Post by Logan on Apr 22, 2016 22:06:16 GMT -6
MONTPELIER — House lawmakers have given final approval to a transportation bill that creates a threshold for marijuana intoxication, with critics saying the legislation is not based on science and could lead to disclosure of private medical information.
On Wednesday, lawmakers approved SB 225, which lowers the threshold for a driver’s alcohol level when combined with marijuana, and paves the way for roadside saliva tests that reveal not just the presence of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — but other drugs as well.
Under the terms of the bill, a driver would be considered impaired when having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05 when combined with a THC count of 1.5 nanograms.
The current drunken-driving BAC threshold is 0.08.
Before Wednesday, the bill called for an intoxication level of 0.05 for alcohol when combined with any measurable amount of marijuana. However, Rep. George Till, D-Jericho, introduced an amendment setting a specific amount of THC, which he said was based on numerous studies equating 1.5 nanograms with intoxication.
Read more: www.timesargus.com/article/20160421/NEWS03/160429925
On Wednesday, lawmakers approved SB 225, which lowers the threshold for a driver’s alcohol level when combined with marijuana, and paves the way for roadside saliva tests that reveal not just the presence of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — but other drugs as well.
Under the terms of the bill, a driver would be considered impaired when having a blood-alcohol concentration of 0.05 when combined with a THC count of 1.5 nanograms.
The current drunken-driving BAC threshold is 0.08.
Before Wednesday, the bill called for an intoxication level of 0.05 for alcohol when combined with any measurable amount of marijuana. However, Rep. George Till, D-Jericho, introduced an amendment setting a specific amount of THC, which he said was based on numerous studies equating 1.5 nanograms with intoxication.
Read more: www.timesargus.com/article/20160421/NEWS03/160429925