Whitefish, MT / September 23, 2014 / Breathalyzers have become an integral part of law enforcement since their introduction in 1954 by Professor Robert F. Borkenstein of Indiana University. With one fatality every 50 minutes in the U.S. due to drunk driving, the devices provide an effective way to collect evidence to use against drunk drivers in court. The devices have also become popular among consumers at bars and other venues.
With the legalization of marijuana in many U.S. states, marijuana could join alcohol as an intoxicant capable of affecting drivers. States like Colorado and Washington have already legalized recreational use of the drug, while others like Oregon and Alaska could follow suit over the coming months. As a result, new technologies are needed in order to assess whether drivers are impaired by marijuana.
In this article, we'll take a look at Cannabix Technologies Inc. (OTC: BLOZF) (CSE: BLO) which is developing the world's first marijuana breathalyzer that could solve the problem once and for all with an innovative portable solution.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwhsNPGiVPo
The above video features Cannabix Technologies President , Kal Malhi, who was interviewed by Pinnacle Digest on September 12, 2014. Kal, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police member, discusses the companies THC breathalyzer and its 2 hour test window.
How Does Marijuana Compare?
Marijuana may be less harmful than many other illicit drugs, but its role in traffic fatalities has tripled between 2000 and 2010, according to Columbia University researchers. Several studies have found that smoking marijuana could be at least as dangerous - and often times more dangerous - than consuming alcohol when it comes to dangerous driving habits on the road.
In one study, subjects either drank or smoked real or placebo alcohol or marijuana and put behind the wheel in a controlled environment. The researchers looked at the distance that drivers' drifted outside of their lane and the amount of time they remained outside of their lane. Depending on the dosage, marijuana caused a 2.7 to 3.5-centimeter drift compared to alcohol's 2.2-centimeter drift.
Perhaps more concerning, the same study found that the combination of marijuana and alcohol severely impaired driving performance even in low dosages. A blood alcohol level of 0.04 g/dl combined with a calibrated dose of THC produced increased lane drifting by the equivalent of a blood alcohol level of 0.09 and 0.14 g/dl, respectively, showing a strong multiplicative effect.
Breathalyzers for Cannabis
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 4% of drivers were high during the day and more than 6% were high at night, suggesting that driving while high is a real problem that needs to be addressed. Despite these issuers, there is no standardized way to detect whether something has been using marijuana on the spot like a breathalyzer does for alcohol.
In June, Cannabix Technologies signed a definitive agreement with Cannabix Breathalyzer Inc. to license the North American rights to the Cannabix Marijuana Breathalyzer. Mr. Kal Malhi and Dr. Raj Attariwala joined the company's management team as a part of the deal and will guide the development of the marijuana breathalyzer system as experts in the field.
The company reported further progress in July when it selected KLN Klein Product Development, based in British Columbia, to complete the initial version of its Cannabix Marijuana Breathalyzer. The company also signed a collaboration agreement with Field Forensics Inc. in September to develop a roadside test kit for use with its groundbreaking technology.
The device is currently in prototype development stage and will be used roadside to identify drivers that are intoxicated from the use of marijuana. In addition to these markets, the same technology could be applied at the workplace in order to ensure employees are not performing duties that could be hazardous when intoxicated by THC.
Looking Ahead
Cannabix Technologies is rapidly moving towards completion of a prototype of its Cannabix Marijuana Breathalyzer, which would both prove the efficacy of its technology and set the stage for law enforcement orders. As a result, there are numerous upcoming catalysts for investors to watch over the coming months that could catalyze the stock, which recently began trading on the U.S. OTC Markets.
With no existing marijuana breathalyzers on the market, the company could become an exclusive provider to law enforcement, much like TASER International Inc.'s (NASDAQ: TASR) non-lethal weapons business. The company also provides a unique play to a new market segment in the growing cannabis industry, as opposed to vendors like Aerogrow International Inc. (OTC: AERO), who sell their indoor garden systems directly to traditional consumers and producers.
For more information on Cannabix Technologies:
Company Website http://www.cannabixtechnologies.com
Disclaimer:
Except for the historical information presented herein, matters discussed in this release contain forward-looking statements that are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. Emerging Growth LLC is not registered with any financial or securities regulatory authority, and does not provide nor claims to provide investment advice or recommendations to readers of this release. Emerging Growth LLC may from time to time have a position in the securities mentioned herein and may increase or decrease such positions without notice. For making specific investment decisions, readers should seek their own advice. Emerging Growth LLC may be compensated for its services in the form of cash-based compensation or equity securities in the companies it writes about, or a combination of the two. For full disclosure please visit: http://www.cannabisfn.com/legal-disclaimer/
SOURCE: Emerging Growth LLC