The days of recreational smoking at your favorite frat might be coming to an end. Hound Labs announced last week that they, along with researchers from University of California, Berkeley, would start clinical trials on a marijuana breathalyzer within the first few months of 2016. According to CBS News, with this new device, Hound Labs hopes to provide cops with a single, almost instant response device to test for both alcohol, and marijuana use.
With legalization of marijuana on the rise—Governing points out that 23 states plus Washington D.C. have some kind of rules legalizing its use—driving under the influence of marijuana is likely to increase as well as the drug’s availability goes up.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that use of the by nighttime drivers rose by nearly 50 percent from 2007 to 2014. While many factors can cause marijuana users to be involved in car crashes, some of the biggest issues include drifting attention, slow cognitive function and impaired vision, all of which are vital to have control over while behind the wheel.
While we often hear of citizens getting in major trouble for drinking and driving, it’s not necessarily known by all what exactly can happen if you drive while under the influence of drugs. For example, according to the Shouse Law Group, in California driving under the influence of drugs can fall under a misdemeanor or a felony (if you have previously driven under the influence, or if you end up harming another individual). You can end up on probation for up to five years, lose your license, get fined (which can be around $2,000), or even do jail time under certain circumstances.
Music festival goers, beware. Refinery29 reports that police officers will test this device in the San Francisco Bay Area this upcoming year.
So collegiettes, the moral behind this story is: Unless you have $2,000 to spare and you don’t mind putting people’s lives in danger, do not get behind the wheel when you’re high. Or your perfect driving record (and safety) could go up in smoke.
photo credit: Explore. Dream. Discover via photopin (license)