Pubdate: Tue, 13 Feb 2007 Source: Observer, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2007, OSPREY Media Group Inc. Section: Pg B2 Website: http://www.theobserver.ca Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1676 Author: Neil Bowen Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/mjcn.htm (Cannabis - Canada) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?224 (Cannabis and Driving) COURT METES OUT DISCHARGES, FINE TO POT SMOKING DRIVERS A pot-smoking driver was one of marijuana-related cases dealt with in Sarnia court Monday. It's always a concern to hear the substance is being used in conjunction with operating a vehicle, said Justice Deborah Austin, as she sentence one of four young men who pleaded guilty to possession of marijuana. Three were given discharges conditional on completion of 12 months of probation and 16 hours of community service. Two of the men were together in a vehicle that was stopped Dec. 27 at a RIDE checkpoint in Plympton-Wyoming. An officer smelled burnt marijuana and when questioned, a marijuana cigarette was surrendered. Subsequent searches found each young man had a bag with a small amount of marijuana. A third young man was stopped Dec. 18 in Lambton Shores after dropping off his girlfriend. Three marijuana butts were found in the ashtray after an officer smelled marijuana. A small bag of marijuana was found. Court was told he used the drug to control attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. His vehicle was stopped after police saw it drive on the shoulder of the road for a short distance. None of the three had a criminal record. It is the policy of The Observer not to identify people given discharges that will prevent them from having a criminal record. A fourth young man, Scott Vandellen, 19, of Sarnia was fined $250 for possession of marijuana and $300 for violation of a court order not to have drugs in his possession. He was stopped Dec. 14 at a RIDE checkpoint in Point Edward with a burnt marijuana odour in the vehicle. A marijuana butt and a small bag of marijuana were found. Vandellen was also placed on probation for 12 months with the condition he not possess drugs. Under the Criminal Code it is an offence to drive while impaired by alcohol or a drug. Unlike alcohol, there is no legal limit on the amount of a drug a person can have in their system while driving. - --- MAP posted-by: Beth Wehrman