The legalization of cannabis promises to solve many of society’s problems and unlock new economic opportunities. However, the move also creates new challenges for law enforcement. For instance, studies suggest that cannabis may acutely impair several driving-related skills in a dose-related fashion, but there’s no easy roadside test available.
Cannabix Technologies Inc. (CSE: BLO) (OTC: BLOZF) aims to solve that problem with novel marijuana breathalyzer tools for law enforcement and workplaces. A new independent study showed an excellent correlation between breath samples collected and analyzed with its proprietary hardware and blood plasma levels of ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol (“THC”) .
Reading blood levels is currently the standard measurement for law enforcement, toxicologists and evidence used in courts of law, therefore it is important to correlate new methods of drug screening to blood levels. Let’s take a closer look at the study, and what’s in store for the future.
Study
Dr. Phillip Olla of Audacia Bioscience in Ontario conducted a study on six subjects with an average age of 23 years. Breath and blood samples were taken simultaneously at the baseline (before smoking cannabis) and at incremental time points (after smoking cannabis) out to one hour and 40 minutes after smoking activity was complete.
The results showed an excellent correlation between human breath samples collected and analyzed with the Cannabix hardware and blood plasma levels of THC. Furthermore, the data from the study support literature by showing the same trends in THC metabolism, and that blood and breath levels of THC over time correlate with high accuracy.
“This study shows the capability of the Cannabix Breath Analysis system to easily and rapidly collect breath samples in the field and correlate to blood THC levels,” said Cannabix Sr. Analytical Chemist, Dr. Jared Boock. “Law enforcement and toxicologists rely on gold standard mass spectrometry results to confirm drug presence in blood. We have developed a truly ground-breaking breath analysis tool capable of breath sampling for THC, within seconds, with no sample preparation needed. Furthermore, we were able to store, ship and analyze samples for up to 40 hours after they were taken in the field.”
Why Breath Matters
Alcohol breathalyzers became widely available to law enforcement and employers in the 1960s. The technology measures alcohol content by creating a chemical reaction that oxidizes the alcohol in a breath sample and produces an electrical current. And the current determines the subject’s blood alcohol content or BAC.
Unfortunately, marijuana breathalyzers are presented a much harder challenge. THC that appears in breath samples is typically measured in picograms (trillionths of a gram), meaning any breathalyzer would have to be extremely sensitive. As a result, law enforcement and employers have relied on intrusive blood or urine samples to detect intoxication as new breath testing technology has been in the intense research and development phase.
Cannabix leverages its unique sample collection and hardware to detect these low concentrations in an accurate and selective manner. Consequently, the laboratory device is capable of breath sampling for THC within seconds with no sample preparation, and breath samples can be stored and analyzed up to 40 hours after being taken. This important laboratory technique and independent study results are a precursor to its portable capabilities that are under development and maturing quickly.
Looking Ahead
Cannabix Technologies Inc. (CSE: BLO) (OTC: BLOZF) has made substantial progress in developing its marijuana breathalyzer technology is quickly developing technology that could be used in industry and law enforcement to overcome major economic (link to https://www.politico.com/news/2022/05/07/cannabis-truckers-supply-chain-woes-00030508 ) and public safety challenges facing the US and world.
For more information, visit the company’s website or download their investor presentation.
This article was published by CFN Enterprises Inc. (OTCQB: CNFN), owner and operator of CFN Media, the industry’s leading agency and digital financial media network dedicated to the burgeoning CBD and legal cannabis industries. Call +1 (833) 420-CNFN for more information.
