A Chicago forensic lab is under scrutiny for allegedly providing flawed results in marijuana DUI cases, potentially impacting hundreds of convictions in Illinois. The University of Illinois Chicago Analytical Forensic Testing Laboratory is accused of producing unreliable THC test results and failing to distinguish delta-9 THC, the psychoactive compound, from delta-8 THC, which could jeopardize around 1,600 cases.
Corey Lee, convicted in 2022 for a cannabis DUI crash that killed two people, is challenging his sentence. His blood test, conducted by the UIC lab, showed delta-9 THC levels above the legal limit. However, his attorney claims the lab’s results were flawed, and a cover-up of testing issues has been alleged since 2021.
An audit by the lab’s accrediting agency found multiple failures to follow scientific standards. Emails obtained revealed the lab delayed notifying prosecutors and police about potential inaccuracies. Critics, including forensic experts, described the situation as a “scandal” that undermines public trust and threatens the integrity of convictions.
UIC has ceased marijuana testing for law enforcement cases and is investigating the matter. Prosecutors are now reviewing impacted cases, while Lee and others question the lab’s accountability for its role in their convictions.
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