Study Shows Roadside THC Tests Show No Impairment – Latest Cannabis News Today

As cannabis laws are relaxed around the world, drug abuse and driving are growing concerns. Each country has its own way of dealing with this problem. For many governments, roadside THC saliva testing has been the best option. However, when it comes to determining cannabis impairment, saliva samples are not accurate. According to a study published by the Lambert Initiative, the amount of THC present in your body doesn’t always indicate poisoning. With new evidence available, the discussion about cannabis and driving is changing; Now is the time for the government to catch up.

Current test

It is much easier to tell if someone is driving drunk than if you are driving stoned. However, we approach cannabis impairment and driving the same way we approach alcohol. Despite the differences between these two substances, the test methods are the same. Street tests may include a standard on-site sobriety test or, if the officer considers it necessary, a saliva sample. If the saliva sample tests positive for cannabis, a blood test by the police follows. Two tests have been approved for screening for cannabis drugs in Canada:

1. Dräger DrugTest® 5000 when used with a Dräger DrugTest® 5000 STK-CA
2. SoToxa ™, an Abbot SoToxa ™ test cartridge used with an Abbot SoToxa ™ oral fluid collection device.

Despite being aware of the limitations and loopholes associated with these devices, they were approved in 2018.

Limitations and loopholes

According to Canada’s Oral Drug Screening Policy, “Roadside drug screening is another tool used by law enforcement to reduce the problem of drug driving. It doesn’t solve the problem, but when combined with the Standardized Field Sobriety Test and Drug Assessment and Classification Program, it can help reduce the number of drug-impaired drivers. ”

It has always been known that this type of test is not accurate for every situation; false negative and positive results are to be expected. These devices do not test for impairment, but for concentration. This is clearly stated in the directive; “The drug screening in the oral fluid does not provide the concentration of the drug, but only detects the presence of certain substances in concentrations that exceed a specified threshold.”

The study

The amount of THC in your saliva and blood does not indicate poisoning; We now have the evidence, thanks to researchers from the University of Sydney’s Lambert Initiative.

The results

According to the study’s lead author, Dr. Danielle McCartney, “In casual cannabis users, higher levels of THC in the blood were only weakly associated with increased impairment, while no significant association was found in regular cannabis users. This suggests that blood and oral levels of THC are relatively poor indicators of cannabis-THC-induced impairment. “

Lead author Dr. Danielle McCartney of the Lambert Initiative. Photo courtesy University of Sydney

The impairment of cannabis cannot be measured by the level of THC in body fluids. It just doesn’t work that way. A new cannabis user can ingest a small dose of THC but still get extremely drunk; someone with more experience can ingest a significantly higher amount, but feels less affected by the effects.

What now?

Although it may be applicable in some situations, the THC fluid test is not a reliable tool. Therefore, the subject of drug-impaired driving requires further research. Professor Iain McGregor, Academic Director of the Lambert Initiative, said this on the subject; “We clearly need more reliable methods of detecting cannabis impairment on the streets and in the workplace. The increase in legal recreational cannabis use in multiple jurisdictions around the world also makes the need to reform cannabis driving laws more urgent. “

Footnote (s)

https://www.ccsa.ca/sites/default/files/2020-04/CCSA-Oral-Fluid-Drug-Screening-Policy-Brief-2020-en.pdf
https://www.legalline.ca/legal-answers/how-is-impairment-due-to-cannabis-tested-by-the-police/
https://www.sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2021/12/02/thc-blood-saliva-poor-measures-cannabis-impairment-lambert-study.html
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0149763421004978?via%3Dihub#bib0145