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The key point in the article is actually the tests used. THC stays in the body long (days/weeks) after you're no longer impaired. If a breathalyzer test on Tu
by squidfood 10y ago
The key point in the article is actually the tests used. THC stays in the body long (days/weeks) after you're no longer impaired.
If a breathalyzer test on Tuesday picked up the beer you had last Saturday, there'd be no correlation between that test and accidents, either. (and no one would approve of using such a test for law enforcement).
- dragonwriter 10y ago> If a breathalyzer test on Tuesday picked up the beer you had last Saturday, there'd be no correlation between that test and accidents, either. Not sure that's true: if the alcohol was still in your blood that long, it would still be affecting you and impairing function.
- mirimir 10y agoYes, this is a key problem with the study. THC metabolites are cleared very slowly. Testing positive indicates that you used marijuana within a week or two. It doesn't mean that you're stoned. For alcohol, a comparable test might look at long-term changes in liver biochemistry associated with alcohol consumption. In that case, there probably wouldn't be any correlation with accident rates.
- maxerickson 10y agoBlood tests can directly measure THC. The article seems to be talking about such tests. The problem is that there is not a well established mapping between THC levels and impairment. It isn't even clear if such a mapping can be done.
- mirimir 10y agoMaybe there's a key distinction between THC levels in the blood and bioavailable THC. THC is extremely lipophilic, so it might get trapped for degradation.