![]() Most blood tests show relatively low concentrations of THC. This low concentration of THC in the blood is not enough to cause the high concentration in the brain needed for impairment. The THC then stays in the fatty tissue for a long time, but small amounts will slowly leach out of fatty tissue and back into the blood over time, causing a continual low blood concentration. Blood concentration decreases quickly after smoking stops, as no more THC is coming into the blood and what remains in the blood distributes into fatty tissue. High concentrations of THC reach the blood and brain shortly after smoking starts, causing impairment. This means that THC only spends a short amount of time within watery blood as it disperses throughout the body and deposits into more fatty tissues. However, estimation of brain concentration/impairment is very difficult with THC because it is more soluble in fat/oil than it is in water. ![]() Since blood and brain are different tissues, physically separated from each other, blood concentrations of any drug can only estimate the brain concentration and thus impairment.įor alcohol, the estimation of alcohol in the brain from alcohol in the blood is fairly accurate, because alcohol is highly water soluble and spends much of its time in the body within watery blood. The main reasons for the disconnect between THC blood concentration and impairment is that impairment occurs in the brain, not the blood, and the chemical nature of THC causes it to move throughout the body in a complex manner. ![]() Testimony about additional signs of impairment is necessary to prove impairment. Overview: Blood concentrations of THC and its metabolites are not sufficient to prove impairment.
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