What You Need to Know About Marijuana Breathalyzers
Drunk driving in Pennsylvania can surely get you a DUI charge. However, you can also get charged with a DUI if you’re high on pot!
Pennsylvania has always been strict with drug policies and DUI cases. Therefore, if your one milliliter blood sample shows that you have one nanogram of THC, rest assured that you are getting convicted!
However, there is one issue with this. A person’s BAC levels determine how drunk he/ she is. But, with marijuana, there is no such technology, other than a blood test, that can determine how much impairment marijuana has done to their senses! That’s exactly why many companies are focusing on developing marijuana breathalyzers, with one goal- to help the cops catch DUI suspects easily.
That being said, marijuana-related DUI cases can attract stricter charges and harsher penalties, as it is categorized as a Schedule 1 drug in Pennsylvania. So, if you find yourself caught up in such a situation, make sure to hire a Pittsburgh DUI attorney to protect your rights and your future!
What’s the Progress on Marijuana Breathalyzers?
Well, honestly, marijuana breathalyzers are still in the prototype stage.
Lifeloc, a company known for manufacturing alcohol breathalyzers, tried its hand at producing accurate marijuana breathalyzers. However, the company has been quite open about the issues and difficulties that they are facing with the technology. Lifeloc’s CEO stated that their marijuana breathalyzer (which is still in prototype stage) required a person to blow 20 times to get an accurate reading!
Similarly, Cannabix, a Vancouver-based company, has patented a technology that they are going to use in their marijuana breathalyzers. But we are still waiting for them to launch a usable product in the market!
What’s the Issue With the technology?
The main issue with marijuana breathalyzers is the fact that no technology can accurately detect the amount of THC from a person’s breath! When it comes to alcohol, it becomes easier because the odor in a drunk person’s breath is enough to be detected by a device. However, after smoking marijuana, there is very little THC presence in a person’s breath, which makes it challenging for breathalyzers to detect.
Wrapping Up
In the end, it is still unknown when a good marijuana breathalyzer will hit the market, and when the cops will start using them. And even if they do, these devices won’t serve as the silver lining.
Why so?
That’s because even if marijuana breathalyzers come into practice, the cops would still need a probable reason to put the device to use! And without the strong stench of marijuana, all of the other symptoms of marijuana usage, like redness in the eyes, delays in reactions, etc., can have innocent explanations!
Moreover, even if the cops try to charge someone based on a marijuana breathalyzer, a Pittsburgh DUI attorney can still challenge the test results, as they do in case of alcohol-related DUI cases!However, there are blood tests that can detect THC in your system, and if that comes out positive, you may have to face a life-altering situation! So, if you ever are caught with a marijuana-related DUI case, don’t think twice and call us at the Logue Law Group ASAP! Our expert Pittsburgh DUI attorney can assist you at every step and also help you extract the most favorable outcome for you. Call us at 844.PITT.DUI and schedule a consultation today!