WA Police has revealed marijuana is detected in more fatal road accidents than any other illicit drug and warned any attempt to legalise its use will only line the pockets of organised crime groups.

In a submission to a Federal parliamentary inquiry into legalising cannabis, Assistant Commissioner Gary Budge said increased use of the drug would not only endanger motorists, but allow organised crime networks to “legitimise” their businesses and generate “significant profits”.

“The WA police force is of the view that the loosening of any restrictions on cannabis would have significant and far-reaching detrimental impacts on the community,” Mr Budge said.

“Counterparts at the United States of America Drug Enforcement Agency have advised in places where cannabis has been legalised, it has enabled organised crime networks to either legitimise their cannabis businesses and/or continue to sell cannabis on the unregulated black market, where it remains cheaper and avoids being subject to tax.”

The submission was made to the Senate committee considering a private senator’s Bill by Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm to remove Commonwealth barriers to legalising and regulating recreational cannabis, allowing any State or Territory to act.

The Australian Greens have backed making recreational use legal for adults to minimise harm inflicted upon people by a tough-on-drugs approach and to generate hundreds of millions of dollars in tax revenue.

Canada yesterday became the second country to end a nationwide prohibition on marijuana use. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it had been too easy for children to get their hands on marijuana and for criminals to “reap the profits”.

Mr Budge said evidence from overseas was that legalising cannabis had benefited organised criminals.

“The argument that cannabis legalisation takes away the profits of organised crime groups has been shown not to be the case, as highlighted by the Colorado experience,” he said.

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The submission cites Curtin-Monash Accident Research Centre analysis of 312 illicit drug-related road fatalities that shows cannabis was the most frequently detected substance.

Mr Budge said whether cannabis was illegal or not, drivers who were affected by it were at increased risk of being involved in a collision.

“Cannabis use is associated with road traffic accidents, workplace accidents, child protection and family violence issues,” he said.