Canada looks to spend $274M to boost marijuana-related law enforcement

By Alicia Wallace, The Cannabist Staff

Canada intends to commit upward of a quarter-billion dollars to deter drug-impaired driving and diversion in preparing for national cannabis legalization, the country’s public safety officials announced Friday.

Canada’s federal government plans to put about $274 million toward law enforcement and border efforts such as training, research and policy development, officials announced.

Of that $274 million, $161 million would be used for training officers on identifying signs of impairment, increasing access to drug-screening devices, raising public awareness and hiring additional enforcement officials.

The remaining $113 million would be doled out over a five-year period to Public Safety Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Canada Border Services Agency to “develop policy, ensure organized crime does not infiltrate the legalized system and keep cannabis from crossing our borders,” officials said.

“I have crossed our country discussing the legalization and…