States Scramble to Develop a Reliable Tool to Detect Drivers High on Marijuana
As more Americans live in states where marijuana is legal, the number of people driving under the influence of the drug is increasing. However, detecting THC, the chemical in marijuana that causes impairment, is proving to be a significant challenge. States are racing to develop a reliable tool to detect marijuana impairment, similar to the alcohol breathalyzer.
In Minnesota, a pilot program used a device that analyzed saliva for THC. The program ended earlier this year, and the results are being prepared for state lawmakers. Other states, including Alabama, Indiana, Michigan, Colorado, and Wisconsin, have also tested or are piloting similar devices.
Researchers and private companies are working to develop a tool that can accurately detect marijuana impairment. Some are focusing on saliva tests, while others are exploring the use of goggles that measure a driver’s pupil size and movement, or apps that test a person’s cognitive abilities.
However, experts warn that relying solely on a test to detect impairment may not be effective. THC can stay in a person’s system for hours or even days after they are no longer impaired, making it difficult to determine whether a person was actively high at the time of a crash.
Police officers are also being trained to recognize the signs of marijuana impairment, but some worry that relying on their training is too subjective. Finding a reliable tool to detect impairment is crucial, but educating the public about the dangers of driving under the influence is also essential.
“We’re all circling around the same question, which is, did you use recently?” said Ashley Brooks-Russell, an associate professor at the Colorado School of Public Health. “If someone’s done something to cause a crash or be pulled over for a DUI, we want to know, are they impaired?”
The development of a reliable tool to detect marijuana impairment is a complex issue, and states are still grappling with how to prevent people from driving under the influence. However, with more people using marijuana and driving, it is clear that finding a solution is crucial to keeping roads safe.
