UBC professor develops marijuana breathalyzer
As the federal government prepares to unveil its marijuana legislation next spring, a researcher at the University of British Columbia has successfully created a breathalyzer test capable of measuring THC levels.
Engineering professor Mina Hoorfar began work on the project in 2013 with the help of PhD student Mohammad Paknahad.
Traditional drug tests rely on blood or saliva samples, which take time and are impractical in a roadside setting.
But Hoorfar’s breathalyzer can detect tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient in marijuana, using only the subject’s breath.
“It’s very easy to test for THC as it is a big molecule that stays in your breath for a long time,” she said in a news release. “There is a period of 12 hours after you have consumed THC when it can still be detected in your breath.”
Hoorfar said the tool can help law enforcement, but is also meant to...
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