Most Wisconsin drivers know that driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. Even though the laws are understood, it is not always easy for authorities to tell whether a person is under the influence of pot. This may change in the future as scientists are beginning to learn more about how to test whether this drug is in a person’s system.
Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have measured the vapor pressure of THC, the main chemical compound in marijuana. The main author of the study stated that in order to know whether THC molecules are leaving the blood to be exhaled from the lungs, it is necessary to know the vapor pressure of the compound. This means that finding the vapor pressure of the chemical is an important step on the way to creating a breathalyzer test for marijuana that is reliable for officers to use roadside.
Even though the vapor pressure of marijuana’s main chemical has been determined, it will still be a while before the marijuana breathalyzer can be developed. The next step for scientists will be to discover the relationship between THC in the blood and THC in the breath as this relationship can give authorities clear information about whether a driver has enough of the compound in their blood to be considered too intoxicated to operate a vehicle.
A driver who has been charged with a DUI might want to contact an attorney. A defense lawyer could help an accused DUI offender by working to help them get their charges possibly dismissed.
