Many people believe that smoking marijuana, and then getting behind the wheel of a car, has no affect on them whatsoever. Their driving is still just as accurate, safe, and they do not feel increased anxiety. One reason for this might be that determining that someone is ‘stoned’ is pretty difficult for police. If they can mask the scent, and cover up the physical cues, there’s nothing that can really prove their guilt. Unlike alcohol, there are really no roadside tests of any kind that help police to determine if the driver is high. So, companies are racing to try and come up with a solution; one that looks something like marijuana breathalyzers…
Marijuana Breathalyzers for DUI: Are they Accurate?
An article published by CNN Money some time last year outlines three companies that are trying to break open the market for marijuana breathalyzers. They want to establish a means of testing people quickly to determine influence, just as they do with alcohol. But, because THC is a bit more difficult to detect accurately, this comes with a bit of unprecedented difficulty.
The problem with weed is that the chemical which gets you high, THC, isn’t as easy to read as alcohol. When you drink, alcohol breaks down into your blood and passes through your lungs. The chemical reaction that occurs in your lungs causes it to come out on your breath. Therefore, breathalyzers are able to take this amount of alcohol and provide a highly accurate estimate of how much alcohol is in your bloodstream.
THC, on the other hand, doesn’t really work this way. Furthermore, most of the devices available today do not measure the percent of THC in the blood. Rather, they simply give a “yes” or “no” answer as to if the person has THC in their body.
Demand for marijuana breathalyzers rises across the US
Having the ability to accurately test for THC would, according to police, make the roads a safer place for drivers. When it comes to people that are operating larger vehicles, the accountability becomes much more important. Smoking marijuana while on the job, when working for the city or for a trucking company, can result in job loss. But, if one of those drivers were to get in an accident and be under the influence, the problem becomes much more complex.
Ultimately, there must be a means of detecting THC. So, marijuana breathalyzers are worth considering for instances where the general population of the road might be in danger. Just like alcohol, weed does have impairing effects. So, being able to keep it off of the roadway could have a positive influence.