1 day after legalization, RCMP in Thompson, Man., arrest driver allegedly impaired by pot

Recreational pot use was barelylegal for 24 hours in Canada before RCMP in Manitoba made their first arrest of a driver they say was impaired by the drug.

Mountiespatrollinga checkstopat Cree Road andDeerwoodDrivein the northern Manitoba city of Thompson say they became suspicious when they noticed a SUVturn away from them around12:55 a.m. on Thursday.

An officer pursuedthe vehicle, stopped it and noticedtheodour of cannabis and signs of impairment from the driver, RCMPsaid.

The 20-year-old man from Thompsonadmitted to recentlysmoking cannabis, police said.

He was given astandardized field sobrietytest, conducted by a police officer, which determined the driver was impaired, RCMPsaid. He was arrested for impaired operation of a motor vehicle andtaken to a nearby medical facility, where his blood was tested.

The man's driver's licence has beensuspended, but policecannot lay charges until results of the blood test arereceived.

He is believed to be the first person arrested by Manitoba RCMP for driving under the influence of cannabis since use of the drug was legalized on Wednesday, spokesperson Tara Seel said.

There is no legal cannabis retailer open in Thompson at this point. The closest legal pot shopis in Dauphin, more than 500 kilometres away.