Pubdate: Thu, 11 Dec 2014
Source: San Diego Union Tribune (CA)
Copyright: 2014 Union-Tribune Publishing Co.
Contact:  http://www.utsandiego.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/386
Note: Seldom prints LTEs from outside it's circulation area.
Author: Linda P. Hughes
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v14/n909/a04.html

STANDARD FOR DRIVING STONED NOT POSSIBLE

While having uniform standards to determine whether driving is 
impaired by ingestion of marijuana ("How stoned is too stoned to 
drive?" Dec. 7) would greatly assist law-enforcement, it seems 
doubtful that any can be created that will be applicable across the 
broad spectrum of individuals.

There are simply too many variables. Unlike alcohol, which can be 
proven to metabolize at a predictable rate, the THC in cannabis stays 
in the body for a long time and no studies have provided guidance in 
how to equate test-levels with degrees of impairment for driving purposes.

This is not to say that pot combined with alcohol doesn't produce an 
undesirable effect on the ability to drive safely and prudently; it 
does. But that should not lead to blanket assumptions about cannabis 
alone and driving.

Linda P. Hughes

Lakeside
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