THC LEVELS 'HIGH'

The young driver charged in the death of two Langley boys had the highest
level of THC that a top B.C. toxicologist has ever seen. THC is the active
ingredient in marijuana.

Dr. Stewart Huckins, of the Provincial Toxicology Centre, called as an
expert witness, testified that in his view, he would expect a driver to be
"significantly impaired" with the level of THC found in the blood of the
accused.

The 18-year-old youth is charged with two counts of dangerous driving
causing the deaths of Dayton Unger, 16, an Aldergrove Community Secondary
School student, and Simon Featherston, 16, a D.W. Poppy Secondary School
student.

The two boys died April 4, 2002, when the 2000 Ford Mustang they were riding
in went off the road in the 6300-block of 264 Street. They were rear-seat
passengers. The accused, and his front seat passenger, received
non-life-threatening injuries.

"We have been performing THC tests for seven years. Of 106 cases that tested
positive for THC, this (the accused's specimen) is the highest level I have
ever seen," Huckins told the court.

"His (the driver's) perception of speed would be affected. . . his reflexes
would be slowed, his ability to control a car in a lane would be impaired."

Huckins also testified that to achieve that level of THC in the blood a
marijuana cigarette would have to be smoked within one hour of the blood
sample being taken.

The 18-year-old youth, who was a juvenile at the time of the crash, can not
be named, under provisions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act. In an uncommon
court strategy, the Crown has set out to prove that the driver was impaired
by marijuana at the time of the single-vehicle crash.

Earlier in the trial, blood analyst Mahmood Khan testified that he conducted
a THC quantitation/confirmation on the accused, and had detected THC in the
accused's blood.

His machine provides test results in the form of a computer printout. Khan
earlier testified that the accused's specimen contained 144.5 micrograms per
litre, carboxy was 38.2 micrograms per litre, on the printout, he said.

"In my opinion, a naive user (novice) would be impaired at a level greater
than 35 micrograms (of THC) per litre (of blood)," Huckins told the court
Tuesday.

Huckins testified that there is no scientific consensus on what minimum THC
level constitutes impairment, but everyone in the scientific community
agrees that over 35 micrograms per litre in the blood would constitute
impairment.

He told the court that two highly-respected studies on THC impairment levels
show marijuana affects a driver's motor skills, and the ability to perceive
speed and judge distance.

The blood sample had been drawn by Langley Memorial Hospital technician at
the request of the emergency doctor, the night of the accident, earlier
testimony indicated.

The trial began Oct. 21, in B.C. Provincial Court's Surrey Youth Court. The
trial continues.