cannabisnews.com: Driving While High
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Driving While High
Posted by CN Staff on March 02, 2011 at 08:29:40 PT
By Keegan Hamilton 
Source: Seattle Weekly 
Washington State -- Washington lawmakers are currently trying to answer a tricky question: How high is too high to drive?Among the 15 states that sanction medical-marijuana use, 12 have a zero-tolerance policy for driving under the influence of any illicit drug, including reefer. Colorado is attempting to impose a legal limit of five nanograms of THC (the magical, active ingredient in marijuana) per milliliter of blood. Nevada and Ohio have already set much lower limits—prostitution may be legal in Las Vegas, but driving with anything over two nanograms, the rough equivalent of a contact high, is not.
Washington currently operates in a gray area. According to Julie Startup, spokesperson for the Washington State Patrol, if a trooper suspects somebody is driving impaired, they'll request a blood sample for toxicology analysis. But while the presence of THC can be used as evidence, it isn't necessarily a definitive way to prove in court that a person is Driving While High. "It's like any other DUI, regardless of whether it's marijuana or prescription medication," says Startup. "We just look for signs of impairment, and if they're showing that in the trooper's estimation, they'll be placed under arrest."So into this murky legal morass swims Rep. Roger Goodman (D-Kirkland), who earlier this year introduced a bill that would amend Washington's current DUI law to include a legal limit of eight nanograms. Even though it's higher (no pun intended) than Colorado's proposed limit, the Goodman ceiling is sparking debate about whether it's an accurate way to gauge if someone is baked to the point of illegality.Seattle DUI lawyer George Bianchi, the Dean of the National College of DUI Defense Attorneys, points to several toxicology studies that inconclusively determined impairment based on THC blood levels. Bianchi specifically cites a paper by renowned toxicologist Dr. Barry Logan, who concluded that, although smoking marijuana definitely impairs drivers, "the passage of time between driving or involvement in a crash limits our ability to get an accurate measurement of the THC concentration at the time of driving."In 2005, a group of 11 international scientists published a comprehensive study on the effects of THC on driving ability. They concluded that drivers do not pose a crash risk until they reach 10 to 20 nanograms of THC per milliliter. They also determined that 18 to 20 nanograms is the equivalent of a blood-alcohol content (BAC) of .08, the current legal limit in most U.S. states.As it stands now, Bianchi says, it's difficult for prosecutors to prove someone was driving under the influence based on THC blood levels alone. However, police frequently arrest people—about half of his clients, he says—on suspicion of toking and driving. "If a person is falling down and driving all over the road, that's way different than if someone is speeding and they end up drawing their blood and try [to] base the case strictly on blood level," says Bianchi. "You have to look to the facts of the case. But I've seen several cases where [police] smelled marijuana—maybe a person had a toke earlier that night—and the next thing you know they're drawing blood."Bianchi, however, says he supports Goodman's law because eight nanograms is a "reasonable" standard, and would prevent prosecutors from introducing levels of carboxy-THC (a metabolite, which does not make a person high) as evidence of DUI. His opinion contrasts with that of Diego Vargas, another local DUI defense attorney, who is firmly against the law. "There are just too many things to consider to set a specific number," says Vargas. "Pattern of use, for example—[with] marijuana and THC, like any other drug, people build up a tolerance and not everyone is affected the same way . . . and I'm arguing against my own financial best interest by saying 'Don't change this law.' Defense attorneys will be busier than crazy if this gets passed, but I don't support it. It's just wrong."DUI attorney–approved or not, Goodman's law still has a long road ahead. Next stop: the Judiciary Committee, where it awaits a hearing.Source: Seattle Weekly (WA)Author: Keegan Hamilton Published: March 2, 2011Copyright: 2011 Seattle WeeklyContact: letters seattleweekly.comWebsite: http://www.seattleweekly.com/URL: http://drugsense.org/url/xrJQz6OpCannabisNews Medical Marijuana Archiveshttp://cannabisnews.com/news/list/medical.shtml
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Comment #4 posted by Storm Crow on March 03, 2011 at 10:28:45 PT
Tolerences........
Just as with liquor, who is using it and how it is being used makes a BIG difference! My best friend is a real "light weight"- any more than two puffs on her vaporizer sends her off to "lullaby land"! Me, well, let's just say it takes quite a bit more than that to get me drowsy! (But it still stops the migraines!)With edibles and tinctures, the effect can vary depending on when, what, and how much you have eaten that day! Two identical doses can give different effects! I feel that their limits are absolutely arbitrary. A roadside test for impairment, I can see, but if the cops can't tell that you are impaired in any way and need a blood test to prove their case, are you actually impaired?Of course, multiple studies have come out showing that experienced cannabis users tend to over-compensate for whatever level of impairment they are experiencing. They tend to drive slower and more cautiously, in contrast to the drunken, or pharmaceutical-drugged driver, who may drive quite recklessly and not even realize the danger they are causing.And since "cannabis bars" are rather limited in number, most of us "do our sinnin' at home". No driving needed, and the furthest most of us will wander is to the kitchen for munchies! They are making a problem where, usually, there is none!But alcohol? Even in my tiny, little, nothin' town, there is more than one bar and liquor store! Even the grocery store sells hard liquor! To put a cap on it, there was a Swiss emergency room study that found the more under the influence of cannabis you were, the LESS likely you were to end up in the emergency room! Alcohol and other drugs were just the opposite. Once again, reality and the proposed cannabis law are at odds!   
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Comment #3 posted by dongenero on March 02, 2011 at 13:39:13 PT
"It's like any other DUI,....or prescription...
So, what are the DUI blood levels for Oxycontin, or Lyrica, or Valium, or Paxil, or Hydrocodone?.....well, you get the idea.I understand observed impairment. But, 5, 8, 20-30 nanograms? 
I question whether anyone commenting in this article or establishing these levels, have any idea what level of impairment these numbers would infer in any individual. Whatever they do, it must be evenly applied to other medications that may impair drivers, and it must be science and evidence based. Otherwise it's just an unreasoned discrimination.Short of that, you just leave it at observed impairment and call it a day.
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Comment #2 posted by por1 on March 02, 2011 at 10:23:05 PT
I think it's time
Now where did I put that stash?
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Comment #1 posted by runruff on March 02, 2011 at 09:03:28 PT
When you remember where you left your stash?
It's time to get stoned again!
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