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Bill Setting Driving Limits for Pot Gets Initial Approve in Maine Senate

AUGUSTA, Maine - The Maine Senate has given initial approval to a measure that would set legal limits for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana.   

The issue has divided lawmakers.  Some want to impose specific blood levels, as recommended by a working group that studied the issue.  Some oppose the limits, saying they would unfairly penalize medical marijuana users who develop a tolerance for the drug.

Under the bill, the legal limit for driving would be 5 nanograms of THC per millimeter of blood.

"In a person who uses cannabis regularly for treatment of serious medical conditions, as is allowed under Maine state law, can have a THC blood level significantly above 5 nanograms at all times and not experience any impairing effects as a result of that THC," said Sen. Eric Brakey, an Auburn Republican.

In addition, Brakey says THC can remain in a person's blood stream and trigger a positive OUI test after many days of abstinence.

A.J. Higgins contributed to this story.

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Ed is a Maine native who spent his early childhood in Livermore Falls before moving to Farmington. He graduated from Mount Blue High School in 1970 before going to the University of Maine at Orono where he received his BA in speech in 1974 with a broadcast concentration. It was during that time that he first became involved with public broadcasting. He served as an intern for what was then called MPBN TV and also did volunteer work for MPBN Radio.