There are still many things to prepare before cannabis becomes legal later this year. One of those are the devices that will be used by police to test for drug-impaired drivers.

"They've done a number of studies on those devices," explained Police Chief Paul Ladouceur, "and I think what will happen is we will see those devices come in the future, hopefully not the too distant future. That has to be approved at the federal level, they have to be authorized, the type of device the police are using. So we'll be waiting for the government to make an announcement in relation to that."

"In the interim, just because those testing units aren't available doesn't negate the fact that the police are well equipped with drug recognition experts to do roadside tests when it comes to cannabis use or drug use."

Ladouceur added that the Estevan Police Service has two officers who have been trained in the US as drug recognition experts.  

"They would be able to assess an individual who is suspected of driving while under the influence of drugs and make that determination thereby enabling the police to lay the appropriate charges."

"The test is just another tool but it's not the only tool."

He added that it's important to realize that just because cannabis will be legal soon, it doesn't mean that the drug is new. 

"People forget the fact that the police have dealt with impaired drivers by drug for many years, and not just cannabis, it could be any type of drugs, including prescription drugs. I think a lot of people forget that. If people are taking a quantity of morphine or something that alters their ability to operate a vehicle appropriately, they could potentially be charged with impaired driving."

"It's not something that is completely new, it's not something where we've never charged people for driving under the influence of drugs before. We have done so and will continue to do so with cannabis legislation as well."

Recreational cannabis use will become on October 17, 2018.