Hawaii: Oppose Bill To Impose Presumptive THC Impairment Standards

Hawaii: Oppose Bill To Impose Presumptive THC Impairment Standards

Update: SB 17 did not pass before the legislative crossover and likely will not be voted on this year. 

Update: SB 17 passed the first reading and was referred to committee.

Legislation is pending, SB 17, that seeks to establish a per se limit of “five nanograms or more per milliliter of active tetrahydrocannabinol” for anyone driving a motor vehicle. 

NORML opposes this proposal.

The presence of low levels of THC in blood is an inappropriate and inconsistent indicator of psychomotor impairment. No less than the United States Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) agrees, stating, “It is difficult to establish a relationship between a person’s THC blood or plasma concentration and performance impairing effects. … It is inadvisable to try and predict effects based on blood THC concentrations alone.” 

It should not be presumed that the detection of THC is predictive of psychomotor impairment and such a presumption should not be codified in Hawaii traffic safety statutes. The imposition and enforcement of this measure risks inappropriately convicting unimpaired subjects of traffic safety violations.

Enter your information below to let your Senator know that you oppose this unscientific proposal.

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