Pubdate: Sun, 11 May 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: Bill Rodgers

PUT BRAKES ON POT: CRITICS

Groups Slam Push To Decriminalize Drug

TWO INFLUENTIAL lobby groups say the Chretien government is putting the 
cart before the horse in its rush to decriminalize small amounts of pot for 
personal use.

Justice Minister Martin Cauchon is to introduce the legislation along with 
a national drug strategy as early as next Tuesday, a senior official has 
told the Sun.

"We're very concerned that decriminalization will be perceived, especially 
by our young people, as legalization.

"Even though that's not really what's happening, it's the public perception 
and yet Parliament hasn't dealt with the whole drugs and driving issue," 
said Andrew Murie, the executive director of Mothers Against Drunk Driving 
(MADD).

20% DROVE HIGH

A recent survey of Ontario high school students by the Centre for Addiction 
and Mental Health showed that 20% of students drove a vehicle within two 
hours of using cannabis, while 15% drove after drinking alcohol.

"Kids are getting a message time and time again from our elected officials 
that smoking marijuana is not a big deal," said David Griffin, the 
executive officer of the Canadian Police Association. "Yet their parents 
and everybody else is trying to encourage them to make healthy choices."

Griffin accused the Liberal government of changing the law before putting 
the proper tools in place.

"What we're seeing is a political rush to introduce legislation but for 
police officers they don't have the tools to deal with such issues as 
impaired driving by drugs and we're seeing more problems with marijuana use 
in our schools than we are with alcohol."

NO ROADSIDE TEST

Police can't demand the roadside test for marijuana use like they can 
demand the breathalyzer test for alcohol. Any change would allow police to 
demand a saliva, urine or blood test.

"It's a very easy process for Parliament to put those things in (the 
Criminal Code).

"And we're very disturbed that there's all this talk about 
decriminalization but (the government) hasn't done the fundamentals yet," 
said MADD's Murie.

The federal justice minister admitted in a recent interview with the Sun 
that his department hasn't dealt in a detailed way with the issue of 
driving while under the influence of pot.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Stevens