OTTAWA'S CRACKDOWN ON DRUGGED DRIVERS IS JUST THE TICKET

As the group Mothers Against Drunk Driving points out, drug-impaired
driving is a growing problem in our country -- particularly with
young drivers who use marijuana, either alone or in combination with
other compounds.

But so powerful is the marijuana lobby in Canada that impressionable
young people actually seem to think that smoking a lot of
high-strength pot makes them drive better.

That is one of the reasons why we applaud the federal Conservative
government for its plan to introduce legislation this month to crack
down on the thousands of Canadian motorists who think it is OK to get
behind the wheel while high on drugs.

As Prime Minister Stephen Harper stated last Friday, police
increasingly have to contend with motorists impaired by narcotics.

"Just like a drunk driver, a drug-impaired driver presents a danger
to himself or herself and to others," he said.

Harper noted there are still technological challenges to be faced in
terms of testing for certain kinds of drugs. But, as MADD mentions,
there are a number of reliable drug tests now in use in the United
States that could easily be adopted here.

The message is clear: There should be as little tolerance for those
who drive under the influence of such illegal drugs as marijuana,
cocaine or crystal meth as there are for those who drive drunk.

When it comes to causing road carnage, it doesn't matter whether
someone is stoned or soused.