DOOBIE-OUS DRIVERS OUTDOING DRUNKS

While progress has been made in convincing Canadians of the perils of
drinking and driving, there seems to be a lack of recognition about
the danger involved with smoking up before getting behind the wheel,
say police.

A recent Canadian Centre for Substance Abuse survey shows driving
under the influence of marijuana and hashish has doubled since 1989.

It found young males drive under the influence of pot as often or
more often than they drive under the influence of alcohol.

Calgary police traffic Staff Sgt. Brett Marklund said he isn't
shocked by the findings.

"It doesn't surprise me, but it frightens me," he said adding drugs
from prescription pills to pot and cocaine can be just as deadly as
booze when mixed with driving.

"Impaired is impaired," Marklund said.

"It takes all your attention and clarity of mind to operate a motor
vehicle and you're responsible for everybody around you."

The findings come just a month after the federal Conservative
government tabled legislation to crack down on drug-impaired drivers
with heavier fines and jail terms.

While also making it harder to challenge breathalyser tests in court,
the main focus of the plan is those who drive while high on
marijuana, cocaine, methamphetamine or other drugs.

It's a plan cops such as Marklund support, while hoping rumours of an
upcoming spring election don't derail it from proceeding.

Of 4,639 Canadians questioned for the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey,
nearly 5% reported driving within two hours of using cannabis in the
previous year, more than twice the proportion found by comparable
studies in 1988-89.