Pubdate: Fri, 12 Aug 2016
Source: Toronto Star (CN ON)
Page: A7
Copyright: 2016 The Toronto Star
Contact:  http://www.thestar.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/456
Author: Melanie Marquis

FEDS GAUGE THE RISKS OF POT ON ROAD SAFETY

Classified Documents Warn Marijuana Legalization Could Cause Rise in 
Impaired Driving

OTTAWA- Before proceeding with its pot-legalization agenda next 
spring, the Liberal government is promising to tackle the issue of 
drug-impaired driving, which bureaucrats say could spike considerably 
if marijuana becomes legal.

Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould was warned by officials in 
January of the risks, a classified briefing document obtained by The 
Canadian Press shows.

"The legalization of marijuana could lead to a significant increase 
in drug-impaired driving cases," the memorandum reads.

Bureaucrats say there is limited data as only two jurisdictions in 
the United States have legalized marijuana: Colorado and Washington.

"For example, in Colorado, in the year following marijuana 
legalization, there was a 32-per-cent increase in marijuana-related 
traffic deaths," the memo reads.

Liberal MP Bill Blair, a former Toronto police chief and now 
parliamentary secretary to Wilson-Raybould, says the issue is already 
a serious problem in Canada and that legalization could lead to more cases.

"That's why it's so important to do the work upfront to educate 
Canadians and to provide law enforcement and the justice system with 
the tools they need to control that illegal behaviour on our 
roadways," said the Toronto MP, who is the Liberals' point man on 
marijuana legalization.

The Liberal government has promised to table a bill on legislating 
cannabis in the spring of 2017 - a timetable deemed far too ambitious 
by the Opposition, which would rather see the government slow down 
the process rather than expose Canadians to risks.

Conservative public safety critic Alain Rayes said the danger is real 
and accused the Liberals of venturing "too far, too fast."

New Democrat Alexandre Boulerice said if the road safety issue is not 
addressed specifically, it would be a "major obstacle" to his party's 
support of any future bill.

Some groups, like Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), have called 
for Criminal Code amendments.

Marie-Claude Morin of MADD said the organization wants cannabis to be 
subject to the same laws that currently apply to driving under the 
influence of alcohol, but to have the two impaired-driving offences 
appear distinct in the code.

That could result in the addition to the Criminal Code of a legal 
limit of active tetrahydrocannabinol in the body.

In Washington and Colorado, the legal limit is five nanograms of THC 
per millilitre of blood.

In Nevada and Ohio, the legal limit is lower: two nanograms per 
millilitre. Other states have opted for zero tolerance.

"There will be the discussion about what's safe," Blair said.

"And that discussion will range from a total prohibition - so no use 
of drugs in driving - to determining a safe level."

Blair said any such changes to the Criminal Code could come before 
tabling legislation in 2017.

In 2013, 97 per cent of accidents in Canada relating to impaired 
driving were alcohol related. The other 3 per cent were linked to 
drug consumption.

The briefing document to Wilson-Raybould suggests the drug-impaired 
numbers are under-reported because it's more difficult for police to detect.

Blair, a police office for 40 years, agreed. "It's very difficult to 
identify and to prove a level of impairment by marijuana," he said.

In Quebec, provincial police say they are satisfied with the current 
system - a patrol officer arrests someone who is believed to be 
intoxicated and another officer, trained in drug recognition, does a 
more extensive test.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom