Manufacturers Eye Pot Breathalyzers in Anticipation of Legalization

 Posted on November 02, 2013 in DUI

Public opinion in support of legalization has grown stronger in California, and a recent poll by Gallup estimated that as many as 50% of Americans are in favor of the legalization of pot. Soon, California could legalize marijuana, and companies are already experimenting with so-called pot breathalyzers that would help determine the amount of marijuana in a person’s system.

Obviously, before we have a breathalyzer on the market, it is first necessary to determine the maximum legally permissible marijuana level, similar to the permissible blood alcohol standard that we currently have to determine the incidence of DUI in California. Besides, according to experts, any kind of breathalyzer that is designed to help determine the presence of marijuana in the system is not likely to work like an alcohol breathalyzer, simply because there are several modes of consumption of marijuana. The different modes of consumption could lead to different quantities of marijuana showing up in a person’s system.

As California moves towards legalization of marijuana, it will be looking to other states that have already legalized the drug for lessons in this area. Currently, the only two states that have legalized marijuana are Washington and Colorado. In Washington, for instance, possession of an ounce of marijuana is legal, but it is not legal for a person to drive under the influence of 5 ng of THC per mL of blood. That level is already controversial on Washington, where experts have held that the limit is not scientifically accurate, or reliable. Many experts do seem to agree that it will be very difficult to come up with a standard legal limit that is accurate.

One thing is for sure. In states that have legalized marijuana, pot has replaced alcohol as the drug of choice for many motorists. Driving under the influence of marijuana has become more common.