Pubdate: Thu, 25 Sep 2014
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2014 Associated Press
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Page: B1

SEWAGE COULD BE TESTED FOR POT

Testing Would Be a Way for Spokane to Determine the Best Way to 
Maximize Revenue While Ensuring Public Safety.

SPOKANE (AP) - The author of Washington's recreational pot law has 
suggested that Spokane test its sewage for traces of the cannabis 
chemical THC as a general measure of pot use by residents.

American Civil Liberties Union lawyer Alison Holcomb proposed the 
idea at a Tuesday meeting of the Spokane City Council's marijuana 
policy subcommittee, The Spokesman Review reported.

Testing sewage for the psychoactive element from marijuana provides a 
more accurate level of trends than self-reporting on surveys, Holcomb 
said, citing research at the University of Washington and the 
University of Puget Sound.

"Nobody can lie about what's showing up in the sewage," she said.

The meeting included representatives of schools, law enforcement 
agencies, nonprofit and local government to discuss what information 
needs to be collected as policymakers look to maximize marijuana 
revenue while ensuring public safety.

Testing sewage, which can be frozen for later inspection, would 
provide only general use figures, not data broken down by age, said Holcomb.

Councilman Jon Snyder supported the idea.

"What an awesome new use for our sewage," he said to laughter from 
those at the meeting.

Spokane wastewater director Dale Arnold said he would check with a 
lab this week to find out how difficult it is to get THC readings 
from wastewater.

"A large portion of that wastewater doesn't come out of human 
beings," Arnold said.
- ---
MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom