenge of Canada’s new impaired driving laws based on this case. According to Gray, she was stopped at a … Continued

The provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba have begun testing same-day cannabis delivery, thanks to their liberal retail policies, which permit private sectors to operate online stores. As a result, there has been an upsurge in online cannabis delivery start-ups, which offer recreational cannabis users an online purchase option with guaranteed same-day delivery. In contrast, according … Continued

According to Ottawa-based criminal defence lawyer Michael Spratt, the federal law necessitating mandatory roadside breathalyzer tests unfairly targets individuals with health conditions that can prevent them from providing a breath sample. In December 2018, changes to both drug and alcohol impaired driving were implemented as part of the former Bill C-46, providing law enforcement new … Continued

The Canadian federal government has approved a new roadside tester despite manufacturer warnings of potential problems during test operation in cold weather. Following a 30-day public consultation, Justice Minister David Lametti approved the saliva-testing machine, SoToxa, manufactured by Abbott (previously known as Alere). The new tester cannot test for drug impairment, but can “presumptively confirm … Continued

According to a recently released report by the Edmonton Police Commission, there has been a significant increase in the number of people arrested for driving while drug impaired, including under the influence of cannabis, between the period of October 2018 (when recreational use of cannabis was legalized) and April 2019. During these six months, the … Continued

One Alberta bus company, Prairie Lines, has banned its employees from consuming cannabis altogether, even when they are on a vacation. As part of this zero-tolerance policy on cannabis consumption, applicants for job posts with the bus line are screened for unauthorized drug and alcohol use before being hired and beginning the training process.  Moreover, random … Continued

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has announced its decision of approval for out-of-competition drug testing for IAAF Gold Label races, which include the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon, the Scotiabank Ottawa Marathon, and the Ottawa 10K run. Out-of-competition testing is drug testing that can be done on the athletes in the pool at any … Continued

A Vancouver-based drug advocate, Dana Larsen, has offered Canadians the opportunity to mail him their street drugs to get tested for safety before use. Larsen is the director of the Vancouver Dispensary Society, and according to his website, he tests drugs seven days a week, by mail or in person. “I have launched a new … Continued