Sobriety tests are ONE attempt to hold people accountable for driving impaired . . . but they’re far from comprehensive. But a new test could be coming to market soon.
A research team at Virginia Commonwealth University introduced a prototype for a THC breathalyzer, that could make roadside marijuana testing a thing.
It’s a small, inexpensive device that looks like an asthma inhaler and relies on 3-D printed parts. It’s designed to work within minutes, without the need for laboratory back up.
There’s a mouthpiece to collect your breath . . . a cartridge where the chemical reactions occur . . . and a detection chamber that shows the results.
Supposedly, it will also be able to distinguish between specific compounds . . . separating THC, CBD, and CBN . . . but there’s still more work needed to make that definitive. (THC is the main one responsible for causing the high.)
This is important, because 24 states and Washington, D.C. have legalized cannabis for adult, recreational purposes. And 40 states have legalized cannabis in some form, including for medical use.
It’s still against the law to drive under the influence of any drug, but for now, there’s no widely-accepted roadside method for assessing THC impairment.
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