Scientists developing marijuana breath test to nab stoned drivers

You ever take a breathalyzer test — on weed? That may some day be a real possibility, as researchers at Washington State University are working on a breathalyzer test to identify stoned drivers, according to The Seattle Times.

When Washington legalized the use of recreational marijuana, the state set a legal limit on the amount of THC — the active ingredient in marijuana — people could have in their systems when driving. So using the same technology used to screen for drugs at security checkpoints, a team at WSU hopes to build a handheld device that would flag the presence of THC on someone's breath, much in the way officers can already screen for booze.

Though the planned prototype would only identify the presence of THC, and not its concentration, WSU professor Herbert Hill said the tool would at least give police "a higher level of confidence in making an arrest."

The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up