All 50 states currently make it illegal to drive with a blood alcohol concentration of 0.08% or more. These statutes are called
"per se" laws because the BAC itself is illegal regardless of whether the motorist is impaired.
While some 15 states have enacted per se limits for drugs, it has been difficult to enforce, in part because the only way to test for drugs is to take the motorist someplace for a blood test.
At the same time, federal safety officials say driving under the influence of marijuana is a growing problem. A National Highway Traffic Safety Administration survey, conducted in 2013 and 2014, found that the number of drivers with marijuana in their systems rose from 8.6 percent in 2007 to 12.6 percent in 2014 -- an increase of nearly 50 percent.
This will all change if researchers at the University of Akron have anything to say about it. They have unveiled The Cannibuster, an early version of what may lead to roadside saliva testing for levels of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. The Cannibuster is already getting a lot of attention, including a bit on Conan.
The Cannibuster is being tested now to make sure its readings are accurate. The inventors are hoping that a prototype will be out by December, estimating that a device will cost around $300, with a $15 microchip for each test.
The Cannibuster isn’t alone in this market. A retired Vancouver, B.C., mounted police officer Kal Malhi has been working on the Cannabix, according to Vice. His device works by testing a breath sample from the lungs, which determines whether a user has smoked within the last two hours.