Research Finds THC Breathalyzers Lacking
The Future: Brain Scans
Just as one group of scientists seems to be shutting down the dream of answering the drugged driving problem with breathalyzers, another group says the real answer lies in noninvasive brain imaging technology.
According to The Harvard Gazette, researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital say they have been able to determine individual levels of cannabis intoxication through the use of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). The results were published in the journal of Neuropsychopharmacology.
The 169 participants of the study were given either edible cannabis or a placebo and received fNIRS brain scans before and after the dose. Participants who received the edible and reported feeling intoxicated were found to have more neural activity markers in the prefrontal cortex region of the brain than participants who reported low or no intoxication.
“Our research represents a novel direction for impairment testing in the field,” said lead author Jodi Gilman. “This is a critical issue because a ‘breathalyzer’ type of approach will not work for detecting cannabis impairment, which makes it very difficult to objectively assess impairment from THC during a traffic stop.”
Even if scanning driver brains proves to be the best method for cannabis impairment detection, there is no indication that the anyone is currently working to make a roadside version of the technology. For the time being, law enforcement agencies will have to rely on officers’ abilities to recognize the signs of impairment without the aid of any fancy gear. To this end, a number of agencies across the country are currently developing training programs to educate officers.
Breathalyzer Hopes Go Up In Smoke - The Paper.