Cannabis being used as scapegoat in aviation tragedies
Friday 11 May 2012, 8:47AM
By NORML New Zealand
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Cannabis is being used as a scapegoat in the twin aviation tragedies, NORML's president says.
John Key is in damage control mode following a BBC interview warning adventure tourists not to come to New Zealand.
However, we should not jump to any conclusions about the role of cannabis in these accidents, especially if we are ignoring the true causes of the crashes, NORML president Julian Crawford said.
"Inactive THC-metabolites can stay in the body for over a month following the use of cannabis, while the active effects of THC only last a few hours."
"In the Fox Glacier tragedy the THC in the jump-masters' blood could not have contributed to the plane crash, and in Carterton a strong gust of wind is blamed for the ballon accident."
"As a pilot myself I know the importance of complying with CAA regulations and would never fly under the influence of any drug. However, if I smoked a joint a month earlier I could fail a drug test and lose my licence," Mr Crawford said.