Community Invited to “Cannabis and Driving” Online Panel - December 3

The Grey Bruce Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) in partnership with the Regional Road Safety Committee (RRSC) are hosting an online panel discussion on Cannabis and Driving on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

This free virtual event will bring together experts from the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO), the Windsor Regional Trauma and Injury Prevention Program, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), people with lived experience, and the Ontario Students Against Impaired Driving (OSAID). They’ll discuss the real-world impacts of cannabis-impaired driving and what communities can do to stay safe.

The panel will explore key topics such as:

• The effects of cannabis on driving ability and reaction time.
• Current laws and enforcement related to cannabis-impaired driving.
• The medical and trauma impacts seen in hospitals following collisions.
• Youth perspectives on cannabis use and road safety.
• Education and prevention strategies to reduce impaired driving in local communities.

Event: Cannabis Impaired Driving Panel

Date: Wednesday, December 3, 2025

Time: 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Cost: Free

Location: Online (Microsoft Teams). Link provided following registration.

Registration: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cannabis-impaired-driving-panel-discussion-tickets-1788092937109?aff=oddtdtcreator

“As cannabis becomes more normalized, it’s crucial that drivers, especially young people, understand the risks and realities of driving while impaired” said Matt Evans, OSAID. “This event is about awareness, education, and prevention. We want everyone to get home safely.”

Participants will have the opportunity to hear from experts, ask questions, and learn practical tips to promote safer roads.

The success of this locally developed campaign is helping to increase public knowledge about the effects of cannabis on driving ability and reaction time. With over 2.9 million engagements on social media and in-person to date, the campaign is effectively reaching young and novice drivers across Grey, Bruce, and even provincewide.

In addition to the social media efforts, print and other digital education materials supporting the campaign are available at regional cannabis dispensaries, RIDE programs, and music festivals.

“Driving impaired by cannabis is just as dangerous and illegal as driving under the influence of alcohol” said Jeremy White, West Grey Police Chief and CSWBP Crime Prevention Action Table Vice Chair. “Education is key to prevention, and this kind of event helps keep that message front and centre.”

OSAID is also helping to deliver that message, proudly partnering to support this important work. Through their Safe Roads Grant Program, which helps students lead peer-to-peer education on responsible driving, they are offering 20 grants of $500 to high schools across Ontario to raise awareness about safe driving behaviours including the risk of driving under the influence of cannabis. More information and application details are available at https://www.osaid.ca/school-grants.

What is the Community Safety and Well-Being Plan (CSWBP) Grey-Bruce?

Community Safety and Well Being Planning helps organizations improve the things that keep us healthy, happy, and safe. Together, we use research to create solutions focused on education, health care, food, housing, income, crime, and belonging. It is important that we create a welcoming community where problems are solved before they happen and where different professionals and community members come together to help people now and in the future. 

The ongoing work of CSWBP is supported by an advisory committee representing over 78 partners from across Bruce and Grey who are working together to address crime prevention by investing in social development, prevention, and risk interventions. This upstream preventative model focuses on creating protective factors that make individuals less vulnerable to crime and victimization.

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For more information, contact:

Nicole Griffin
Communications Manager
County of Bruce
226-668-5969|
CDonaldson [at] brucecounty.on.ca (ngriffin[at]brucecounty[dot]on[dot]ca)

Rob Hatten
Communications Manager
Grey County
519-373-1592
robert.hatten [at] grey.ca (robert[dot]hatten[at]grey[dot]ca)