Stop Drugged Driving! Vote no on Ohio SB 55

Senator Nathan Manning

Senate Building

1 Capitol Square

Ground Floor

039

Dear Senator Manning:

I am writing on behalf of We Save Lives to express our firm opposition to SB 55 and its previous iterations. We encourage you to join us in this critical stance. Recent amendments to the bill do not address its fundamental issues, and we believe it poses significant risks to public safety.

SB 55 proposes five changes to Ohio’s OVI law. Among these, only one proposal serves justice, while the other four undermine it.

Proposal Analysis:

Proposal #1: Change the “marijuana” ban to a THC ban (Lines 648-654)
✅ This proposal is sensible, as it allows for more accurate enforcement. Current law permits charges based on non-impairing carboxy-THC levels, which is not reflective of actual impairment.
Proposal #2: 5 ng/mL THC per se limit in blood (Lines 648-654)
❌ This proposal is scientifically invalid, risking wrongful convictions. Chronic users may test above 5 ng/mL long after impairment has subsided, while others can be impaired at lower levels. This approach ignores established scientific evidence and should be rejected.
Proposal #3: 2-5 ng/mL THC inference in blood (Lines 890-895)
❌ Although this proposal attempts to mitigate Proposal #2, it still assumes that drivers testing below 2 ng/mL are not impaired, which is incorrect. THC impairment does not correlate directly with blood levels, and many THC-positive drivers test below the proposed thresholds. This proposal also lacks scientific support and must be opposed.
Proposal #4: 25 ng/mL THC inference in urine (Lines 896-898)
❌ This proposal would create loopholes for impaired drivers, as THC is rarely detected in urine. The use of urine for impairment testing is scientifically unsound and would undermine the integrity of Ohio’s OVI law. Accepting this proposal would be an affront to victims of drugged driving.
Proposal #5: 5 ng/mL THC inference in oral fluid (Lines 899-901)
❌ There is no valid correlation between oral fluid THC levels and impairment. This proposal fails to provide a reliable measure for assessing driver impairment and should be rejected.

We urge you to oppose SB 55 in its entirety. The proposed changes not only lack scientific backing but also jeopardize public safety. Support for this bill would undermine the progress we’ve made in combating drugged driving and protecting our communities.

Thank you for considering our position on this important issue. We hope you will stand with us in opposing SB 55.