The bill amends various sections of the Revised Code to modernize laws concerning the operation of vehicles or watercraft while under the influence of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active component in marijuana. Key changes include the removal of specific thresholds for marijuana concentration in urine and blood, replacing them with updated thresholds for THC: twenty-five nanograms in urine and five nanograms in whole blood. The bill also introduces provisions allowing a trier of fact to infer impairment based on these new concentration levels, while ensuring that any evidence or testimony regarding THC must comply with the Rules of Evidence.

Additionally, the bill outlines new requirements for laboratory reports used in legal proceedings, mandating that they include the analyst's signature, findings on the substances tested, and a notarized statement from the laboratory director. It establishes penalties for operating a vehicle under the influence, including mandatory jail terms and fines that increase with repeat offenses, while emphasizing the importance of treatment and assessment for offenders. The legislation aims to enhance accountability for substance-related offenses and streamline the legal framework surrounding vehicular operation under the influence.

Statutes affected:
As Introduced: 1547.11, 3701.143, 4511.19
As Reported By Senate Committee: 1547.11, 3701.143, 4511.181, 4511.19
As Passed By Senate: 1547.11, 3701.143, 4511.181, 4511.19