Marijuana Policy Project

When Lattin's blood test came back, the Clark County District Attorney charged him with driving under the influence of drugs causing death. The man who investigates these types of accidents for the Nevada Highway Patrol caused one according to Clark County prosecutors.

Tests show Sgt. Edward Lattin had 5.6 nanograms of marijuana per milliliter of blood in his system.

"Like with all other drugs that people use, there are degrees of intoxication," said Dr. Don Frisch with the U.M.C. Emergency Room Pharmacy.

Dr. Frisch has worked in the UMC Pharmacy for 19 years. In general, he says marijuana affects everyone the same way. The difference is the level.

Like alcohol, some people have more of a tolerance and need more marijuana to feel the effects.

"If someone is just starting, like today — they just started to take marijuana — they may get to a level that gets a blood level that is a certain number. They may be exhibiting high intoxication," he said.

Dr. Frisch says more consistent marijuana users may need more exposure to get to the point of disorientation and loss of coordination.

Lattin's defense attorney John Watkins says the level of marijuana in his clients system amounted to almost nothing, "We have a situation where there's marijuana, but there's no impairment."

Watkins says the exposure could have been second hand smoke. After the bail hearing, prosecutors disagreed.

"The only way you could get this second-hand, if at all, is to stand over a bong and inhale it over a period of time," said Deputy District Attorney Bruce Nelson.

Dr. Frisch says prolonged second hand exposure will cause the same impairment as in the marijuana smoker.

Like the legal limit of alcohol which is .08, there is a legal limit of T.H.C., which makes up part of marijuana. Here in Nevada, it is 2 nanograms. Lattin's tests showed 5.6 nanograms.