Turn left here and pass the doobie.

According to a recent study, 4.5 per cent of British Columbians reported using pot before driving, and as many as 13 per cent have been passengers in a car driven by someone who had used cannabis as little as two hours before getting behind the wheel.

"A lot of kids think cannabis has different effects" than alcohol when it comes to impairment, said Andrew Murie, CEO of the national advocacy group Mothers Against Drunk Driving.

"There is tons of research that indicates driving under the influence of drugs, including marijuana, is extremely dangerous," said Abbotsford police spokesman Casey Vinet.

"It's a relatively new field, but there are experts who have been trained in identifying the physical symptoms drivers may display," such as red eyes, an elevated heart rate, enlarged pupils and lack of co-ordination.

The test is called the 12-step Drug Recognition Expert evaluation, and the expert's opinion in the field can lead to an impaired driving by drug charge, said Vinet.


However, the test includes obtaining a bodily fluid sample, which the B.C. Civil Liberties Association believes is an invasion of privacy.

And, while the BCCLA doesn't condone driving under the influence of any drug, the test "isn't reliable enough to serve as assessment of impairment" as far as the law is concerned, said BCCLA president Jason Gratl yesterday.

"The assessment of impairment in any event is quite difficult, and even mild alcohol consumption is difficult to distinguish from fatigue. The matter of impairment is even more difficult when it comes to pot," said Gratl.

"In relation to alcohol, there's a medically acceptable ratio of alcohol to blood that can serve as a proxy for impairment - not so with marijuana. There's currently no medical consensus on the amount of THC is your blood before you're impaired."

RCMP'S 12-STEP DRUG RECOGNITION TEST:

- Conduct a breath test to rule out alcohol impairment.

- Interview the arresting officer to specify roadside symptoms.

- Conduct a preliminary examination of the subject, including:

- An eye exam to detect involuntary jerking;

- A divided-attention test, like walking the line;

- Take blood pressure, temperature and pulse;

- Examine pupil size and reaction to light;

- Check muscle tone;

- Examine typical injection sites on the body;

- Interview the subject;

- Get a fluid sample.

- Follow up by getting the opinion of a drug recognition expert.

Stoner's 12-Step Drug Recognition Test:

- Note any billowing smoke escaping from the mouth.

- Follow your nose.

- Observe clothing, looking specifically for pot leaf images.

- Look for drivers going under the speed limit.

- Assess mood, noting laid back attitudes and big grins.

- Follow the trail of snack wrappers.

- Assess clarity of mind and ... what's that word? Oh, yeah - forgetfulness.

- Check for a High Times magazine.

- Note any uncontrollable giggling or laughing.

- Look for a green wristband, a clear sign of support for legalizing pot.

- Check under rim of subject's baseball cap for roaches.

- Finally, "there is no easy way to identify a stoner because they're everyone you know, from every walk of life." - Brandon Steele, employee at the B.C. Marijuana Party.

- 24 hours news service

THE STRAIGHT DOPE

- On average, the number of kilograms of harvested cannabis seized per grow operation tripled from 2.4 kilos in 1997 to 7.2 in 2003.

- There were 25,014 police charges brought against cannabis cultivation operations in B.C. between 1997 and 2003.

- More than a third of reported cultivation incidents across Canada are in B.C.

- Taxing cannabis could contribute $2 billion to provincial revenue.

- CARBC analysis of the 2004 Canadian Addiction Survey




San Diego DUI Lawyer Rick Mueller can make you laugh or he can help you beat the San Diego DUI officer and San Diego drunk driving charge: http://www.SanDiegoDUIhelp.com .



Q. What is one of the best possible things you San Diego DUI drivers can do to help to stop San Diego DUI Police from making so many San Diego drunk driving arrests?



The San Diego DUI answer comes from our lucky friends across the ocean.



From the State where drink driving is considered a sport, comes a true
story from Carrick-on-Suir Ireland.



Recently a routine Gardai patrol parked outside a local neighbourhood
tavern. Late in the evening the Garda noticed a man leaving the bar so
intoxicated that he could barely walk.



The man stumbled around the car park for a few minutes, with the Garda
quietly observing.



After what seemed an eternity and trying his keys on five vehicles, the man
managed to find his car which he fell into. He was there for a few minutes
as a number of other patrons left the bar and drove off.



Finally he started the car, switched the wipers on and off (it was a fine
dry night), flicked the indicators on, then off, tooted the horn and then
switched on the lights.



He moved the vehicle forward a few cm, reversed a little and then remained
stationary for a few more minutes as some more vehicles left.



At last he pulled out of the car park and started to drive slowly down the
road.



The Garda, having patiently waited all this time, now started up the patrol
car, put on the flashing lights, promptly pulled the man over and carried
out a Breathalyzer test.



To his amazement theBreathalyzer indicated no evidence of the man having
consumed alcohol at all!



Dumbfounded, the Garda said "I'll have to ask you to accompany me to the
Police station this Breathalyzer equipment must be broken."



"I doubt it," said the man, "tonight I'm the designated decoy".



True story...