Pubdate: Wed, 26 Jul 2006 Source: Sherwood Park News (CN AB) Copyright: 2006 Sherwood Park News Contact: http://www.sherwoodparknews.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1730 Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v06/n959/a04.html Author: Russell Barth POT DOESN'T IMPAIR ALL Re: THC levels difficult to gauge The trial of James McIlwrick is a perfect example of why we should push for the legalization of marijuana! This whole article presupposes that THC is some sort of "danger" when in actual scientific fact it has proven to be one of the most medically beneficial substances known to man. Since there is no way to tell exactly what is going on with pot and impairment, that is all the more reason to take control out of the hands of gangsters and teens, and put it into the hands of responsible adults. The editorial said: "So until there is some way to do a roadside test of how impaired a person who has smoked pot is, it should remain restricted." First of all, there is a roadside test, involving measurement of reflexes, much like a hand held video game, and it has been used in Australia. Secondly, the only official studies conducted on cannabis and driving took place in Europe, and they showed conclusively that cannabis users drive slower and more cautiously than non-users. Third, cannabis can impair some people, but it doesn't impair everyone, or every time. People can be impaired by a coffee or cigarette or cell phone in hand, rowdy pets and passengers, booming stereos, over-the-counter medications, prescription medications, blood-sugar imbalances, fatigue, inexperience, bad driving habits, old-age, and just plain old stupidity. To focus on any one thing is arbitrary and discriminatory, and that is exactly what these new laws are doing. It won't matter if the driver is tripling their dose of a prescription medication, but if marijuana shows up in your blood, you are considered guilty until proven innocent. So much for Canada being a "just society." Russell Barth Ottawa - --- MAP posted-by: Richard Lake