A new report suggests that there should be no legal limit on how much THC can be in your body to consider someone impaired.
Former Governor Rick Snyder created a six-member Impaired Driving Safety Commission.
The board is made up of members of diverse backgrounds including reps from Michigan State Police, a medical marijuana patient, and doctors.
In its findings, the commission is suggesting to lawmakers not to set a measurable limit of THC.
“It’s not like alcohol at all,” Bruce Leach said.
Leach is a local criminal defense lawyer and practices law significantly on matters with marijuana.
Leach says he supports the commission’s decision.
“There is no direct correlation, and no science behind a set number of nanograms equals a certain amount impairment,” Leach said.
The commission found regular users respond differently than occasional users.
“There is a discrepancy of active THC and the long time frame for the metabolite to be in someone’s system. It is very difficult to tell what their level of impairment or intoxication may have been. The real test is how they were driving,” Leach said.
Michigan has a zero-tolerance drugged driving law.
The commission wanted to learn to see if active THC was the reason behind impairment.
Leach says the problem is THC can stay in your body for an extended period.
“Many hours or many days or weeks after someone actually ingested the product,” Leach said.
Studies show there can be behavioral effects when someone ingests cannabis.
The report shows the number of positive tests for cannabinoids in crash-involved drivers has more than doubled over a five-year time frame.
Leach says people need to consume responsibly.
“Me personally as well as everyone I know that I represent everybody wants the safest possible roads,” Leach said.
The report did also look at other states that legalized recreational and medical marihuana.
• Colorado: 5 ng/ml
• Montana: 5 ng/ml
• Nevada: 2 ng/ml
• Ohio: 2 ng/ml
• Pennsylvania: 1 ng/ml
• Washington: 5 ng/ml
