Pubdate: Fri, 20 Feb 2015
Source: Alaska Dispatch News (AK)
Copyright: 2015 Alaska Dispatch Publishing
Contact:  http://www.adn.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/18
Note: Anchorage Daily News until July '14
Author: Ragnar Johansson

STATES OPPOSE ALL THC METABOLITES BUT ONLY ONE WILL CAUSE IMPAIRMENT

If the marijuana bill states that employers can check for marijuana 
impairment, that means they need to quit using old outdated tests 
that only show usage and start testing for hydroxy THC to prove you 
are impaired.

Sadly, Alaska and the majority of states still take the position that 
any and all metabolites of THC are illegal to have in your system at 
the time you are working or driving a vehicle. Yet only one THC 
metabolite causes impairment, and that is hydroxy THC. The new 
standard tests (that have always been available) should be 
implemented immediately. The new standard tests should only test for 
(Delta-9 THC)(Hydroxy-THC) in the worker's system. If it is not 
present, he is not in any way impaired and should be returned to work 
immediately.

There are two types of THC in the cannabis plant; one (carboxy THC) 
has zero psychoactive properties and no matter what levels are found 
in a user's system cannot cause impairment, period. End of story. If 
your drug tests come back positive for carboxy THC, this merely 
indicates that you have used cannabis.

Hydroxy THC, the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana, breaks 
down and metabolizes into carboxy THC in the body a few hours after 
usage and is no longer detectable. You are only impaired when hydroxy 
THC is found in your system.

- - Ragnar Johansson

Anchorage
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom