CANADA'S TOP COPS OK WITH MEDICAL POT

Concerns Linger Over Impaired Drivers But ...

The Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police has no problem with medical
marijuana but it wants a way of readily detecting whether motorists are
impaired by pot.

Brockville Police Chief Barry King said yesterday his association didn't
bother making submissions to Health Canada by yesterday's deadline for
replies to Ottawa's draft regulations on medical access to marijuana.

"We're in favour of it," he said. "We've been working with them on this for
about two years and they know how we feel."

King, chairman of a drug-abuse committee for the association, said police
chiefs don't want legalization -- and they want a California-style system
of monitoring motorists who may be impaired by marijuana or any other drug
or combination of drugs and alcohol.

REGULATIONS

When Health Canada's final regulations on medical access to marijuana are
published in mid-July, he said, there are bound to be some glitches.

Terminally ill patients are currently not prohibited from smoking marijuana
outside their homes, King said. He foresees issues of pot usage in
smoke-free restaurants or other public places where somebody complains --
or even calls police.

Health Canada's draft regulations call for photo ID cards for those with
marijuana licences, but King says some confusion is bound to arise among
law enforcement agencies.

He doesn't see a problem with sick people getting marijuana on a doctor's
prescription, as Ottawa proposes.

That might surprise some people, King admitted. "I suppose some people
might also be surprised we're in favour of decriminalization of possession
of small amounts for personal use."

The chiefs have told Health Canada policy-makers that police want
assurances that medical marijuana will be dispensed the same way as any
other illicit drug given to sick people -- a patient identification number
will be required and exemption from illegal possession charges must be
formally granted.

King says one main concern is lack of a police tool to readily judge
impairment by marijuana.

British Columbia has adopted a "drug-response expert" system modelled after
one in Los Angeles, he said.

B.C. driver's licence applicants must agree to blood testing if asked by
police trained to visibly detect drug impairment.

Currently in Ontario, police can get warrants for blood tests, King said,
but that isn't practical because of the time required.