Questions? +1 (202) 335-3939 Login
Trusted News Since 1995
A service for healthcare industry professionals · Friday, March 29, 2024 · 699,661,868 Articles · 3+ Million Readers

Cannabis Users Drive High, and Crashes Are on the Rise-- CFN Media

SEATTLE, Dec. 14, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NEWMEDIAWIRE -- As cannabis legalization spreads across North America, there is a growing realization of the public safety issues surrounding widespread use of the legalized drug. Even cannabis consumers admit that driving under the influence of marijuana can be dangerous, but in general they do it anyway. Public health officials have launched educational campaigns, but the entrenched idea among cannabis users that the drug is not as dangerous as alcohol is hard to overcome. Add to that the technical difficulties surrounding the testing of THC levels and impairment, and it is easy to see why public health officials see a safety crisis that only promises to grow before practical solutions can be found.

Cannabix Technologies, Inc. (CSE: BLO) (OTC: BLOZF) is advancing a marijuana breathalyzer the company hopes will solve a major part of the current cannabis safety issue. By providing a reliable and convenient roadside testing solution, Cannabix hopes to give law enforcement and employers the tools they currently lack to accurately determine recent marijuana use at the point of care. Combined with continued public education, such a tool could clear up a lot of the grey areas currently surrounding the issue of driving under the influence of legal cannabis and help keep our roads safer.

The Statistics

A study by the Colorado Department of Transportation, released earlier in 2018, found that 69% of marijuana users had driven under the influence in the year prior, with 27% indicating they drove under the influence almost daily. North of the border, the findings are significant as well. Health Canada’s annual Canadian Cannabis Survey found that 39% of marijuana users reported having driven within 2 hours of using the drug, with 43% of those people having driven under the influence in the last 30 days. Clearly, the public safety message is not getting through to a preponderance of cannabis users.

Meanwhile, the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety and Highway Loss Data Institute recently released two studies showing that vehicle crashes rose between 5% and 6% in states that legalized cannabis use, compared to neighboring states that did not legalize. In the linked article, the IIHS notes that “Marijuana's role in crashes isn't as clear as the link between alcohol and crashes. Many states don't include consistent information on driver drug use in crash reports, and policies and procedures for drug testing are inconsistent. More drivers in crashes are tested for alcohol than for drugs.”

In a Las Vegas-area report on the issue, retired Las Vegas lieutenant Randy Sutton lamented the lack of tools to accurately measure marijuana impairment. "Marijuana is a different story," said Sutton. "Tests to determine someone's impairment are more guesswork than they are science." At the same time, Sutton noted the increase of impaired drivers on the road resulting from cannabis legalization.

Tools Needed to Combat the Dangers

Along with a robust educational campaign to change public perceptions and behaviors regarding cannabis use and driving, proper tools are needed to accurately and conveniently identify THC levels in potentially impaired drivers. Mr. Sutton’s lament is a common refrain for law enforcement and public health officials. With invasive, inconsistent, and slow saliva tests being tested, there is a distinct need for the cannabis equivalent of the alcohol breathalyzer.

All of these issues could be alleviated with the introduction of a portable Cannabix Marijuana Breathalyzer. Cannabix is using mass spectrometry (MS) related technology known as field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS) to ensure accuracy of THC detection from human breath. Cannabix is a well-funded company that has been steadily developing its prototype breathalyzer, advancing its technology to bring the device to market as soon as possible, with research and pilot testing and other milestones ahead.

Cannabis legalization is on the rise and cannabis impaired driving shows no signs of letting up. With current technologies lacking, the introduction of a cannabis breathalyzer could be a game-changer. Stay tuned for further developments.

Disclaimer

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer 

For more information, visit the company’s website at:  http://www.cannabixtechnologies.com 

Please follow this link to read the full article: 

http://www.cannabisfn.com/cannabis-users-d…-are-on-the-rise/ 

About CFN Media

CFN Media (CannabisFN) is the leading agency and financial media network dedicated to the global cannabis industry, helps companies operating in the space attract investors, capital, and publicity. Since 2013, private and public cannabis companies in the US and Canada have relied on CFN Media to grow and succeed.

Learn how to become a CFN Media client company, brand or entrepreneur: http://www.cannabisfn.com/featuredcompany 

Download the CFN Media iOS mobile app to access the world of cannabis from the palm of your hand: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cannabisfn/id988009247?ls=1&mt=8

Or visit our homepage and enter your mobile number under the Apple App Store logo to receive a download link text on your iPhone: http://www.cannabisfn.com 

Disclaimer

CannabisFN.com is not an independent financial investment advisor or broker-dealer. You should always consult with your own independent legal, tax, and/or investment professionals before making any investment decisions. The information provided on http://www.cannabisfn.com (the ‘Site’) is either original financial news or paid advertisements drafted by our in-house team or provided by an affiliate. CannabisFN.com, a financial news media and marketing firm enters into media buys or service agreements with the companies that are the subject of the articles posted on the Site or other editorials for advertising such companies.  We are not an independent news media provider. We make no warranty or representation about the information including its completeness, accuracy, truthfulness or reliability and we disclaim, expressly and implicitly, all warranties of any kind, including whether the Information is complete, accurate, truthful, or reliable. As such, your use of the information is at your own risk. Nor do we undertake any obligation to update the items posted. CannabisFN.com received compensation for producing and presenting high quality and sophisticated content on CannabisFN.com along with financial and corporate news.  

The above article is sponsored content. Emerging Growth LLC, which owns CannabisFN.com and CFN Media, has been hired to create awareness. Please follow the link below to view our full disclosure outlining our compensation: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/


Frank Lane
                    206-369-7050
                    flane@cannabisfn.com

cfn_tweakedspacing.jpg

Powered by EIN News
Distribution channels: Healthcare & Pharmaceuticals Industry


EIN Presswire does not exercise editorial control over third-party content provided, uploaded, published, or distributed by users of EIN Presswire. We are a distributor, not a publisher, of 3rd party content. Such content may contain the views, opinions, statements, offers, and other material of the respective users, suppliers, participants, or authors.

Submit your press release