A state senator from eastern Kentucky said a bill he’s sponsored that would set impairment levels for marijuana is likely to be amended. Republican Johnnie Turner has been an attorney for more than four decades. He said legal blood alcohol levels have dropped over the years, but police and prosecutors have tougher challenges with marijuana, traces of which can remain in the body for several weeks after the high wears off.
“Even if you say that I smoked it a week or so ago, you have admitted that you have possessed marijuana. So you're going to you're going to get charged with possession of it, then the issue is whether you're intoxicated or not.”
Turner said he’ll ask a doctor with the University of Kentucky his opinion of the proper THC levels for Senate Bill 32. He said he’s seen the problems, in courtrooms and on the streets, caused by Kentucky’s laws on marijuana impairment.
“It's been a problem for society and the police agencies. And that's what we're trying to do just get some kind of standard. It took a long time for alcohol to get correct. I mean, it was like I said it was 15 before you presented the toxicated. And it's now it's back at eight.”
Turner was referring to the lowering of legal blood alcohol levels. He represents five counties in the state Senate.
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