Marijuana Driving Standard Advances In Colorado

DENVER (AP) -- A legal marijuana limit for drivers similar to the blood-alcohol standard is closer to approval in Colorado.

A House committee approved the measure 6-5 Thursday aftert hours of testimony debating whether drivers should be considered impaired if they test positive for 5 nanograms or more of THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, per milliliter of blood.

Driving while impaired by marijuana or any drug is already illegal, but supporters of the THC blood limit say law enforcement needs an analogous standard to the blood-alcohol standard to keep stoned drivers off the road.

A similar bill failed last year in the Senate, but the measure faces better odds this year. The 5 nanogram standard already cleared the Senate and easily passed the House last year.

(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)