High driving is a driving violation, period – Winnipeg Free Press

Opinion

For at least the past half-century, pop culture has been filled with references, mostly of the comedic persuasion, to squinty-eyed stoners who are unaware of any kind of cannabis they've smoked or ingested.

from Fast times at Ridgemont Higheternally baked Jeff Spicoli to eternally gentle wisdom The Big LebowskiI am a friend of cannabis growing ambitions CaddishCarl Spackler to Munchie Seeking Mania Harold and Kumar go to the White CastleHollywood's titular tandem has firmly taken the stand that it's half-baked (or more) funny.

The Winnipeg Police Service thinks otherwise, at least some motorists in that city are unable (or unwilling) to understand that driving under the influence of cannabis is a serious public safety issue.

WPS officials expressed concern about the initial results of the drug-impaired driving enforcement operation that began on January 16 — in less than a month, officers conducted 131 traffic stops and conducted 48 roadside drug tests; nearly half of them (23) tested positive for cannabis.

There is nothing funny about the level of ignorance behind the wheel.

Sergeant. Stephen Fontaine, who coordinates WPS's anti-impaired driving efforts, called the numbers “very alarming” and said there appear to be several misconceptions about marijuana use and driving.

According to Fontaine, there are still people among us who believe that using cannabis makes one a better driver. “It's just not right,” he said. “People don't understand the dangers of getting in the wheel at the top.”

Driving while impaired by alcohol, cannabis, prescription drugs, or illegal drugs is not recommended, and frankly, not allowed.

Because legal access to and consumption of cannabis is a relatively new Canadian phenomenon, it will undoubtedly take time for public education campaigns regarding the safe and prudent use of cannabis to overcome widespread public interest in legalizing its purchase and consumption. in recreational use.

Think about how long it took for attitudes about drunk driving to form – for decades after the advent of automobile travel, people didn't “understand” that drunk driving was a serious offense with potentially disastrous consequences. The fines were light and sporadic, a slight deterrent to what was seen as petty mischief rather than carnage and heart-wrenching criminal activity.

These days, the weight of public opinion, reinforced by continued outreach and ever-increasing penalties and enforcement, has made drunk driving much less common.