A marijuana breathalyzer is one step closer to coming to market

A marijuana breathalyzer is a step closer to coming to the market after researchers tested the theory using a 3D printer. There have been 24 states, plus Washington, D.C., that have legalized marijuana, including for recreational use, according to the employee screening firm DISA Global Solutions. As the drug becomes more popular, authorities need to find better ways to catch drivers using marijuana, as it’s still against the law to drive under the influence of any drug. In 2023, it was announced that Emanuele Alves, a professor of forensic science at Virginia Commonwealth University, had set out with a team of researchers to develop a THC breathalyzer that could deliver results within minutes and differentiate between THC and CBD to reduce false positives.A marijuana breathalyzer is a step closer to coming to the market after one was developed using a 3D printer (Getty Images)“With this approach, we could reduce the number of accidents caused by impaired drivers, making roads safer for all of us,” Alves said at the time. “When a device like this is public, drivers know that they can be caught using marijuana, and this could act as a deterrent for people considering using marijuana before getting behind the wheel.”The results of the study were published last month by the Justice Department, which helped to fund the research. Researchers used 3D-printed test cartridges with “Fast Blue” dyes to determine if they could detect the chemicals Delta-9 THC, CBD and CBN. All three chemicals are found in marijuana but THC is the main one responsible for causing the high. Researchers set out to develop a marijuana breathalyzer that could deliver results within minutes and differentiate between THC and CBD to reduce false positives (Getty Images)The color analysis showed two primary clusters, one containing CBD and another containing Delta-9 THC and CBN, “suggesting early evidence of hue-based selectivity for certain analytes,” according to the study. Analytes are substances that are analyzed in a lab test.“Overall, this project established foundational data supporting the feasibility of a portable, low-cost, colorimetric tool for detecting cannabinoids using 3D-printed cartridges and readily accessible reagents,” the study read. While researchers acknowledged more testing is needed, they said the study provides a “proof-of-concept framework for future roadside or point-of-collection testing technologies.”