Pubdate: Tue, 07 Dec 2004 Source: Powell River Peak (CN BC) Copyright: 2004 Peak Publishing Ltd. Contact: http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?brd=1998 Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/734 Author: Isabelle Southcott, Peak Reporter Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving) ANY DRUG IMPAIRS DRIVING RCMP say in the area driving under the influence of marijuana is almost as prevalent as drunk driving Powell River RCMP will be on the lookout for impaired drivers from now until early in the New Year. Constable Carl McIntosh said there will be more road checks and targeted law enforcement as police check for impaired drivers. "We'll be on the lookout for impaired drivers and there will be roving road checks," he told The Peak. "Police won't just be sitting in one place all the time." Although drinking and driving don't mix, smoking pot and driving doesn't either, said McIntosh. "There seems to be a common misconception that it is okay to smoke pot and drive when in fact it does impair people," he said. "The other misconception is that marijuana has been legalized, and it has not." He explained that marijuana is currently being decriminalized for minor amounts of possession. "It can still be against the law but instead of receiving a criminal conviction which results in a criminal record, a person will be subject to a penalty such as a fine." McIntosh said smoking marijuana and then driving a motor vehicle is a particular problem in the area. "In Powell River, it's at least as prevalent as drinking and driving." He believes this is because of a combination of issues--"ignorance of the law and a lack of understanding of the impairment of the drug." Regardless of whether marijuana becomes legalized or decriminalized in any form, there is no indication anything is being planned that would make it legal to drive or operate a motor vehicle while impaired by marijuana. - --- MAP posted-by: Derek