Tag: THC

Drug Charges Dismissed Following Suppression Win

When it comes to warrantless searches, the drug crime attorneys at GRL Law really know their stuff. A recent example from North Iowa shows just how they leverage their knowledge to secure a dismissal by shining a bright light on illegal police conduct. Our client was the passenger in a vehicle that was parked one minute past the deadline in a city park.  Rather than simply wave on the driver, police decided to engage the occupants instead and request identification. When the driver rolled down the window, the officer smelled marijuana. Now, the driver owned up to a vape pen […]

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THC Vape Charges Dismissed After Search of Mail Suppressed

It goes without saying that postal service investigations rarely turn out well for those who receive marijuana products by mail.  Drug dogs and search warrants will conspire to reveal the contents of suspicious packages before they reach the mailbox.  At that point, the recipients face a Hobson’s choice: either snitch on friends or cop to a felony. What can you do when neither is an option? You guessed it. You get the drug crime lawyers at GRL Law involved. Here’s an example of how we can flip the script on these mailed drug cases that don’t involve the odor of […]

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THC Metabolite Concentration is Inconsistent Predictor of Impairment

Are blood or saliva concentrations of delta-9 THC metabolites predictive of impairment? That’s what a recent article in the Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews journal sought to determine. The article published data from a meta-regression analysis of 28 studies involving 824 participants. The biggest takeaway is that neither THC nor THC metabolite concentrations are consistent predictors of impairment.  Surprisingly, THC levels in blood, which is the bodily specimen of choice in OWI search warrants in Iowa, showed the weakest correlation. Iowa law equates the mere presence of inactive metabolites of THC with being under the influence of cannabis.  However, the science […]

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Retailers Should Avoid Delta-8 THC For Now in Iowa

There’s a lot of buzz surrounding the availability of consumable hemp products now that the retail registration portal is open.  One of the more frequent questions we have been fielding concern the legal status of delta-8 THC in Iowa. Hemp is defined under state law to include “any part” of the plant of the genus cannabis and all “derivatives,” “extracts” and “cannabinoids” with a maximum delta-9 THC concentration of 0.30 percent.  So it would appear that delta-8 THC, a non-intoxicating cannabinoid found in hemp, would be legal to sell over the counter here, right? Not so fast. The amount of […]

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Marijuana and Alcohol Combine to Affect Driving Performance

The February 5, 2021 issue of Psychopharmacology published data from a Canadian study assessing the effect of both THC and alcohol on driving performance. Regular users of cannabis participated in simulated driving sessions after smoking marijuana (12.5% THC) and drinking alcohol (target breath alcohol 0.08%). Researchers discovered the driving performance after ingesting both marijuana and alcohol “was significantly greater than the effect of each drug by itself.”  This included the test subjects’ reaction time as well as their ability to maintain speed and lateral position.  The suggested additive effect of marijuana and alcohol on driving performance is consistent with prior […]

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THC Levels Do Not Predict Driving Impairment

The February 5, 2021 issue of Traffic Injury Prevention published results from an Australian study assessing the relationship between THC levels and driving performance.   Volunteers consumed vaporized cannabis samples of varying potencies containing THC, CBD and a placebo.  Blood and saliva samples were collected 30 minutes after inhalation and 3.5 hours later.  Researchers evaluated driving performance on a simulator. Nearly half of the participants failed to show driving impairment after 30 minutes despite showing THC levels above the per se limits, e.g., 5 ng/ml.  Several participants did show impairment at the 3.5 hour mark, but their THC levels were below […]

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THC Metabolites Detected in Urine Following Full-Spectrum CBD Use

The November 4, 2020 issue of JAMA Psychiatry published results from a recent study examining whether the use of full-spectrum CBD from legal hemp (< 0.30% Δ9-THC) would lead to positive urine test results for THC metabolites. It has been often assumed that hemp-derived cannabidiol products will test negative for urinary THC.  However, the study showed that half of subjects tested positive for carboxy-THC, an inactive metabolite of Δ9-THC, after four weeks of daily use.  Samples were initially screened through urine drug assays.  Positive screens were confirmed through gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy. The results suggest that individuals consistently using full-spectrum, hemp-derived […]

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Medical Cannabidiol and Firearms

Under Iowa Code chapter 124E, Iowa residents, who submit written certification by a heath care practitioner that they are suffering from a certain debilitating medical condition, can apply to the Department of Public Health for a medical cannabidiol registration card.  This card enables Iowans access to concentrated extracts of marijuana containing both THC and CBD to treat their health condition. Although the use of marijuana extracts for medical purposes is sanctioned under Iowa law, both marijuana and THC remain Schedule I controlled substances under federal law. This poses a real problem for those card holders who wish to simultaneously exercise […]

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THC Metabolites Remain in Blood for Extended Periods During Abstinence

According to data recently published in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence, THC remained detectable in blood at levels greater than 2.0 ng/ml during several days of abstinence. Investigators affiliated with the University of British Columbia reviewed the relevant literature assessing residual THC plasma levels in those who regularly consume cannabis.  They reported: “[I]n all studies where participants were observed for over a day, blood THC [levels] in some participants remained detectable during several days of abstinence,” with some subjects continuing to test positive for up to 30 days. Some subjects also demonstrated a so-called “double hump” pattern “where their […]

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Yes, Drug Testing Methods Can Mistake Hemp-Derived CBD for THC

I recently came across a little-known study published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology that raises serious questions regarding whether the gold standard in forensic urine testing could mistake hemp-derived CBD for THC. Many laboratories include derivatization as a part of their sample preparation for analysis by gas chromatography – mass spectroscopy (GC-MS).  Derivatization is the process by which a compound is changed chemically so that it has properties that are more amenable to a particular analytical method.  Essentially, the new compound becomes more suitable for detection and analysis. Researchers discovered trifluoracetic anhydride (TFAA), a common derivatizing agent used in GC-MS […]

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