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“What happens is at roadside, if a member feels that someone might be impaired by drugs, they would go through the standard field sobriety testing analysis,” he said. “And if as a result of that, that officer believes that person is impaired by drugs or they suspect that person is impaired by drugs, then they would call for a drug recognition expert or a DRE to come, and then there’s a further, enhanced investigation to determine if they are impaired.”

Drug recognition expert training is a three-week course, including two weeks at the RCMP Depot in Regina, followed by a week in Jacksonville, Florida. The SFST training is a three-day course.

“It’s very similar to the Alcohol Control Act — you can’t be walking down the street with a beer bottle in your hand, having a drink. You can’t be driving a vehicle with open alcohol in the vehicle, things like that. The provincial legislation is going to be similar when it comes to cannabis. You can’t be walking down the street, smoking a joint. You can’t be transporting marijuana, things like that,” Shalovelo said.

The SPS will also look at buying some new equipment, including roadside screening devices. Any new equipment and screening devices need to be approved by Health Canada ahead of time. Funding for some training and new equipment is coming from the federal government.

“I think the other thing that the public does not realize is that there are still criminal sanctions for people who have more than 30 grams in their possession,” Shalovelo said.

“There’s regulation around marijuana now, and there’s regulation regarding less than 30 grams, but still there’s criminal offences for more than 30 grams.”

alawlor@postmedia.com

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