CHIEF SAYS COPS LACK TOOLS TO NAB DRIVERS HIGH ON POT

Police officers don't have the tools they need to detect and detain
drivers impaired by marijuana, Chief Julian Fantino said yesterday.
"With all this enthusiasm to decriminalize or regard cannabis as a
non-event, we are concerned ... about our ability to detect, and have
the tools and the laws in place to enable us to deal with
cannabis-impaired driving in the same context as we do
alcohol-impaired driving," Fantino said.

"The end result is the same and the potential for disaster is no
less," he said.

Unlike alcohol, there's no technology to test for marijuana impairment
at the roadside, Fantino said. It can only be measured through the
protracted process of obtaining a blood sample.

"It's extremely difficult for us," said Insp. Steve Grant, head of
traffic services.

A proposed federal bill gives police more power to nab suspected
drug-impaired drivers. Even with the legislation, Grant said, there's
not enough money for the extensive training officers need to become
drug recognition experts.

MADD Canada executive director Andrew Murie said 7 to 90% of road
deaths are caused by drug impairment. Alcohol is a factor in nearly
40% of road deaths and in about 25% of those cases, the driver also
used drugs.