Monday, April 3, 2017 the Santa Fe New Mexican published Don’t regulate marijuana like alcohol, an op-ed co-authored with Barry Logan, PhD, and Stephen Talpins, JD. The thrust of the op-ed is that, since marijuana is unlike alcohol chemically and metabolically, an impairment-based per se limit like we have for alcohol just doesn’t work for marijuana’s THC. Plus, the quantities ingested or smoked is nothing compared to the alcohol consumed when binge drinking or partying anyhow. Not to mention, just like alcohol, there are varying types of marijuana, all of which are different strengths, but you can click here to find more about that. There is no scientific support for any THC per se limit. In particular, the 5 ng/ml THC per se limit (or permissible inference limit in Colorado’s case), can actually do more harm than good, since it shields the majority of stoned drivers who happen to test below 5 ng/ml.
The op-ed was published in New Mexico since that state is now considering adoption of a 5 ng/ml THC per se limit. We published this short op-ed in a local newspaper to get the information out to the general public. It is already well known in the scientific community.