Marijuana poses many challenges for researchers, law enforcement, and policy makers, challenges that fall into two fields: drug chemistry and toxicology. NIJ scientist Dr. Frances Scott joins this podcast episode to explain the complications in drug chemistry and how difficulties defining marijuana lead to backlogs in crime labs around the country.
Part One – focused on drug chemistry and analysis of the plant matter
Part Two – focused on toxicology and testing of blood for cannabinoids. Discusses that alcohol and its effects on the body are well understood. With marijuana, chronic vs frequent users experience different effects at the same dose of the substance. Additionally, THC is fat-soluble and sticks around longer in the body before being eliminated. NIJ has funded research that shows delta-9 THC that “pretty conclusively shows that THC concentration in blood is not particularly well-correlated with impairment for driving.”