The Medicine Hat Police Service says about half of drivers pulled over during a recent campaign tested positive for drug use. (Photo: CHAT News Today)

By Jayk Sterkenburg

Nearly 50% of tested drivers in Medicine Hat positive for drug use, police say

Apr 16, 2025 | 10:54 AM

Medicine Hat Police Service traffic unit constable David Smith says the amount of drug-tested drivers in Medicine Hat was around 50 per cent as of March.

“It kind of surprised me,” he said.

A recent enforcement campaign launched by the Winnipeg Police Service shed light on the ongoing issue of drug-impaired driving.

A total of 302 traffic stops throughout Medicine Hat between January and March led to the administration of 207 drug-screening tests, with 97 drivers testing positive for drug usage.

Around 47 per cent of tested drivers during the campaign from January to March showed signs of recent cannabis use.

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Following the operation, Winnipeg police emphasized that the legal repercussions for driving under the influence of drugs mirror those for alcohol impairment.

Smith said drugs aren’t necessarily becoming more prevalent in society, but that tools and detection methods have improved.

He said that just like alcohol, cannabis use lowers people’s inhibitions, and they might end up doing something they don’t normally do.

He said the entirety of the traffic unit is trained in standardized field sobriety tests for the detection of drug-impaired driving, but everyone reacts to drug use differently.

“Everybody’s different, and there are so many factors that will determine, or that can play a role in impairment,” he said.

“What might affect you could affect me differently, because we’re all different. So there’s no one telltale sign of ‘If you’re feeling this, then you’re impaired’,” he added.

“It’s kind of hard to speak on what other people feel.”

Smith said if you have to ask yourself if you’re okay to drive at the time, it’s not a good idea to do so.

He said it’s a fact of life that cannabis is legal, but it should not be looked at any differently than alcohol in its impairment effects.

“Whatever it is that people are doing now, just plan ahead and get home safely,” he said.

“The last thing anybody wants to do is have to break bad news to somebody.”

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