Pubdate: Sun, 24 Apr 2016
Source: Ottawa Sun (CN ON)
Page: 59
Copyright: 2016 Canoe Limited Partnership
Contact: http://www.ottawasun.com/letter-to-editor
Website: http://www.ottawasun.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/329
Author: Chris Doucette

MARIJUANA TRAFFIC DEATHS SPIKE IN U.S.

Colorado Legalized Weed

TORONTO - Concern over higher rates of impaired driving once Canada
legalizes marijuana has surprisingly mellowed as the feds move forward
with the long-awaited new legislation.

While pot smokers would likely prefer Prime Minister Justin Trudeau
follow through on his election promise immediately, the Ontario Safety
League is relieved the Liberals are taking a slower approach.

"It's a big challenge," OSL President and CEO Brian Patterson said
recently of legalizing weed.

The OSL is well aware of reports out of Colorado - where the drug was
legalized four years ago - suggesting marijuana-related traffic deaths
jumped a terrifying 92% between 2010 and 2014.

But Patterson said he has met with Scarborough Southwest MP Bill
Blair, the Liberals' point man on marijuana legalization, and he is
"quite confidant" the former Toronto Police chief will keep road
safety in mind as he develops the framework for the new
legislation.

"There's no question in my mind that public safety is the number one
issue Bill Blair is going to address moving forward," he said. "He has
made his career on evidence-based policing, so I don't see him
approaching this any different."

"But the Ontario Safety League will hold his feet to the fire if
things go south suddenly," Patterson added.

Last Wednesday, the day known as 4/20 by marijuana enthusiasts, the
Liberals announced they will introduce legislation that legalizes and
regulates the drug by the spring of 2017.

During a speech at the United Nations, Health Minister Jane Philpott
admitted Canada's pot plan "challenges the status quo in many countries."

But she vowed the government's new drug policy will be based on
scientific evidence and will keep marijuana away from children while
addressing issues such as drug addiction and drug-related crime.

MADD Canada C E O Andrew Murie said the feds have also pledged police
services will have access to roadside oral drug testing technology
before the legislation is passed, which he suspects won't happen until
closer to 2018.

"The government has promised two things; police will get tools they
need to do the job and there will be a concerted campaign to educate
the public about impaired driving as well as inform parents of the
effects of marijuana on kids," he said.

As long as the Liberals follow through on those promises, Murie said
he is "a little less concerned" about marijuana legalization.

Toronto Police Const. Clint Stibbe acknowledged roadside drug testing
technology is fast improving and will enhance the work already being
done by the service's drug recognition experts to nab drivers who are
impaired by marijuana.

But he cautioned pot is only one of an assortment of drugs motorists
may have in their system these days.

"Realistically, the landscape is changing when it comes to impaired
drivers," Stibbe said.  
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MAP posted-by: Jo-D