rod03801:

> as far as I know, there isn't a test to tell if you are CURRENTLY under the influence of marijuana

Recently here there were complaints from some members of the public because the police has developed a new form of breathlizer test.  In the previous testing procedure the police could check only for alcohol in the blood as measured when a person blew air from the lungs into the bre3athilizer machine.  The police couldnot test for other drugs because testing for them would require a urine sample and a suspect could refuse to provide a sample.  However, a new breathalizer machine allows for testing for other drugs such as marihuana and cocaine.  Initially privacy advocacy groups complained, but the vast majority of the public is in favour of the new testing system.  People driving under the influence of several drugs can now be charged.

Marihuana is a sedative and analgesic.  It will take away your pain, and it will also impair short term memory and concentration.  I think that if the police could test people involved in traffic accidents for marihuana use then we would find that it does play a role in many accidents out there.  As with all recreational drugs, there are side effects not only to those who directly use them, but also to those people around them.  If marihuana and hashish were to become legal, then I would expect the police to prosecute anyone driving or using machinery under its influence, just as we do with alcohol.