As the cannabis industry expands, so too does the need for solutions to help guide users toward safe and responsible usage. One problem that continues to plague the industry is impairment testing. How do you test for impairment from cannabis? The answer: It’s not easy. Impaired driving from cannabis has been an ongoing concern in states where it has been legalized. Intoxication from THC can remain in your system for up to 5 hours after you stop smoking or vaping, especially if you have a high THC strain. The good news is there are ways to avoid being impaired while also providing responsible usage advice to consumers who may be new to cannabis. Read on to learn more about impairment detection and its role in responsible cannabis use practices.
What Is Impairment Detection?
Impairment testing is used to determine if a person is impaired or high while under the influence of cannabis. There are two primary types of testing used in the cannabis industry.
- Blood testing – This method takes a blood sample to check for the level of THC or other cannabinoids in the bloodstream. THC stays in the blood for about 12 hours after you consume cannabis, but it can remain in the blood for up to 5 days if you have multiple high-THC doses in a day.
- Urine testing – This method analyzes urine for metabolites left behind from cannabis. Metabolites quickly break down and get flushed from the body, making it harder to determine when a person last consumed cannabis.
What Can Be Done to Detect Cannabis Impairment?
The best way for cannabis impairment detection is to rely on a combination of quick and accurate tests with results that are easy to interpret. Ideally, you want to use tests that are easy to administer and require no specialist knowledge. The best approach is to use two or more methods of testing. This can include a combination of blood, urine, and saliva screening. While the results from each test are not immediate, the combination of the three provides a more accurate picture of a person’s THC levels. Blood testing should be used as the primary method of testing for THC. The results from blood tests are available almost immediately and are highly accurate. Urine and saliva tests are less accurate than blood tests but can provide a more accurate picture of THC levels over a longer period of time.
Conclusion
The best way to detect cannabis impairment is to rely on a combination of quick and accurate tests with results that are easy to interpret. Ideally, you want to use tests that are easy to administer and require no specialist knowledge. The best approach is to use two or more methods of testing. This can include a combination of blood, urine, and saliva screening. While the results from each test are not immediate, the combination of the three provides a more accurate picture of a person’s THC levels.
