NEW LEGISLATION 'UNFAIRLY TARGETS MARIJUANA USERS'

Proposed Law To Crack Down On Those Who Smoke Pot And Drive Is Unfair
To Medical Marijuana Users, National Advocacy Group Warns

OTTAWA - Regular medical marijuana users are being unfairly targeted
by the Conservative government's new drug-driving legislation, which
will increase penalties and make it easier for police to crack down on
people who do drugs before getting behind the wheel, a national
advocacy group warned Wednesday.

"This law, we feel, would unfairly target marijuana users," said
Russell Barth, a medical marijuana user and member of the National
Capital Reformers. "Discriminating against us based on our medication
. . . is much like discriminating against us based on the colour of
our skin."

Justice Minister Vic Toews revived on Tuesday a Liberal-era bill
designed to catch drug-impaired drivers through roadside checks and
blood samples, an initiative that has failed twice before and raised
concerns about court challenges.

Under the proposed law, drivers suspected of being high would be
required to perform physical tests at the side of the road, such as
walking a straight line.

If they fail, they would be sent to the police station for further
testing and then be forced to provide blood, saliva,or urine samples.

The federal government's testing scheme for drugs would include
penalties for people who refuse to cooperate, Toews said.

Ottawa also plans to provide about $2 million in police funding to
carry out the testing.

Although the Conservative government said the bill will help keep
roads safe, marijuana proponents say it will create a courtroom
backlog and unfairly target people who use the drug for medicinal purposes.

Barth pointed out some drivers take over-the-counter medication, eat,
talk on the phone and engage in other behaviour that could affect
their driving ability.

"This new law might exclude me [from driving after using marijuana]
while failing to exclude me while using more harmful medication," said
Barth.

He added he would easily be able to pass a roadside sobriety test
after using marijuana.

Toews introduced the legislation Tuesday accompanied by Mike Rider,
whose 16-year-old son Dave was one of five teens from the Ottawa area
killed seven years ago by a young driver high on marijuana.