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Departments Hemp Legalization Drug War Briefs: Ohio “Drugged Driving” Bill passes Senate; on to House by Sarah Clark in Journal issue March 21, 2005 Senate Bill 8, introduced by Jeff Jacobson (R-6th District) and Steve Austria (R-10th District), would make illegal operating a vehicle if virtually any amount of a controlled substance or metabolite of a controlled substance is present in one’s blood or plasma. A Driving under the Influence of Drugs (DUID) conviction would be a felony offense. This criminalization of post-drug use is in stark contradiction to scientific evidence that metabolites of drugs remain in bodily fluids long after any high has disappeared. The Senate vote was 30-1, with Senate Minority Leader C.J. Prentiss, D-Cleveland, casting the only “no” vote. This bill was sent to the House on February 17th for approval. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Senior Policy Analyst Paul Armentano strongly criticized the proposed legislation, arguing that it improperly defines and punishes sober drivers as if they are impaired. “Because marijuana’s main metabolite, THC-COOH, remains detectable in certain bodily fluids, particularly urine, for days and sometimes weeks after past use, this legislation seeks to define sober drivers as if they were intoxicated,” he said. “Someone who smokes marijuana is impaired as a driver at most for a few hours. To treat all marijuana smokers as if they are impaired, even when the drug’s effects have long worn off, is illogical and unfair.” Email this article to a friend |
Don't forget to check out articles from 2009 and 2010
"The War on Drugs Meets the War on Terrorism, Hits the Dying Americans"
June 25, 2005
Valerie Howland
"Greens: States and cities should maintain access to medical marijuana, despite Supreme Court ruling"
June 17, 2005
Green Party of the United States
"Marijuana: Pot an issue in Cincinnati mayoral race "
November 15, 2005
"Raich case ruling: Feds can enforce marijuana laws against patients, but state laws remain in effect "
July 20, 2005
"House move to ban funds for federal raids on medical marijuana patients gains support, but falls short"
July 20, 2005
"Drug War Briefs: Ohio “Drugged Driving” Bill passes Senate; on to House"
March 21, 2005
"Drug War Briefs: Medical Marijuana Bill introduced in Ohio"
March 21, 2005
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