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Coming Sometime Soon to a Roadblock Near You: THC Breathalizers!

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1 year ago

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Legalization in the US has led to rapid tech development of THC breathalizers

The legalization of cannabis in the United States is being closely tracked by the development of THC breathalizers as new rules around cannabis and driving kick in. It is only a matter of time before the technology arrives in South Africa as driving stoned will not be allowed should cannabis be legalized completely.

 

Vancouver-based Cannabix Technologies is the latest company to successfully develop a THC breathalizer. The company issued a statement on 9 May 2022 saying that it had conducted a study that “showed a correlation between breath samples collected and analyzed with Cannabix hardware and blood plasma levels of THC.”

 

The company’s handheld Breath Collection Unit and newly developed laboratory MS Breath Sampler were used together to provide a new ground-breaking method for drug detection.

 

“We have developed a truly ground-breaking breath analysis tool capable of breath sampling for THC, within seconds, with no sample preparation needed,” Cannabix Senior Analytical Chemist Dr Jared Boock said. “Furthermore, we were able to store, ship and analyze samples for up to 40 hours after they were taken in the field”.

 

 Chris Halsor, a Colorado attorney with two decades of criminal law experience, told Discover Magazine that: “legalization of marijuana was a big paradigm shift for law enforcement. When it was totally illegal, if you smelled it [or] saw a roach on the floorboard of a car, that instantly got you into cars without warrants. That instantly led to arrest. Nowadays, it’s not so simple”.

 

The rest of this article is reproduced from Discover online:

 

Testing for cannabis more complicated than for alcohol

Breathalyzer-like devices that measure the main psychoactive chemical in cannabis — delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC — have popped up in various stages of development. Whereas urine tests detect the presence of marijuana up to a month after impairment subsides, and blood tests up to three weeks, breath tests have the shortest detection window of up to just two or three hours after smoking. It’s an important distinction for law enforcement, who could in theory use a positive result as evidence of driving under the influence.

 

The rollout comes at a pivotal moment for cannabis use, spurred in part by the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the UN World Drug Report 2021, stay-at-home orders and social distancing restrictions led to “cannabis users consuming cannabis more frequently and the exposure of a new segment of the population to the drug” in many countries. While marijuana markets enjoyed this business boom, however, the NHTSA reported that the number of injured drivers admitted to trauma centers with marijuana in their system rose by half in the beginning months of the pandemic, compared to the previous six months.

 

When it comes to alcohol, figuring out impairment is no tall task. Because humans are made of roughly 60 percent water, water-soluble alcohol disperses quickly throughout the body and is eradicated in a matter of hours. A simple ratio links the amount of alcohol in a person’s breath to the amount in their blood, and there’s a good chance you’ll find yourself taking a trip to the police station if you drive with a blood-alcohol content (BAC) above the legal limit.

 

For the first few hours after you light up or eat an edible, a breathalyzer can detect the THC that is transferred from the bloodstream and into the lungs — just like alcohol.

 

After that, however, THC is transformed into non-psychoactive molecules called metabolites. More than 80 different metabolites are formed from THC, all of which are stored in fat, and the length of time they linger in the body depends on a variety of factors: percentage of body fat, level of tolerance, gender, and the method and type of cannabis used.

 

California-based Hound Labs says existing tests that detect metabolites rather than THC can’t differentiate between the person who “smoked cannabis legally and responsibly at a BBQ on Friday night, versus their colleague who smoked Monday morning on the way to work.” Its Hound Marijuana Breathalyzer is one billion times more sensitive than an alcohol breathalyzer and is expected to ship to prospective customers at the end of this year, says CEO Mike Lynn.

The post Coming Sometime Soon to a Roadblock Near You: THC Breathalizers! appeared first on Cannabiz Africa.

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Cannabis

What You Need To Know About Hemp Extraction

Published

4 months ago

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February 22, 2023

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Did you know that Cannabidiol or CBD is one of the fastest-growing industries around the world? Many companies are engaged in the production, manufacture, and distribution of CBD. As such, it is not a surprise why there is also an increasing number of lands dedicated to growing cannabis plants. It is essential to note that most CBD products are primarily sourced from hemp. 

In this article, we are going to talk about the basic things that you need to know about hemp extraction. Take note that there is a need to understand the different processes involved in extracting CBD oil, which has become an in-demand product in various marketplaces. As a consumer, it is crucial to know more about hemp extraction so that you will become better when it comes to selecting the right product for you based on the compliance on certain procedures. 

Hemp: CBD Oil Extractions

Before anything else, you must first learn that hemp is different from marijuana. As such, these terms must not be used interchangeably to avoid confusion from the public. The importance of this distinction is with respect to the classification of hemp as excluded from the prohibited substances under the law. It means that hemp extraction is absolutely legal and does not violate any substantive law. Hemp has less THC, making it an ideal source for CBD oil extraction.

Nonetheless, there is a necessity to emphasize that for hemp to be considered as legal under the existing laws, it must contain less than 0.3% THC. Otherwise, its extraction may be punishable under the law. Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that hemp products come in different forms. You can buy hemp seed and hemp seed oil in various supermarkets or stores anywhere in the states. However, these items are way different from hemp oil extract, which contains cannabidiol. 

Benefits of Hemp Extract

As you probably know by now, hemp extract is taken from the part of the hemp plant that has a high level of cannabidiol considerably. There are several known benefits for the hemp extract. Take note that hemp extract is synonymous with CBD oil. It must not also be confused with hemp seed oil.

 Many athletes prefer to use CBD oil due to its anti-inflammatory benefits. For people who are constantly engaged in sports and other physical tendencies, they tend to feel exhausted most of the time and may suffer from sore muscles. They may also be exposed to the risk of experiencing joint pains. With the help of CBD oil, all these medical complications are minimized or eliminated.

Chronic pain, which may last not only for more than six months to one year but even for a longer period, can also be reduced with the use of CBD oil. This fact has already been proven in recent medical case studies conducted as early as 2012 by the Journal of Experimental Medicine. 

There is also a growing number of CBD oil or hemp extract users who claim that they have experienced low levels of anxiety since they started using the product. This only goes to show that the product is also effective in treating multiple anxiety disorders. However, it must be noted that just like any form of medications available, the CBD oil or hemp extract must be used moderately.

Understanding Hemp Extraction

There are three essential things that you need to consider when it comes to hemp extraction. 

First of all, the equipment used must be designed primarily for the process of extracting CBD oil from the hemp plant. Second, the facility where the equipment is placed must also be capable of processing and handling the extraction solvent. Take note that the solvent may be exposed to contamination. Third, the final product must be safe for human consumption. 

Because of all these, it is crucial to choose the best supplier or manufacturer of CBD oil products in the market. Make a conscious effort to verify the details as to how the end product was extracted. Be a responsible user of CBD oil products to ensure that you will not experience any inconvenience or problem along the way. It is also best to consult with a medical professional. 

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