Pubdate: Sat, 15 Feb 2003 Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2003, Canoe Limited Partnership Contact: http://www.fyiottawa.com/ottsun.shtml Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329 Author: Chris Buors Note: Parenthetical remark by the Sun editor, headline by newshawk Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v03/n210/a02.html Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving) HIGH DRIVERS ARE SAFE DRIVERS RE "COPS out to nip driver in the bud" (Feb. 8): Const. Brad Burton proves that using terms like "public safety" is like using "homeland defense," in the sense that anything can be justified under its rubric. The Senate report concluded "Cannabis alone, particularly in low doses, has little effect on the skills involved in automobile driving. Cannabis leads to a more cautious style of driving. (Cannabis does have) a negative impact on decision time and trajectory (however) this in itself does not mean that drivers under the influence of cannabis represent a traffic safety risk." These petty abuses of authority by the ignorant like Const. Brad Burton would evaporate with a little enlightenment of fact. Acting with legal authority on ingrained prejudices instead of demonstrated truth is unprofessional. The real question is does an officer who abuses the authority of his position deserve to exercise that authority? Let's hope the Ministry of Transportation reads the reports that consistently prove that drivers high on cannabis are safer than those who are high on life! Chris Buors Winnipeg, Man. (A driver high on pot is a driver likely to kill -- to believe otherwise is both foolish and dangerous) - --- MAP posted-by: Terry Liittschwager