Emergency Situation In Canada ( Archived) (59)

Here in Australia people on the road are breath tested for all drugs

You would have to be dumb to think those who smoke pot and drive aren't as bad as drink drivers.

I think I would be dumb to make assumptions about things I don't know.

Clearly, if someone is very drunk, or very stoned, it will impair their driving abilities, but there seems to be a grey area regarding small amounts of psychoactive substances.

As I mentioned earlier, the moment there's a measurable amount of alcohol in the blood stream there's a measurable detriment in driving performance, and yet a specific measurable amount is legal.

Unless research is carried out to ascertain driving performance in conjunction with marijuana, how can any potential detriment, the nature of any detriment and quantities of psychoactive substance in the system be established?

Once results are published, peer reviewed, further researched, etc., there is a means of providing education so people can make responsible choices.

Personally, I agree with those who choose to avoid driving with any alcohol in their system, rather than merely staying within the law. With respect to marijuana use, I simply don't know without more information.

If there is a measurable detriment in driving performance with a measurable amount in the system, shouldn't that information be available, particularly as passive inhalation may be an issue?

I would suggest that the image of marijuana as an illegal, and therefore dangerous substance, impacts on people's assumptions. As alcohol is legal, and driving with a small amount in the system is legal, it's often perceived as being more benign than perhaps it is.