Can a Car Breathalyzer Detect Weed (Marijuana)?
Ever wondered if a car breathalyzer can detect weed? You're not alone!
As experts in IID technology, we often get asked “Can a breathalyzer detect weed?” The short answer is no. IIDs, like Intoxalock, are designed to measure your Breath Alcohol Content (BrAC) and cannot detect weed or be used as a marijuana breathalyzer.
While current technology limits interlock devices to alcohol detection, it's important to remember that driving under the influence of marijuana is still illegal, regardless of whether a car breathalyzer can detect it.
Let’s explore how smoking weed can affect your interlock device and the important role IIDs play in preventing impaired driving.
Does Smoking Weed Affect Your IID Breath Test?
While your car breathalyzer cannot detect marijuana in your breath, it can detect the presence of smoke. Blowing smoke into the device may trigger a lockout, which could result in penalties. This means that any substance other than breath, such as smoke, could cause the IID to register an error.
Remember, you are responsible for any breath sample recorded by your device, including contaminated positive readings by blowing smoke. To avoid these issues, it's crucial not to smoke near or into the device.
How Interlock Devices Prevent Drug-Impaired Driving?
In certain states, you may be required to install an IID, such as Intoxalock, if you're charged with drug-impaired driving. While car breathalyzers don’t detect weed, research shows a strong link between alcohol consumption and marijuana use, and IIDs play a critical role in reducing alcohol-impaired driving. According to a 2016 U.S. National Survey of Drug Use and Health, several findings were related to the co-use of alcohol and marijuana.
- Alcohol users were 10-27% more likely to smoke marijuana
- Alcohol addicted users were 23-58% more likely to also smoke marijuana
- 20% of young adults aged 18–29 smoke marijuana and 50-70% of them also drink alcohol
- People who co-use alcohol and marijuana are more likely to use the substances at the same time
- People who are addicted to marijuana are more likely to have an alcohol use disorder
These findings suggest that requiring drivers convicted of DUI, whether for marijuana or alcohol, to use car breathalyzers could help prevent alcohol-impaired driving. Currently, 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational marijuana for adults over 21, while 47 states and D.C. have legalized medical marijuana. With this rise in marijuana legalization, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working to develop effective ways to measure marijuana impairment and reduce drug-impaired driving.
Marijuana-Related Crashes on the Rise
States where marijuana is legal have seen a significant rise in marijuana-related crashes and violations. For instance, vehicle crashes investigated by Maryland State Police almost doubled from 2017 to 2018, while driving violations related to marijuana increased by nearly 40%. In Colorado, fatal crashes rose by 58% from 2020 to 2021, and marijuana use was believed to be a significant factor.
Safety is Always Important
Smoking marijuana impairs your ability to drive, and you can still be charged with a DUI for marijuana use, even though interlock devices can't detect weed. Whether impaired by alcohol or marijuana, driving under the influence poses a severe danger to you and others on the road.
Need Help Navigating IID Requirements?
While today’s ignition interlock devices aren’t designed to detect weed, they are crucial for getting you back on the road after a DUI. Call Intoxalock, the most-installed IID in the U.S., and get yours installed today. With twice as many locations as any competitor and easy-to-use, one-button devices, Intoxalock makes the IID process simple and hassle-free. Call Intoxalock now at 888-283-5899.
