Scientists say a marijuana breathalyzer is in the works

A device that can detect THC, the chemical in cannabis responsible for its psychoactive effects could work as a Breathalyzer-type tool to test for marijuana.

A device that can detect the chemical in cannabis responsible for its psychoactive effects could work as an early prototype for a breathalyzer-type tool to test for marijuana, according to a recent study.

Researchers at UCLA and a UCLA startup called ElectraTect are testing a "cannabinoid fuel cell" that they say provides a key foundation for one day developing a marijuana breath analyzer similar to ones that exist to test for alcohol on a person's breath.

The laboratory device, described in a paper published online Sept. 12 in the journal Organic Letters, is able to detect THC and measure the psychoactive component's concentration in a solution. This type of technology could provide a more accurate gauge of how much THC is present in a person's system compared to existing methods, the researchers said.

Testing with saliva, blood or urine can sometimes return skewed results, the researchers said, because THC can remain in bodily fluids for up to several weeks after a person has smoked marijuana.

"As such, there exists a need for a fair forensic tool capable of detecting THC in the short window of impairment," the scientists wrote in the study. "This is particularly true in states and countries where marijuana has been decriminalized or legalized, given that traditional testing could lead to fines, prosecution, imprisonment, or loss of employment, even if the individual is not impaired at the time of testing."

https://www.nbcnews.com/science/science-news/scientists-say-marijuana-breathalyzer-works-rcna51045

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