‘Potalyzer’ to check marijuana DUI
As more states in the United States legalize marijuana consumption — or set up votes for it — whether only for medical reasons or for recreational use as well, there are also growing concerns about people getting in their vehicles and driving while under the influence of cannabis intoxication. And now, there just might be a…
9 responses to ‘Potalyzer’ to check marijuana DUI
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Kevin September 9th, 2016 at 08:32
Without wanting to belittle the effort that these researchers have applied to this problem, its already been done. Police in many countries, including my own, now use a roadside test to detect THC and several other drugs by taking samples of saliva on a tongue wipe. This roadside test is sufficient to get you booked for DUI Drug, the wipe is then sent to a lab for a more detailed analysis, in much the same way alcohol offences are handled.
Kick Frenzy September 9th, 2016 at 10:20
Do you have a link to info on that?
Kevin September 9th, 2016 at 22:42
Hi Kick, Here’s one quick link to some information on the program as carried out by one state (New South Wales) in Australia. The system though is basically the same for all Australian jurisdictions. While this fact sheet is part of a Road Safety campaign, Police carry the MDT kits in their cars and can test for the presence of drugs during any roadside stop, say for a traffic infringement. As with the roadside breathalyzers for Alcohol the roadside tests are a indicator only and those testing positive are taken back to a Police station for a detailed test. In major campaigns there are specially equipped vans that are co-located with several Police units who stop and randomly check dozens of motorists at a time for both Alcohol and Drug use, or should I say overuse. If you visit any of the Australia State Police or Traffic Safety websites it should be easy enough to gain a lot more information on their system of Drug and Alcohol detection.
http://roadsafety.transport.nsw.gov.au/stayingsafe/alcoholdrugs/drugdriving/index.html
Kick Frenzy September 13th, 2016 at 12:57
Very interesting stuff there.
From what I can gather, this new method wouldn’t require sending the sample off for further testing, as it also tests for concentration instead of just any presence at all.
Definitely an improvement, but you’re right in that it’s obviously not an entirely new technology.
Kick Frenzy September 9th, 2016 at 10:22
It would certainly help legalization efforts if there were a reliable, quick method for checking for marijuana intoxication while driving.
Granted, that assumes the test works properly and doesn’t give false positives for smoking a joint a few hours before driving.
Kevin September 9th, 2016 at 22:49
You raise the basic complaint/dilemma about roadside testing for either drugs or alcohol, what is a safe limit. In Australia it has been agreed universally that a .05 BAC (50 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millitres of blood) impairs driving to a unsafe degree. At the present time there is no lower limit for drugs, driving with any drugs present in your system is an offence. Which means simply if you test positive by the roadside you will be charged, though a laboratory test will be conducted to rule out any false positives.
Kick Frenzy September 13th, 2016 at 13:01
And that’s where the problem is… if you smoke a joint today, depending on the testing method, you could test positive for having marijuana in your system days or weeks later.
But it’s good to see systems to test for it have already been in use and that there are even better systems, like the one from this article, coming along to help make the process more reliable… not to mention making recreational legalization easier to regulate and manage. :)
oldfart September 9th, 2016 at 10:44
“It should be noted that there is still no consensus on how much THC is too much when it comes to driving.”
While I believe this is a good idea…
It should also be noted that (like alcohol levels) even a minute trace amount would be the limit, regardless of ones ability to drive safely.
The laws are designed, not only to raise safety concerns but to raise revenue as well…
amersham1046 September 9th, 2016 at 18:34
Meanwhile in Canada
Canadians by the tens of thousands answer government’s cannabis legalization survey
http://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/pot-marijuana-legalization-consultations-1.3750985