Medical marijuana users not being targeted in tweet, SGI says

Saskatchewan Government Insurance says it's not targeting medical marijuana users with a tweet showing pot and a medicine bottle that warns against driving while "high."

The message appeared Tuesday on Twitter and read, "Just because you have a prescription, doesn't mean you can drive while using it. High driving is impaired driving." 

SGI spokesperson Kelley Brinkworth said even though there was a picture of medical marijuana, the tweet is actually about impaired driving caused by prescription drugs.

It wasn't directed at users of any prescription drug in particular, she said.

Brinkworth said each month, the Crown corporation partners with police from across the province with a different traffic safety focus.  For December, the focus is on impaired driving.

"SGI's role is to help raise awareness of the dangers of impaired driving and provide information and tips to the public, and one of the ways that we do that is through social media," explained Brinkworth. "So we put out a tweet yesterday about drug-impaired driving."

She said prescription drugs that have the potential to impair driving can include anti-depressants and pain killers. Over-the-counter drugs that can impair driving include antihistamines and motion sickness medications.

Brinkworth said when mixing drugs together or with alcohol, people need to check with their pharmacist or doctor about the possible risks before getting behind the wheel.

According to SGI, more than 1,300 collisions take place each year involving alcohol and/or other drugs. That resulted in an average of 58 deaths and 656 injuries.

"We just want people to know there are some tough consequences," Brinkworth said.

Those consequences include driver's licence suspensions, alcohol and drug education programs, fines, penalties and fees.