DON'T DO ILLEGAL DRUGS AND DRIVE

Re: Driving stoned is not like being drunk (Letters, June 11).

Dear Mr. Barth, while the first part of your argument has some
validity, in that testing lacks a degree of equality, and that
"positive" is a blanket result.

Tests for blood alcohol is measured as percentage, and most other
drugs are being measured in "trace" amounts.

The fact remains that most of the drugs being tested for are illegal,
therefore should not be in your system while in a position of
responsibility, ie. driving, on the job, group representation.

And I find it extremely hard to believe that just a "whiff " of pot,
as you put it, would even register a week later, let alone three
weeks, or three months.

The second part of your argument weighs heavily against you where you
state "Other studies show, that chronic daily users notice far less
impairment than weekend tokers."

This is the same as an alcoholic arguing that they are OK to drive
while legally drunk. It's the alteration of one's perception that is
the main reason for taking substances, and it's this altered
perception that is the main point behind the police and lobbyist's
challenge, which are also urged by society majority. Medical use
aside, don't make others suffer because you want to party.

This goes for alcohol use, illegal drug use and abuse.

B. Long

Surrey