Pubdate: Sat, 23 Apr 2016
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2016 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Rikki King

NEW RULES FOR TESTING POT

After Legalization, the Law Now Requires That Any Sample Used As 
Evidence in an Adult Case Be Tested for THC Levels.

EVERETT - Sure, marijuana is legal now, for the most part.

However, enough criminal cases still involve the drug that the 
Washington State Patrol has increased the number of scientists with 
special training needed to analyze its chemical compounds, from one 
to seven. None of them work at the lab in Snohomish County.

Before legalization, any Snohomish County police department could do 
a quick field test to scientifically confirm that seized plant 
materials were, in fact, marijuana. That step is required for 
prosecution. That so-called "leaf test" was standard since the 1970s, 
said George Johnston, a manager for the state crime laboratory.

The new marijuana laws require that any sample submitted as evidence 
in a criminal case go through laboratory testing to determine the 
level of tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC. That applies to every 
marijuana prosecution for adults, including cases of large grows and 
trafficking. The state crime lab didn't add staff, but trained 
existing personnel on THC-level testing. Juvenile cases only require 
proof of THC, not the exact level. The Snohomish County Prosecutor's 
Office says that adult marijuana cases have been a low priority for 
years. Exceptions include driving under the influence and certain 
felony offenses when there is believed to be a danger to the public, 
such as someone selling pot to kids.

The THC testing of marijuana leaves is separate from the blood 
toxicology tests needed for DUI cases. The number of blood samples 
tested also has increased, though, officials said.

Three of the State Patrol's labs, in Seattle, Spokane and Vancouver, 
are equipped with the instrument needed for THC-level testing. Each 
instrument cost more than $100,000.

"The way Washington wrote the law, it has forced us to change how we 
do the testing for marijuana," said David Northrop, a materials 
analysis supervisor at the Marysville lab. "It's caused a lot of 
headaches to be honest."

Before legalization, a marijuana leaf test could be turned around in 
less than a day. Now a rushed case, say, one going to trial, might 
get a two-week turnaround in the lab, and other samples could take 30 
days, said Gene Lawrence, the Marysville lab manager.

The Marysville lab sees up to 1,800 samples of illegal drugs a year, 
and marijuana has become a much smaller portion of that in recent 
years, Lawrence said.

Since legalization, more than 2,100 marijuana samples have been 
submitted for THC testing statewide, but the majority of seized drug 
samples these days are heroin and methamphetamine.

"We're seeing far fewer marijuana cases at this point," Lawrence 
said. Regardless of the changes in scientific testing, the State 
Patrol continues to warn the public of the dangers of driving under 
the influence of marijuana. Most DUIs involving marijuana, statewide 
and in Snohomish County, also included alcohol as a factor.

"They add together to increase the impairment," said Lt. Rob Sharpe, 
who oversees the impaired driving section.

"They're definitely both bad when it comes to driving."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom