Pubdate: Tue, 22 Nov 2016
Source: Lethbridge Herald (CN AB)
Copyright: 2016 The Lethbridge Herald
Contact:  http://www.lethbridgeherald.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/239
Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v16/n672/a04.html
Author: Matthew M. Elrod
Page: 6

STATS ON THC, CRASHES MISLEADING

Statistics from Washington State on fatally injured drivers testing
positive for cannabis (THC) are misleading. (re: "Keep roads free from
'pot' holes," Nov. 15 Herald editorial).

According to the cited report from Washington State,"results of this
study do not indicate that drivers with detectable THC in their blood
at the time of the crash were necessarily impaired by THC or that they
were at-fault for the crash. … It was not clear whether this
increasing trend was attributable to Initiative 502 or to other
factors that were beyond the scope of the study."

One of the factors beyond the scope of the study is that testing for
cannabis in fatally injured drivers more than tripled following
legalization, explaining why more drivers are testing positive. There
is no corresponding evidence that cannabis usage rates have gone up in
Washington State, although most researchers concede that it is too
early to tell what the impact of legalization has been or will be.

Note that the police lack a roadside screening device and legally
established blood concentrations for a medicine cabinet full of
impairing yet legal substances.

Matthew M. Elrod

Victoria, B.C.
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MAP posted-by: Matt