A congressman from Oregon believes that eliminating workplace drug tests would result in more people applying for railroad worker positions.
A congressman from Oregon claims that ending marijuana testing might help resolve the rising disputes that exist between railroad workers and their employees, which could potentially affect the entire country.
While workers created a temporary deal between unions and railway companies, they remain upset over their work conditions. Over the years, workers have been losing their benefits and job security, resulting in a tense environment that has led to issues in the supply chain.
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Blumenauer said that removing mandatory drug tests could be a part of the solution. This would encourage more people to apply for these positions and would give some job security to their employees. “A lot of these shortcomings in terms of the supply chain are that people do not qualify for the jobs because they’ve used marijuana sometime in the last six weeks, which doesn’t affect their ability to do their job, but it throws them out of the consideration,” he said.
The threat of the strike was very concerning for commuters and people all over the country, prompting President Biden to make a statement on the matter.
Per Illinois Policy, a railroad worker strike would result in chaos, freezing 30% of US cargo shipments and costing the U.S. Economy about $ 2 billion a day. It would have stopped Amtrak and Metra trains from running, affecting millions of people.
Currently, there’s no way to test for marijuana use in the workplace. Drug tests can’t differentiate whether a worker consumes marijuana at home or while at work, providing a blanket test that limits people’s behavior outside of the workplace. The only way to resolve this issue would be to devise a new test altogether.
The study could provide people with a new and noninvasive way of keeping their brains fit and healthy for as long as possible.
As we grow older, our brains naturally change. Behaviors like shorter attention spans, being less able to multitask and having trouble recalling names are some of the most common afflictions that seniors have to deal with. But there’s some good news!
A new study found a link between a daily multivitamin supplement and cognitive health, suggesting that it’s possible to slow down the brain’s aging process.
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The findings were published in the journal Alzheimer’s & Dementia and was conducted by researchers from Wake Forest University’s School of Medicine and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Researchers wanted to see if taking a daily cocoa extract supplement or a multivitamin supplement was able to reduce the risk of diseases like cancer, strokes, and more. Over 2,200 participants over the age of 65 were recruited for the study, with a follow-up process for three years. During this time, researchers had participants complete different tasks that tested their cognitive ability.
Participants were split into groups, with one taking the cocoa extract and another a placebo. A different group took the multivitamin supplement and had their results compared to another placebo group.
“Our study showed that although cocoa extract did not affect cognition, daily multivitamin-mineral supplementation resulted in statistically significant cognitive improvement,” said study author Laura Baker. “This is the first evidence of cognitive benefit in a large longer-term study of multivitamin supplementation in older adults.”
The study results indicate that three years of taking the vitamin supplements were able to slow down the brain’s aging process by 60%. These benefits were more pronounced in people with cardiovascular disease, something that is very good since these people are already at a higher risk of experiencing cognitive decline.
While researchers make it clear that their results are preliminary, if pursued, the study could provide people with a new and noninvasive way of keeping their brains fit and healthy for as long as possible.
Rep. Ed Perlmutter said the SAFE Banking bill “obviously is a public safety issue. It is a tax issue. It is an issue of civil justice (…) We can get this done. We will get this done. We need some more Republican cosponsors.”
Sponsors of the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act recently discussed the urgency of enacting cannabis reform this session, reiterating the public safety imperative of providing the industry access to the financial system.
Bipartisan and bicameral sponsors of banking reform said “it’s time to take action on the House-passed standalone legislation,” reported Marijuana Moment.
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) brought together more than 100 stakeholders for two days of lobbying on Capitol Hill involving more than 100 meetings with legislators and staff to advocate for the Cannabis Act Banking SAFE to be enacted in 2022.
Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), the sponsor of the SAFE Banking Act, talked about violent crime targeting marijuana businesses and workers, as well as bipartisan support for stand-alone legislation. “It’s a political positive. It’s good policy and good politics,” Merkley said. “So we’re here today to say it’s way past time to get the SAFE Banking bill done.”
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Recently, Merkley discussed the so-called “SAFE Banking Plus” bill at the Payments, Banking, and Compliance (PBC) Conference. “Every legal business deserves the same access to the same resources as any other—resources like bank accounts, loans, payment processing, and so much more,” Merkley separately said in a press release. “When it comes to cannabis, the country is changing fast and it’s long past time that our federal laws caught up.”
A Public Safety Issue
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) said SAFE Banking bill “obviously is a public safety issue. It is a tax issue. It is an issue of civil justice (…) We can get this done. We will get this done. We need some more Republican cosponsors” that the congressman expects will join them soon.
“I know, in the House, that whatever they pass in the Senate, we will get passed in the House. And this will be law by the end of this year, with your help and your hard work,” Perlmutter added.
Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT), the GOP lead on the standalone legislation called the legislation “a public safety issue—when legal Montana cannabis businesses don’t have a way to safely conduct business and are forced to operate in all cash our communities become vulnerable to crime.”
The SAFE Banking Act has passed in the House seven times but has not moved in the Senate.
What Do Minnesota’s Senators Think About This Issue?
GOP Minnesota Sen. Carla Nelson and DFL challenger Aleta Borrud debated cannabis legalization for recreational purposes, among other issues including health care, election integrity, guns and abortion.
Nelson, who has served in the Minnesota Senate since 2010, beat Borrud in a close race 50.9% to 49%, reported Yahoo News.
When senators were asked if they support the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes, they expressed themselves as follows:
“I absolutely do support the legalization of cannabis. Cannabis has been used for millennia, and people in our community are using it. People should not be going to jail, especially our Black and brown neighbors going to jail for using it. It becomes an issue of equity. If we legalize it, we can regulate it and improve its safety,” said Borrud.
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“I’ve heard concern from law enforcement about the packaging of gummies that are now for sale. I think we have to make sure that these are not falling into the hands of our kids.”
On the other hand, Nelson expressed that she has the endorsement from the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association. “And I will tell you what our public safety officials all say in this regard. Until there is a field sobriety test, it is irresponsible to legalize marijuana for the broader population,” she continued.
Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Means Social Justice
According to the latest data from the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, Black Minnesotans are nearly five times more likely to be arrested on marijuana charges than whites.
“In 2021 there were 6,055 marijuana arrests in the state,” according to BCA’s latest data. Cannabis accounted for a little over one-third of all Minnesota drug arrests. “Close to 90% of marijuana arrests in Minnesota are for simple possession, rather than sales or distribution.”
When cooking with any of these cannabis products, always remember that you can expect the hit of THC to last up to 8 hours or more.
Making your own cannabis-infused food and beverages is an effective way to absorb the beneficial cannabinoids of the marijuana plant into your system. However, let’s be real: making your own edibles and drinks can be time-consuming. It even requires some trial and error for beginners when it comes to dosing and strength.
So why not add THC to food and drink yourself?
If you live in a state where cannabis is legal in some form, you can use pre-made cannabis products that infuse cannabinoids into anything you want within seconds. Here are the easiest ways to add THC to food and drinks at home — or anywhere you are.
Tinctures
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Cannabis tinctures are easily the most versatile and convenient way to consume cannabis, as well as add to just about anything. Tinctures can be consumed in a variety of ways, though sublingual is the most popular way to consume them. Sublingual consumption enables quick absorption through the sublingual artery, bypassing the liver and gut and transporting the cannabinoids directly to your bloodstream.
However, when adding tinctures to your food or beverage, you can expect the onset time to be around an hour. But the best benefit of using tinctures is quick, simple, and easy dosing: simply add one or two drops for a precise dose. How much you dose will depend entirely on your own tolerance and experience with cannabis, though if you’re a newbie, always start low and slow. Start with half a drop if you are new to THC.
Additionally, tinctures are low in calories, which is great for anyone who is watching their weight. Tinctures are just around 7 calories per milliliter. If you ended up eating baked goods, candies, or other types of edibles, you can easily consume at least 200 calories and up.
Tinctures last a much longer time compared to other cannabis products since you only need a small amount. These are also full-spectrum cannabis products because making tinctures involves the entire cannabis plant, which means that consumers get to enjoy a wide array of health benefits from the cannabinoids, flavonoids, and terpenes in addition to the THC and CBD.
When using tinctures on food you are cooking, remember to add it when the cooking has been finished. Otherwise, the high temperatures will cause the alcohol in tinctures to evaporate. It’s easy to add it to drinks too, whether you’re drinking coffee, tea, wine, cocktails, or juices. Tinctures can also easily be added into pasta sauces, salad dressings, soups, stews, smoothies, and much more.
Tinctures can also be made from glycerin, a form of sugar alcohol that comes from plant oils. These are usually less potent compared to alcohol-based tinctures but it still provides you with many of the health benefits of cannabis. Glycerin is also sweeter compared to alcohol, so this base is recommended for individuals who have some kinds of oral sensitivities.
Cannabis Oil
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Most ready-made cannabis oils have little to no taste, depending on its base and if it has any flavor. This makes it easy to add to just about any food and drink, which conceal the mild taste of cannabis oils. Just like with tinctures, the effects of THC can be felt in around an hour after consuming the infused food or drink.
Cannabis oils are made from a variety of carrier oils, which serve as the base. The most common is coconut oil, though olive and avocado oils can also be used. Coconut oils tend to have a stronger coconut taste, though it tends to dissipate when you only use a few drops on your food and drink. Milder carrier oils include lecithin or vegetable oils.
Just like with tinctures, cannabis oils are best added after cooking. However, you can cook with cannabis oils as long as you use low temperatures: the maximum should be at 350F. This prevents the therapeutic cannabinoids from burning. The most ideal temperatures for cooking with cannabis oils is between 250 to 284F.
Cannabutter
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Making or buying ready-to-eat cannabutter is a fantastic way to bake or cook with infused fats. You can easily make cannabutter at home, but you can also buy some that have already been made (click here for an easy cannabutter recipe).
Cannabutter is extremely versatile, and can make for some delicious and potent edibles. Whether you’re making desserts or savory goods, you can use cannabutter with literally hundreds of recipes. Use it in place of any recipe that requires butter: from brownies to banana bread, pasta, cakes, and so much more.
Cannabutter also works well for people who consume bulletproof coffee. Just add some unsalted cannabutter the way you would with regular butter. Many people have been consuming bulletproof coffee to increase mental clarity and cognition while helping with weight loss. Whether you’re on the keto diet or not, this delicious and creamy coffee will have you coming back for more.
When consuming cannabutter, remember that it will take a while for its effects to hit. If you have a high tolerance, it can take around an hour or more, so don’t keep on consuming seconds until you’ve waited at least an hour and a half.
Conclusion
When cooking with any of these cannabis products, always remember that you can expect the hit of THC to last up to 8 hours or more. Make sure your plans don’t include driving or operating machinery; the psychoactive effects of THC are best enjoyed from the comfort and safety of your own home.
With medical cannabis programs deeply entrenched in the state of Nevada, cannabis’ designation appears to fly in the face of well-established known medicinal uses of the drug.
A Nevada judge has ruled on a closely-followed lawsuit that could have precedent setting influence on a federal level. He determined that the Nevada Board of Pharmacy can no longer list cannabis as a schedule one drug. It was a clear victory for the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Nevada, which filed the lawsuit back in April 2022.
On Wednesday, District Judge Joe Hardy Jr. sided with the ACLU’s argument that marijuana has an accepted medical use, because voters amended the state constitution in 2000 to legalize medical marijuana. He ordered the Board of Pharmacy to remove cannabis from the list of Schedule 1 drugs, although the timeline for such action is unclear.
A judge just ruled that cannabis can no longer be classified as a Schedule 1 drug with no medical use by the Nevada Board of Pharmacy, because it violates the state constitution.
The original basis for the lawsuit alleged that despite the passage of the Nevada Medical Marijuana Act and the Initiative to Regulate and Tax Marijuana, the state — specifically Nevada State Board of Pharmacy — failed to comport with the will of Nevada voters, the state Constitution and revised statutes. Instead of removing cannabis and cannabis derivatives from its list of controlled substances (NAC 453.510), the Board has continued to regulate them as Schedule 1 substances — similar to that of hardcore drugs with no medicinal benefit.
By definition, a Schedule 1 drug is classified as drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse. With medical cannabis programs deeply entrenched in the state of Nevada, cannabis’ designation appears to fly in the face of well-established known medicinal uses of the drug. This is the exact contradiction that the ACLU sought to force a ruling on:
“The ruling today that cannabis cannot be scheduled as a Schedule 1 substance by Nevada’s Board of Pharmacy without violating the Nevada Constitution reaffirms what the people of this state have known for decades, that marijuana has medicinal value and can be safely distributed to the public.” – Legal Director for ACLU of Nevada Chris Peterson.
While The Board of Pharmacy has had every opportunity to remove marijuana from its Schedule 1 list on its own, it has persistently resisted to reschedule cannabis in Nevada. Despite the will of the people, it appears to be taking its cues from federal (DEA) guidelines, which continue to list cannabis as a schedule 1 drug. In this hearing, the lawyer representing the Board of Pharmacy argued that federal agencies had not determined that marijuana has an accepted medical use.
While judge Hardy sided with the ACLU on cannabis reclassification, he stopped short of ruling on any issues related to overturning convictions for marijuana-related crimes, because the ACLU’s lawsuit did not address the topic.
Beginners, remember that just a few puffs from a joint are okay for the first time. Get acclimatized to the effects of the drug before upping your dosage.
With cannabis legislation flying about and American citizens being drawn into the appeal of marijuana, discussions have moved on to issues concerning cannabis-induced anxiety. Concerned communities are wondering if marijuana causes or helps to manage anxiety. And experts have explained that it works both ways.
Marijuana-induced anxiety is often experienced by both long-term and new cannabis users. The type of cannabis being consumed does not matter, as both recreational and medical cannabis have been found to trigger the condition.
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This article delves into the causes of weed anxiety, methods to combat its occurrence, as well as how to prevent it from occurring in new cannabis users.
Cannabis and Anxiety
These two have an intriguing connection. Researchers have carried out trials to explain this relationship. Some studies have involved the use of cannabis and its compounds to develop a potential form of anxiety treatment, while other studies have focused on looking for ways to develop and improve cannabinoid-based anxiolytic agents.
In the same vein, some experts are also working on figuring out more about THC being a paranoia trigger in cannabis users. Experiments have been carried out to connect marijuana with the onset of anxiety disorders in individuals who have no medical history of mental conditions.
Weed Anxiety
For you to understand weed anxiety, you have to know the concept of anxiety itself. Anxiety induces a bunch of reactions like increased heartbeats, inability to focus, incessant worries, and sweating. It occurs in moments that cause an individual to relieve their doubts and insecurities.
Weed anxiety can be described as the body’s involuntary reaction to cannabis in some users. It evokes mental distress, as well as physical symptoms like shaking, fatigue, nausea, stomach discomfort, and excessive sweating. It can go as far as inducing panic attacks in users.
Unlike brief anxiety moments that can be brushed off by composing yourself with breathing exercises, weed-induced anxiety is much more complicated.
Identifying Weed Anxiety
In first-timers, it can be difficult to discern if the symptoms are anxiety-related or illness-related. Especially in those who experience only physical symptoms.
It begins with the person having an excessive number of gloomy thoughts. These negative thoughts are very difficult to shake off. The physical symptoms follow closely, extreme weed-induced anxiety causes shortness of breath and causes the person to have difficulties in moving about comfortably.
People who have experienced cannabis-induced anxiety explained that they felt as though they were trapped in a cage inside their minds. They had distressing thoughts which seemed very loud in their heads and prevented them from paying attention to their current environments.
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Recreational cannabis smokers who have experienced this form of anxiety added that hearing any weird sound made them paranoid, with some saying that they occasionally have to check outside their windows for cops. Using recreational weed is illegal in some states, and the worry of having been caught in a crime is enough to cause a manic episode.
Factors That Can Predict Weed-Induced Anxiety
There are several factors at play when trying to determine why cannabis anxiety only affects a selected number of people.
Age and Sex
The user’s age and sex both play a role in determining how vulnerable a person is to weed anxiety. An older person is more likely to feel an intense form of weed anxiety when compared to a younger person. This is because as the brain ages as the body ages, hence receptor density declines over time.
Women are more likely to suffer from weed anxiety than the male population, due to the presence of estrogen which increases their sensitivity to THC.
Genetics
Certain strains of cannabis are used for the creativity and calmness they elicit in the user. The genetics of the user also matters. Individuals who are THC-sensitive in the anterior part of their brains rarely experience weed anxiety, while those who are THC-sensitive in the posterior part of the brain are more vulnerable to experience anxiety caused by cannabis.
The tolerance level of the user determines how well weed anxiety can be managed. Females tend to build a higher tolerance to cannabis in less time. The frequency of use is a major factor in how well a person can build a tolerance to cannabis.
Mood
Anxiety patients tend to exacerbate their symptoms when they use cannabis while having an episode. Only a few feel relief after consuming cannabis directly after feeling anxious, the rest only experience more intense symptoms.
Managing Weed-Induced Anxiety
Experts say that the first thing to do while experiencing weed anxiety is to accept and fully grasp what is going on. Fighting the anxiety without accepting it only worsens the situation. Even in regular anxious moments, individuals are always advised to accept it first, although this is hard to do.
The next thing to do if the symptoms persist after you’ve taken a few breaths is to take a cold shower. The sudden rush from the cold water may be enough to snap you out of that confused state. If you can’t take a cold shower, find a bit of water to pour on your neck.
Another suggestion is using the distraction technique. This entails eating or drinking something, taking a walk, seeing a movie, or listening to soothing music. Doing this will help keep the mind off of the distressing thoughts ravaging the mind.
Having a positive mindset also helps.
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Prevention Is Better Than Cure
It is better to prevent weed-induced anxiety than to manage the condition.
The most effective way to prevent these traumatizing episodes from occurring is by using products with More CBD and less THC. This works for beginners and experts, as the CBD compound helps to even out the psychoactive effects of THC.
Bottom line
The effects of weed-induced anxiety will wane over time, depending on the method of intake and the amount consumed. Using cannabis responsibly allows you to enjoy the benefits of the drug without the risk of having traumatizing weed-anxiety episodes.
Beginners, remember that just a few puffs from a joint are okay for the first time. Get acclimatized to the effects of the drug before upping your dosage.
Biden said last month that he was hopeful a deal could be made to release Griner, though since then, there have been few signs of progress from either side.
President Joe Biden will meet Friday with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and former Marine Paul Whelan as the White House continues to push for their release via negotiations for a prisoner swap, said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
The meetings will involve with Griner’s wife, Cherelle and Whelan’s sister, Elizabeth and take place separately. This will be the first face-to-face meeting with Biden and the family members, though Biden spoke to Cherelle Griner by phone in July.
In the meeting scheduled for Friday, Biden will “discuss his continuing commitment to bringing their family members home safely,” said Jean-Pierre. “As we have said before, we believe that Russia is wrongfully detaining Brittany and Paul under intolerable circumstances.”
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Negotiations With Russia Ongoing
The White House has been in talks with Russian officials over the release of Griner and Whelan. Biden said last month that he was hopeful a deal could be made to release Griner, though since then, there have been few signs of progress from either side.
“I would love to say that the purpose of this meeting is to inform the families that the Russians have accepted our offer and we are bringing their loved ones home. That is not what we’re seeing in these negotiations at this time,” Jean-Pierre said according to The Associated Press.
“Look, as we’ve said, the Russians should accept our offer. They should accept our offer today. We will keep working diligently until the day we get to share that good news.”
On a hopeful note, however, former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was in Moscow this week, raising expectations about talks to bring Griner and Whelan home in exchange for convicted arms dealer Viktor Bout.
And This Guy, Too?
And now has been rumored that Russian criminal mastermind Alexander Vinnik, accused of laundering more than $4 billion through the digital currency bitcoin (BTC/USD), may be potentially included in the prisoner swap. Vinnik was extradited last month to the U.S. to face money laundering charges.
Griner, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, was arrested at an airport in Moscow on Feb. 17 for possessing less than a gram of cannabis oil in her baggage. Russia invaded Ukraine seven days later.
Lawmakers in Thailand decided to withdraw a piece of legislation regulating the broader use of cannabis in the country. According to Bloomberg, the bill was sent back to the committee for further revision after a 198 to 136 vote by members of the House of Representatives on Wednesday.
The Democrat party, a part of the ruling coalition and opposition MPs from the Pheu Thai and Move Forward parties, were against the measure, even though it had already passed its first reading in the chamber in June.
Those opposing the bill claim that the original version was significantly amended following the first reading.
The move came some three months after Thailand became the first South-East Asian country to decriminalize marijuana by removing it from the banned Category 5 narcotics list and allowing legal cultivation of cannabis plants at home and its sales.
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Cafes Selling Cannabis Are Mushrooming
Since then, the number of outlets and cafes selling cannabis products has grown exponentially in the capital and other cities even though the government has highlighted on several occasions that the move was supposed to promote medical and commercial use instead of recreational use. Interestingly the draft bill didn’t directly target recreational smoking as illegal.
Sutin Klangsang, a lawmaker from Pheu Thai, said they are worried that mushrooming of businesses selling cannabis would lead to children and people becoming addicted.
“The bill doesn’t control cannabis but even promotes it, leaving room for its use to stray from medical to extremely recreational,” Klangsang said.
Meanwhile, in weeks following cannabis decriminalization, Thailand was making headlines for its lack of cannabis regulation.
Shortly after Public Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakgave away a million marijuana plants as a sign of good will, the opposition slammed him, arguing that he caused social problems and violated local and international laws by decriminalizing marijuana without adequate control.
New data found that people with this condition have a tougher time recovering after a heart attack.
Heart disease is one of the most common conditions that affect people in the United States. And with this disease, complications follow a heart attack it seems from new data. The study indicates that those with autoimmune diseases are more likely to die or suffer further cardiac incidents after their first heart attack.
These people were also less likely to receive common post-cardiac event procedures, likely due to the fact that they were at a higher risk for further complications.
Photo by Kelly Sikkema via Unsplash
Published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, the study examined whether or not people with autoimmune diseases were more likely to suffer from health complications following a heart attack.
Historically, autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, psoriasis, and more, are likely to increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. People with these conditions are more likely to suffer from chronic inflammation and a variety of issues, while also being exposed to long-term medications, making them the perfect target for a host of conditions.
Over 1.6 million people were analyzed for the study, with researchers obtaining this data through Medicare Provider Analysis and Review File between 2014 and 2019. All subjects were over the age of 65 and had been admitted to the hospital with a heart attack diagnosis over this period of time.
Researchers discovered that people with autoimmune diseases were younger than those who didn’t have this condition and that a large percentage of them were women. They also found that people with autoimmune diseases were more likely to die by any cause (15%), were more likely to be hospitalized for heart failure (12%), more likely to have another heart attack (8%), and more likely to have another procedure related to their arteries (6%).
“Traditional CVD (cardiovascular) risk factors are accentuated in this population and how these risk factors manifest is also unique,” said lead study author Heba Wassif, M.D., M.P.H. “For example, cholesterol levels are affected by inflammation, therefore patients with active inflammatory disease have lower levels of cholesterol, a phenomenon known as the lipid paradox,” she said. “Physical activity, which is highly recommended to improve cardiovascular outcomes, may be limited by joint pain. Furthermore, some disease-modifying agents may increase cardiovascular risk. Knowledge of these nuances and a team-based approach may improve outcomes.”
Autoimmune diseases are some of the most mysterious conditions for people to live with. Often, doctors and experts don’t have all the answers, making treatment difficult and uncomfortable. These conditions are also incredibly risky, affecting people’s health in a variety of ways.
Currently, saliva, urine or blood testing are the most popular ways to find marijuana in the system. That being said, some states have started piloting oral fluid pilot projects.
DUID (driving under the influence of drugs) appears to be a contributing factor in crashes involving impaired driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s 2013–2014 National Roadside Survey, there was a decline in drivers’ alcohol consumption from 1973 to 2013-2014. On the other hand, there was a rise from 8.6% in 2007 to 12.6% in 2014 in the proportion of night-time weekend drivers who screened positive for cannabis use.
A study carried out in 2013-2014, concentrated on drugs that could potentially impair driving skills, such as, prescription, over-the-counter, and illicit drugs and found that 8.3% of weekend night-time motorists screened positive for alcohol (a blood alcohol level of over .005) and 1.5% had a blood alcohol level of.08 or greater, 22.5% had a positive drug oral fluid and/or drug blood test. The study does note that impairment is not always present when drugs are present. NHTSA reports that marijuana use quadrupled between 2007 and 2016, from 25% to 42%, among motorists who were fatally injured and who had drug tests.
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Difficulty Testing For Drug Use
Due to the limits of drug detection technologies and the lack of a consensus threshold to define impairment, doing tests for drug impairment is challenging. .08 g/mL blood alcohol concentration is the threshold of impairment for drunk driving in the United States. But for driving while under the influence of drugs, there is no comparable national standard. People respond to drugs differently each time. Additionally, marijuana and other drugs can linger in the bloodstream for weeks, making them visible in roadside tests even if they no longer cause impairment.
Because motorists who might be under the influence of both cannabis and alcoholic beverages are frequently ticketed for having high blood alcohol levels and infrequently tested for other substances, it is therefore challenging to track cannabis-impaired driving.
Each state has a statute that, in some way, addresses the problem of driving while high on marijuana. Oral fluid roadside testing systems are in place or are currently being used in Alabama, Michigan, and other states to check drivers for cannabis and other substances that might impair their ability to drive safely. States are also investigating ways to improve crash and citation data collection in order to strengthen DUID legislation and enforcement.
States and Their Drug Stance
The use of cannabis for recreational purposes is legal in 18 states, as well as Washington, D.C., Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands; these states are Maine, Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Alaska, California, Connecticut, New York, Nevada, Illinois, Oregon, New Mexico, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Vermont, Washington and Virginia.Thirty-seven states, including Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin Islands, and Guam permit extensive public medical cannabis programs.
In 2020, Oregon became the first state to authorize psilocybin (psychedelic plant) products for anyone age 21 and older.
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the chemical in cannabis that gives it its intoxicating effects and causes impairment, has specified per se limitations in these five states: Montana, Illinois , Ohio, Nevada, and Washington. These limits range from 2 nanograms per milliliter (ng/ml) of blood to 5 ng/ml. According to per se law/legislation, a person is deemed legally impaired after it is established that they have reached or exceeded the legal limit.
Colorado’s rational inference rule stipulates that in circumstances when THC is discovered in a motorist’s blood in concentrations of 5ng/ml or greater, it is permissible to believe the driver was driving under the influence. Laws based on reasonable inference are different from per se legislation in that they let those who have been charged with driving to provide an affirmative defense to demonstrate that they were not impaired even when their test results were at or over the legal limit.
THC, among some other substances, remains completely illegal in 12 states, namely Arizona, Delaware, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, and Wisconsin.
The percentage of motorists in Washington who test positive for cannabis after a severe collision has doubled, from approximately 9% to nearly 18%, according to recent study from the AAA (American Automobile Association) Foundation for Traffic Safety. This occurred after the state legalized it in 2012. The study did not establish a causal connection between legalizing cannabis and an increase in the number of motorists involved in severe accidents who tested positive, the study also revealed.
The number of casualties in accidents when drivers tested positive for THC increased from 18 in 2013 to 77 in 2016 in Colorado, where cannabis for recreational use was likewise authorized in 2012.
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According to the American Automobile Association’s 2020 Traffic Safety Culture Index, the majority of respondents (69%) and (87%) respectively believe that it is very or extremely unsafe to drive after taking cannabis and taking other potentially impairing prescription drugs. The index also revealed that 77% of poll respondents are in favor of outlawing driving while having a particular level of marijuana in their system.
Currently, saliva, urine or blood testing are the most popular ways to find marijuana. That being said, some states have started piloting oral fluid pilot projects. Alabama, for instance, used oral fluid testing devices for both evidentiary and screening purposes in its initial pilot program before converting it into a permanent oral fluid toxicology program.
State police in Michigan were given the green light to create a pilot program for oral fluids under Public Act 242 and 243 of 2016. The oral fluid test was administered during the initial pilot in five counties by professionals in drug detection. This initiative was not voluntary, in contrast to earlier ones (such the three-year Colorado test program that began in March 2015), as drivers did not have the choice to refuse to provide a sample. It was a civil offense to refuse to take an oral fluid test. The program is now run statewide and has been extended for one year, ending on September 30, 2020.
Bottom Line
Frankly, driving under the influence of drugs should be outright prohibited. Even with the new trend of cannabis legalization everywhere, there has to be room for that boundary. With the number of accidents recorded from this DUIs, this should not even be a discussion.
