Pubdate: Fri, 22 Nov 2013
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2013 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Gene Johnson, Associated Press

MORE DRIVERS IN STATE TEST POSITIVE FOR POT

SEATTLE (AP) - More drivers have been testing positive for marijuana 
since Washington legalized the drug last year, according to new 
figures from the State Patrol.

In the first six months of 2013, the patrol's crime lab says, 745 
people tested positive for marijuana. Typically, there are about 
1,000 positive pot tests on drivers in a full year.

It doesn't necessarily mean there has been a rash of people driving 
high, said patrol spokesman Bob Calkins. Troopers are looking harder 
for drivers operating under the influence of pot, and they might be 
ordering more marijuana blood tests - "We're testing blood we didn't 
test before," he said.

In addition, the overall number of impaired driving cases handled by 
the patrol doesn't appear to have risen this year, and should be on 
track to hit the rough annual average of 20,000 - which could mean 
that some people are using marijuana instead of alcohol before 
getting behind the wheel, Calkins said.

"They're still making a very bad decision," he said.

The patrol's crime lab ran the numbers this month and provided the 
information to the federal government. The Justice Department 
announced in August it would not sue to block recreational marijuana 
sales in Washington and Colorado as long as the states satisfy eight 
federal law enforcement goals, including keeping pot away from 
children and the black market - and combatting drugged driving.

Washington and Colorado voters legalized the recreational use of 
marijuana by adults over 21 last year. Both states have set a legal 
limit of 5 nanograms of active THC per milliliter of blood for 
drivers; anything above that is a per-se violation of impaired 
driving laws, similar to blowing 0.08 or above on an alcohol breath test.

Of the 745 people who tested positive for marijuana in the first half 
of this year, the State Patrol says a slight majority tested above 
the legal limit. The exact number: 420. It's a curious coincidence, 
since "420" is an old slang term for marijuana.

In 2011, 506 drivers tested above 5 nanograms. In 2012, it was 609.

The patrol handles about half of the 40,000 impaired driving arrests 
in the state in any given year. The positive pot-test figures reflect 
cases from the patrol as well as local police agencies.

Kevin Sabet, of Project SAM (Smart Approaches to Marijuana), said it 
will be interesting to learn the reasons for the increase in drivers 
testing positive for pot, but the numbers are troubling. His group 
says it promotes a public-health approach to marijuana.

"It's certainly cause for alarm," he said. "It's very possible people 
are getting the message that this is OK. Obviously, impaired driving 
is a major public safety issue."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom