MARIJUANA: WHO SAYS IT'S NOT SAFE?

Dear Editor,

The Langley Advance owes it to readers to investigate assertions made
by the BCAA's Traffic Safety Foundation regarding driving and cannabis
(marijuana) use [Alcohol and drugs are a volatile cocktail, Dec. 16,
Langley Advance].

Many responsible cannabis users may be skeptical about what is
considered "detected" cannabis.

Prohibitionists, law enforcement agencies, and government know
cannabis use may be detected from over a week ago, yet use trace
amounts of detected THC to discriminate against responsible users.

Of those 14 per cent of drivers involved in fatal crashes who had
marijuana in their systems, how many were honestly too high to drive
safely?

A person may consume a beer or glass of wine and drive safely and
legally, and not be considered too dangerous for driving.

Certainly someone who drinks a beer yesterday may have alcohol
detected in their "system" but not be too impaired to drive today. The
same goes for cannabis.

Trace amounts of THC doesn't mean honest impairment and responsible
cannabis users should not be confronted by government as dangerous
drivers with all its legal ramifications, if they are not honestly too
impaired to responsibly control their motor vehicle.

Further, international studies, including Canadian studies, indicate
citizens who use small amounts of cannabis may not be too impaired to
drive safely, and even indicate some people are safer drivers. If
people are too impaired to drive, get them off the road, otherwise
leave them alone.

Stan White

Dillon, Colorado, USA