The University of Pittsburgh is looking to make it possible for police in the state to have a device that can determine if the driver is under the influence of marijuana.
Researchers from the university have created a device that can measure how much marijuana someone smoked or ingested.
“If there is suspicion that a person is driving under the influence, they can then take blood samples which take a long time to get the results from. We are hoping with this device, they will be able to make the detection on the spot,” explained Alexander Star, professor of chemistry at the University of Pittsburgh.
The researchers made the device by using carbon nanotubes, tiny tubes of carbon that are 1/100,000th the diameter of a human hair. These nanotechnology sensors can detect THC at levels comparable to, or better than mass spectrometry. THC is the pyschoactive ingredent in marijuana.
Currently, only medical marijuana is legal in the state.
The researchers are testing the prototype and hope to move it to manufacturing so it can be available for use.
