Pubdate: Tue, 16 May 2017
Source: Toronto 24hours (CN ON)
Copyright: 2017 Canoe Inc.
Contact:  http://24hrs.ca/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/4068
Author: Joanne Richard
Page: 5

HI, IT'S ILLEGAL TO DRIVE HIGH

Edgy campaign features cheeky menus, radio spots

In the mood for a garlic gummy worm burger with iceberg lettuce and
mustard-fudge drizzle? Or how about an order of spaghetti and gumballs
with gravy and licorice?

Sound delicious? Then you're stoned! If you have a bad case of the
munchies, indulge but just don't drive high.

Ridiculous fare from fictitious

Dave's Drive-Thru is part of a new campaign aimed at keeping
drug-impaired partiers from getting behind the wheel.

And where there's smoke is where the attention-grabbing menus will be
handed out, including feeding summer music-festival goers a heaping
helping of awareness that it's illegal to drive high.

As Canada moves forward with legalizing recreational marijuana by next
summer, safe driving advocates like arrivealive.org and R.I.D.E.
Checks are working to save lives through initiatives like the cheeky
menu and radio spots.

There's no way around it - munchies are going to rule as weed lovers
indulge and, although there's lots of haziness around legislation and
regulation, the impact and consequences of cannabis are clear.

Collisions involving high or drunk motorists have already caused
devastation and suffering for countless families.

OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt declined comment on a possible increase in
crashes once pot is legalized but bet that police will be armed with
saliva testing devices as they target impaired drivers.

"Driving high is illegal and we don't discriminate between alcohol and
drugs," said Schmidt. "We'll continue to patrol the roads and crack
down on impairment."

A troubling study from B.C. shows that a high proportion of young
adults who consume pot are driving. Study coauthor Dr. Jeff Brubacher,
of Vancouver General Hospital, told Postmedia Network that when
marijuana is legalized, "there will be an increase in crashes,
injuries and fatalities."

The study states: "Epidemiological studies suggest that acute
marijuana use approximately doubles the rate of crashing."

The social costs and harm associated to cannabis-related vehicle
collisions are alarming - injuries, fatalities, property damage, and
other associated mayhem are estimated to cost about $1 billion in
Canada in 2012.

"The risks of driving high need to be driven home - but not in a
preachy way," says safe-driving advocate Lorne Simon, of R.I.D.E.
Checks - a group that works with police to encourage sober driving.

"We'll be delivering the message throughout the next year in fun and
memorable ways to grab attention and educate," added Simon, who's
leading the Don't Drive Hi campaign. "For those of you who want to
inhale an entire jar of peanut butter or are on your fifth bowl of
mac'n cheese, stay off the roads."
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MAP posted-by: Matt