POT-SMOKING MOTORIST NOT GUILTY OF IMPAIRED DRIVING

PEMBROKE, ONT. - An Ottawa Valley man who was pulled over while smoking a
marijuana joint has been found not guilty of driving while impaired.

Rick Reimer, a retired lawyer from Killaloe, Ont., has been granted an
exemption by Health Canada to smoke marijuana to help him with his multiple
sclerosis. In February 2002, he was pulled over for crossing the centre
line. The officer noticed that he was smoking a joint and charged him with
impaired driving.

But Reimer, who defended himself in the case, insists that marijuana does
not impair his ability to drive.

"I know that I'm not guilty, I'm innocent and I hoped that the court would
see it that way and I'm glad the court did," said Reimer.

Justice Bruce McPhee acquitted Reimer on Wednesday, but said his decision
doesn't dismiss the idea that marijuana may impede some people's ability to
drive.

He said he was not convinced that it was the marijuana and not Reimer's
multiple sclerosis that caused him to swerve.

"We got a very fair trial from Justice McPhee," said assistant crown
attorney Mac Lindsay.

"As His Honour said, he was in a doubt as to the cause of the impairment
here and therefore he was duty-bound to acquit if that was his position,"
he said.

Reimer called several of his friends to testify in the case and they said
they drive while smoking pot, too. Some said it made their driving better.

"The most important thing, in my opinion, that the judge said is that this
is an area that needs a lot more scientific study. It also, in my opinion,
needs a lot more democratic debate," said Reimer.

The Crown didn't say whether they would appeal the decision.