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Roadside inspections, traffic events and traffic accidents from 2010–2022 in the experience of the Institute of Forensic Research as a consulting body in light of the proposed thresholds for the states of ‘after use’ and ‘under the influence’ for THC

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Gieroń J.

Problems of Forensic Sciences

2023

issue 136

Road traffic safety depends largely on the psychophysical fitness of drivers. Apart from ethyl alcohol, this efficiency is influenced by many other factors, including: presence in the blood of the so-called substances that act similarly to alcohol, and cannabinols constitute one of the most popular groups of these substances. The paper presents statistics on delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) – the main psychoactive ingredient of cannabis detected in the blood of drivers subjected to 7269 road inspections and involved in 4697 road events and accidents in the years 2010–2022 throughout Poland. Based on the results obtained, it was found that THC is present in the blood of 25–61% of roadside inspection cases, and in the case of road incidents and accidents, 5–15% of drivers have THC in a concentration equal to or higher than 1 ng/ml. The data in the charts are given in relation to two THC concentration ranges: 1.0–2.5 ng/ml and above 2.5 ng/ml (the value proposed as the limit of the state “after use” and “under the influence” of THC) and in relation to concentration ranges based on the THC elimination curve in human serum. The study did not distinguish between chronic or acute participants and occasional participants. It was based on THC and THCCOOH concentrations. The analyzes were performed using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method (ELISA) and confirmatory methods such as liquid and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry, in which the limit of quantification of 1 ng/ml was in accordance with the applicable requirement contained in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of July 16, 2014 on the list of similarly acting agents to alcohol and the conditions and method of conducting tests for their presence in the body.

Correlation of symptoms registered during blood collection from drivers who tested positive for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)

63%

Lechowicz W., Gieroń J.

Problems of Forensic Sciences

2022

vol. 130-131

The impact of marijuana on road safety has been the subject of many debates over the years. These debates have intensified in recent years due to initiatives carried out in several jurisdictions aimed at marketing medical cannabis. According to Polish forensic toxicologists, road safety is a key issue, especially following the conferences in November 2012 in Kraków and in 2013 in Augustów (Gieroń et al., 2013), Poland, on the determination of appropriate concentration thresholds. These thresholds, defining the limit for the ‘after use’ and ‘under the influence’ conditions, are still not unambiguous or easy to determine for the Polish government. An unambiguous assessment of the impact of a given concentration of blood THC on psychomotor performance is very difficult, and will remain so in the foreseeable future. This study used 107 randomly selected blood collection protocols, with 10 protocols for each THC concentration ranging from 1 to 10 ng/ml, on the basis of which thirteen features related to the external appearance and behaviour of the tested individuals were analysed. These features were: facial skin (pale, normal or red), slurred speech, mood and behaviour (cheerful, talkative, rowdy or reticent), heart rate, pupils (normal, dilated or contracted), reaction of pupils to light, the Romberg test, the finger-to-nose test, picking up objects from the ground and awareness of time and place. Five of the thirteen features related to the appearance and behaviour of the respondents showed no abnormalities (gait, the Romberg test, the finger-to-nose test, picking up objects from the ground, and awareness of time and place). The study found that the symptoms observed and recorded in the protocols are insufficient to make a decision about the impact of THC on psychomotor performance. The characteristic symptoms (cheerfulness and talkativeness) occurred no more frequently than in 3 out of 10 of the concentrations tested.

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2 Problems of Forensic Sciences

2 Gieroń J.

1 Lechowicz W.

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1 2022

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Roadside inspections, traffic events and traffic accidents from 2010–2022 in the experience of the Institute of Forensic Research as a consulting body in light of the proposed thresholds for the states of ‘after use’ and ‘under the influence’ for THC

Correlation of symptoms registered during blood collection from drivers who tested positive for Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)