Marijuana is becoming more popular, so do we need a marijuana breathalyzer? The legalization of marijuana is seen as a response to this popularity or a cause. Regardless of its legal status, marijuana inhibits a person’s ability to operate a motor vehicle. Researches in Sweden are attempting to create a new tool to combat driving while intoxicated. This tool is a marijuana breathalyzer
These researchers have begun working on a marijuana breathalyzer for police departments. The idea is that the officers will have the breathalyzer in their car and will be able to get a breath sample on the spot. When people consume food, alcohol, or other drugs, the body breaks down the substances into smaller parts. A normal breathalyzer detects chemicals from alcohol being digested. The marijuana breathalyzer detects the metabolites that are created when the body absorbs the smoke.
This device is far from ready. Right now the marijuana breathalyzer did not give a positive result for someone who had just smoked marijuana. Only about 91% of breath samples from occasional smokers showed positive about an hour after use. That drops to 64% at about an hour and a half after use. However, the marijuana breathalyzer detected marijuana more easily in frequent users. All of the samples were positive an hour after use. And more that 75% at about an hour and a half.
The marijuana breathalyzer is just an indication that someone recently consumed marijuana. It does not determine whether a person is inebriated. No research exists that a marijuana breathalyzer could detect intoxication. This device can detect 12 substances total. Heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, and marijuana. There is a possibility this technology will catch on and be used by a number of police departments.
More than likely it will be several years before such a breathalyzer is ready. It will likely be longer before this will be in Texas.
