A new study suggests an effective breathalyzer replacement for marijuana

Researchers have found a non-invasive way to tell whether or not a person has been affected by THC. This discovery, thanks to a study conducted by Massachusetts General Hospital and published in the journal Neuropsychopharmacology, could provide an answer to DUIs related to cannabis use and provide a pathway to treat these types of situations.

According to The Harvard Gazette, the technique used in the study is called functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), which measures brain patterns, which the researchers then correlated with THC impairment. The device in question is said to be portable and non-invasive so that people can use it on the go and measure THC impairment in subjects.

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In the study, 169 cannabis users consumed THC or a placebo and then underwent fNIRS scans. Those who consumed cannabis showed higher neural activity in the prefrontal cortex of the brain compared to those who consumed a placebo.

“Our research represents a new direction for impairment testing in this area,” said lead author Jodi Gilman, associate professor at Harvard and investigator at the Center for Addiction Medicine. “Our aim was to determine whether cannabis impairment could be detected on an individual level based on the activity of the brain. This is a critical point as a “breath tester” -type approach to detecting impairment of cannabis does not work, making it very difficult to objectively assess the impairment of THC during a traffic stop. “

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A cannabis breathalyzer has long been the gold standard that researchers have worked towards. A recent study showed how unhelpful these devices were in measuring THC impairment, particularly because they measure the presence of the compound in saliva, a compound that is inconsistent and does not indicate impairment when driving or using machines.

“Someone who has experience with cannabis may have the same THC levels in their blood as someone who is inexperienced with it. These two people are likely to have completely different reactions to the drug and how affected they are, ”reported Fresh Toast in a previous article.

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While more study is needed to develop a product that can perform these scans on the go, understanding this is a necessary first step in preventing traffic accidents and ensuring workplace safety.