A bill has been presented in Colorado that would make it the third state in the US to set a standard for drivers’ THC blood levels. The measure has been rejected three times previously, including during a special session vote earlier this year where it failed in the state Senate on a 17-17 vote.
Mesa County Republican Senator Steve King is not giving up, however, because he genuinely believes that passing a THC DUI limit will save lives.
King explained, “People are dying on our highways and byways as a result of people driving under the influence of THC, just like with alcohol 20 years ago.”
On Friday, the Transportation Legislation Review committee will vote on whether the bill should be introduced in January.
The proposed legislation would limit drivers to having no more than 5 nanograms of THC per milliliter of blood in their system while operating a vehicle.
Those who are opposed to the measure believe that the limit is arbitrary and that THC levels do not indicate how impaired a marijuana smoker is. THC can potentially stay in someone’s system for a long time after they have smoked, putting medical marijuana patients at a constant risk of being arrested for a DUI.
Michael Elliott, executive director of the Medical Marijuana Industry Group, explained, “We risk convicting people of an impaired driving infraction when they’re not actually impaired. That is an injustice that is a major problem.”
Elliot also said that opponents of the bill would be less frustrated with the measure if the THC limit was raised to 10 nanograms per milliliter of blood. That way, “there’s more guarantee that the person is actually impaired.”
The only other states to have THC limits for drivers are Ohio and Nevada. Pennsylvania’s Health Department also has a THC guideline which can be introduced in driving violation cases.
According to the National Highway Safety Administration, there has been a recent increase in marijuana-related driving fatalities. Marijuana advocates disagree, however, arguing that marijuana-related car crash data is incomplete.
[Source]
kushjunkie420 said on Sep 14, 2012
Bullshit law! Iowa has similar law allowing 12 nanograms and I received bullshit dui charge for having 50+ in system but was not so medicated couldn't drive, just have some dank meds that stay in system so got fucked with charge
perple said on Sep 14, 2012
damn thats some bullshit, i dont understand that if someone cant drive cause of thc the officer should b able to make that decision right there on spot by traffic tests like how they do with drunk ppl when they get pulled over not oh i need ur blood cuz i think ur high
rayc1962 said on Sep 18, 2012
You should have refused the test. And never plead guilty.
BlazinAlberts said on Sep 14, 2012
This thing will not go away. Shit
cquirki said on Sep 15, 2012
this is one of the reasons marijuana is legal yet.
you can accurately see how drunk someone is, you cannot with marijuana
rayc1962 said on Sep 18, 2012
Not true, an experienced cannabis user can compensate well for being very stoned, and still drive well. If one is responsible for an accident, that is the point where a dui test should be done, urine only, and if a larger amount of thc is discovered, then dui charges could apply. If no accident or harm has occurred All dui tests should be politely refused.
They come up with a million reasons to keep it illegal, the bottom line is, we all are given this freedom from god, the freedom to do whatever we want as long as no one gets hurt. No hurting, no frauding. They shouldn't be using assault, deadly force, kidnapping and imprisonment, shouldn't be using aggression against anyone who hasn't hurt someone.
We cannabis users demand 5 things from our gov'ts. 1. End prohibition. 2. Release all drug prisoners. 3. Compensate all drug prisoners/and former prisoners, compensate everyone who has paid any penalty in this prohibition. 4. Create independent, publicly accountable, investigations into all the organizations involved in implementing, and maintaining the war on drugs, and laying legal charges against anyone in any public office or not, suspected to have committed crimes against any cannabis users. 5. Create an independent, publicly accountable court and judge, with full power of the law of the land. To actually enforce a real punishment on those, found guilty of crimes against cannabis users, like assault, kidnapping, imprisonment.
cquirki said on Sep 15, 2012
isnt*