Alcohol intoxication and THC intoxication are not directly comparable. Different standards need to be established. Armentano and others say that roadside testing in combination with other factors such as a blood test and the subject's interaction with the law enforcement officer need to be taken into account.

"According to the available literature, the greatest percentage of subjects perform most adversely on performance and cognitive tests 20 to 40 minutes after inhalation then the effects of the substance starts to fall off after about 60 minutes," says Armentano. "But that time frame does not correspond to peak THC levels in the blood, which typically peak within two to five minutes after inhalation."

All of this refers to inhaled marijuana, not for preparations that have been orally ingested. The digestive process is much slower.

That's enough science class for now. Remember that responsible drivers don't get behind the wheel while impaired. Whatever they're using. 

No surprise here: The city of Detroit has appealed the Court of Appeals ruling in Coalition for a Safer Detroit v. Detroit Election Commission to the Michigan Supreme Court. The city made the appeal on the last day possible. At issue is whether the question of legalizing possession of small amounts of marijuana for adults in Detroit should be on the ballot. CSD ran a successful petition initiative on this in 2010 but the election commission, claiming that it was against state law, chose not to put it on the ballot.

"The law is on our side," says Tim Beck of the CSD. "This is a frivolous appeal; it's going to lose. We're going to let the legal process take its course and we fully expect to be on the ballot in 2012."  

Larry Gabriel is a writer, musician and former editor of Metro Times. Send comments to letters@metrotimes.com.

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