Pubdate: Sat, 04 Dec 2004 Source: Toronto Sun (CN ON) Copyright: 2004, Canoe Limited Partnership. Contact: http://www.canoe.com/NewsStand/TorontoSun/home.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/457 Author: Sarah Green Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving) CHIEF SAYS COPS LACK TOOLS TO NAB DRIVERS HIGH ON POT Police officers don't have the tools they need to detect and detain drivers impaired by marijuana, Chief Julian Fantino said yesterday. "With all this enthusiasm to decriminalize or regard cannabis as a non-event, we are concerned ... about our ability to detect, and have the tools and the laws in place to enable us to deal with cannabis-impaired driving in the same context as we do alcohol-impaired driving," Fantino said. "The end result is the same and the potential for disaster is no less," he said. Unlike alcohol, there's no technology to test for marijuana impairment at the roadside, Fantino said. It can only be measured through the protracted process of obtaining a blood sample. "It's extremely difficult for us," said Insp. Steve Grant, head of traffic services. A proposed federal bill gives police more power to nab suspected drug-impaired drivers. Even with the legislation, Grant said, there's not enough money for the extensive training officers need to become drug recognition experts. MADD Canada executive director Andrew Murie said 7 to 90% of road deaths are caused by drug impairment. Alcohol is a factor in nearly 40% of road deaths and in about 25% of those cases, the driver also used drugs. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin