TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2000//
TI  - Deciding between one off/occasional and regular cannabis consumption
JO  - Blutalkohol
A1  - Daldrup, T.
A1  - Kaferstein, H
A1  - Kohler, H.
A1  - Maier, R. D.
A1  - Musshoff, F.
SP  - 39
EP  - 47
VL  - 37
IS  - 1
N2  - Due to the long half-life oft he THC metabolite THC-COOH being ca. 6 days, its accumulation in the blood of regular cannabis consumers can be observed. This fact has been used for the last 5 years in Northrhine- Westfalia in the context of checking whether people are fit to drive, and to state whether those persons have indulged in one-off / occasional or regular cannabis consumption: If the serum THC-COOH concentrations are below 5 ng/mL, the consumption is assumed to be of an occasional nature, and levels above 75 ng/mL are associated with regular consumption. The requirement is that the blood sample be taken within the prescribed 8 day period. To date, in the frame of drivers fitness assessments 1559 blood samples were analysed for cannabinoids at 5 official analytical institutes in Northrhine Westfalia. 516 (33,1%) of the samples tested positive - i.e. cannabis consumption was detected. 35 (6.78 %) of the positive samples were deemed as having come from regular, and 212 (41.09 %) from one-off/occasional consumption. After submission of the analytical results, some 59 % of the cannabis positive cases required the transport authorities to take further judicial measure. It is our opinion that the blood sample is a suitable medium for ascertaining the occurrence of one-off / occasional or regular cannabis consumption.<p />
LA  - de
SN  - 0006-5250
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/
ID  - ref1
ER  -