Spring Break
Forensics expert explains marijuana testing myths
Brenna McCabe
Issue date: 4/10/07 Section: News
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One audience member asked ElSohly what would happen if the subject doesn't give permission for testing at the given time.
"If you have to give permission for a subject, you've got a problem there," ElSohly said.
ElSohly also talked about the effects marijuana has on subjects who are driving. Though it is believed by some that getting high won't impair individuals behind the wheel, ElSohly explained that the physiological and cognitive effects can impair drivers.
"If you do a field sobriety test, you can see the effects," he said. "You have the impairing effects of the drug - it's a motivational syndrome."
ElSohly said there are other dangerous effects of marijuana that don't include getting behind the wheel after getting high.
"Marijuana cigarettes are twice as carcinogenic as a regular cigarette," he said. "There are too many pharmacological things going on there. When you bake it in a brownie, you avoid any problems with the lungs. But you add to the problems when you get it from somewhere else where it could be laced with pesticides or something. Especially overdoing [marijuana] is a big problem."
If used for too long, he said, there could be consequences. "The thing is, if you quit, the effects are reversible. If you quit before you die, it'll be all right," he joked.
ElSohly has been conducting research at the University of Mississippi since 1975. The university has conducted research on drug testing, the increasing potency of marijuana and is now trying to find a way to trace the origin of marijuana samples. ElSohly said that security of the marijuana fields has not yet proved to be a problem.
"Marijuana is the most abused illicit drug in the world," he said. "There are specific rules and regulations for growing it. We have security guards 24 hours a day. We have cameras on the field. We even have to keep an eye on the security guards."
"If you have to give permission for a subject, you've got a problem there," ElSohly said.
ElSohly also talked about the effects marijuana has on subjects who are driving. Though it is believed by some that getting high won't impair individuals behind the wheel, ElSohly explained that the physiological and cognitive effects can impair drivers.
"If you do a field sobriety test, you can see the effects," he said. "You have the impairing effects of the drug - it's a motivational syndrome."
ElSohly said there are other dangerous effects of marijuana that don't include getting behind the wheel after getting high.
"Marijuana cigarettes are twice as carcinogenic as a regular cigarette," he said. "There are too many pharmacological things going on there. When you bake it in a brownie, you avoid any problems with the lungs. But you add to the problems when you get it from somewhere else where it could be laced with pesticides or something. Especially overdoing [marijuana] is a big problem."
If used for too long, he said, there could be consequences. "The thing is, if you quit, the effects are reversible. If you quit before you die, it'll be all right," he joked.
ElSohly has been conducting research at the University of Mississippi since 1975. The university has conducted research on drug testing, the increasing potency of marijuana and is now trying to find a way to trace the origin of marijuana samples. ElSohly said that security of the marijuana fields has not yet proved to be a problem.
"Marijuana is the most abused illicit drug in the world," he said. "There are specific rules and regulations for growing it. We have security guards 24 hours a day. We have cameras on the field. We even have to keep an eye on the security guards."
