DR. WALLACE: Please answer my question. I date a guy who drives while smoking marijuana. What's worse: driving while high on marijuana or driving while drunk? — Rosa, Nogales, Ariz.

ROSA: That's like asking whether it's better to lose an arm or a leg. Both losses are serious. The same is true for driving under the influence of alcohol or any other drug.

According to the American Council for Drug Education, evidence now shows that marijuana affects a person's ability to drive, and that people high on pot are involved in an unusually high percentage of traffic accidents and fatalities.

Tests conducted in mechanical and electronic driving simulators show that marijuana smoking impairs driving skills even in those who do not believe they are high. A study conducted in California found that at least 16 percent of drivers arrested for impaired driving showed clear evidence of recent marijuana use.

Do yourself a favor, Rosa. Find a new boyfriend, or at least STOP riding with your friend when he is high on any type of drug. His chances of being involved in an accident are uncomfortably good. Please don't let yourself become a traffic statistic. Tragically, innocent people could become victims because of your friend's stupidity.

I'M CONVINCED OF YOUR INNOCENCE

DR. WALLACE: There's this guy I like very much, but my parents are "death" when it comes to guys. They refuse to allow me to date him because they think that all boys just want sex from girls. This is not the case with this boy, but my parents won't listen to me.

Last Friday night, my parents said I could go to the movies with my girlfriend. It so happened that this boy was also at the movies with his buddy. All four of us sat together, and guess what? My parents were checking up on me and they were at the movie, too.

Now I'm grounded for two months because my parents thought this boy and I had this whole thing planned, and I swear we didn't.

Please tell me how to get out of this mess. I'm 100 percent innocent! — Nameless, Rockford, Ill.

NAMELESS: I chose your letter to be printed because I think you were innocent and a victim of circumstances. Cut out this column and present it to Mom and Dad. Let's hope they reconsider. At least they should be impressed that you convinced me of your innocence.

HER BOYFRIEND IS A TWO-TIMING JERK

DR. WALLACE: Lauren is my best friend and she has a boyfriend named Tyler who happens to be my cousin. Lauren loves Tyler very much and I thought he loved her too, but now I don't think so.

Last Sunday I went to a family picnic and Tyler was there with a different girl. When he saw me, he really flipped because I had told him our family wasn't going to be there. At the last minute my dad changed his mind and we went. Tyler said he was planning to break up with Lauren soon, and asked me not to say anything to her.

What should I do, keep my mouth shut, or tell my best friend that her boyfriend is a two-timing jerk? — Kelly, Miami, Fla.

KELLY: Wait a while to see if he keeps his word, but if he doesn't, tell Kelly the bad news with as much compassion as possible. That's what friends are for.

Dr. Robert Wallace welcomes questions from readers. Although he is unable to reply to all of them individually, he will answer as many as possible in this column. Email him at rwallace@galesburg.net. To find out more about Dr. Robert Wallace and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.