(La Porte County, IN) - A local lawmaker says there needs to be a test proving driver impairment before he would consider legalizing marijuana in Indiana.

 

Currently, Republican State Senator Mike Bohacek of Michiana Shores said tests only show if a person has consumed marijuana within the past 30 days because that’s how long the active ingredient, THC, remains in a person’s bloodstream.  As a result, he said drivers with positive test results could be charged with a crime if they cause an accident even if they’re not impaired by marijuana at that moment.

 

“You may have consumed marijuana eight days prior.  You’re not impaired.  We need to fix that before we take that step over to recreational weed,” he said.

 

Bohacek also said he doesn’t believe any proposal to legalize marijuana will get very far in the republican dominated state legislature unless a test is developed proving impairment at the time of a crash or traffic stop.   

 

There's been a push by Democrats, primarily, to legalize marijuana in Indiana, which is surrounded by states like Michigan where it's already legal.