Pot.

[Orchidea]

Originally Posted by Admiral Donutz

even caffeine could be classified as a drug.

true dat.

[NiteStryker]

Originally Posted by Mr. Matt

police seem reasonably good at detecting stoned people without the use of breathalysers at the moment.

But the issue is proof in a courtroom. You can subject an individual to a breathalyzer and video the number at the moment. Above .08 and you are done. But for pot? There is no solid proof other than the smell. A cop could run with that.

Originally Posted by Mr. Pedantic

The reason I said it's an interesting point of view is that I'd have expected you to want to ban alcohol as well, instead of legalizing marijuana.

We tried that once, didnt work out too well.

Originally Posted by Mr. Pedantic

Because if you're going with the health side, which is the only side your argument makes sense from, wouldn't it be much more favourable to ban both, rather than legalize both?

No because you would create a whole alcohol underground industry.

[Afterburner]

Well what is the fastest way to test for marijuana? Urine testing? You'd probably have to provide some kind of way for cops to get a speedier warrant for urine testing on people suspected of smoking and driving.

[Mr. Pedantic]

We tried that once, didnt work out too well.

I doubt legalizing marijuana would work too well either.

[Professor Dr. Scientist]

Originally Posted by Orchidea

true dat.

Spoiler:

[noobst3R]

The LSD web looks pretty good.

Although, I think the spider isn't effected by LSD. p

[Nemmerle]

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

But the issue is proof in a courtroom. You can subject an individual to a breathalyzer and video the number at the moment. Above .08 and you are done. But for pot? There is no solid proof other than the smell. A cop could run with that.

A breathalyser is just a very specific type of gas analyser. There are more general types that cover a range of applications from alcohol all the way through to bomb detection. I see no reason why you couldn't construct a device to test for pot as well.

[Mephistopheles]

Originally Posted by Mr. Matt

You don't really need one. If someone's been smoking marijuana recently enough for it to have an impact on their driving, particularly if they've been doing it in their car, the stench would be sufficient to give them away. People say cigarettes smell, but holy hell, cheeky cigs beat them in terms of strength. I suppose there are ways of getting around even that, but police seem reasonably good at detecting stoned people without the use of breathalysers at the moment.

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

But the issue is proof in a courtroom. You can subject an individual to a breathalyzer
and video the number at the moment. Above .08 and you are done. But for pot? There is no solid proof other than
the smell. A cop could run with that.

Originally Posted by Afterburner

Well what is the fastest way to test for marijuana? Urine testing? You'd probably have to provide some kind of way for cops to get a speedier warrant for urine testing on people suspected of smoking and driving.

Originally Posted by Nemmerle

A breathalyser is just a very specific type of gas analyser. There are more general types that cover a range of applications from alcohol all the way through to bomb detection. I see no reason why you couldn't construct a device to test for pot as well.

The lack of a drug detection method for substances like Cannabis, Opiates, Cocaine and Amphetamines had been a problem for German police officers in the past. Taking a blood sample is required as evidence in a court.
But this is always a severe police measure. If it turns out negative the police officer could be sued for personal injury. So if an officer is uncertain he will probably not take a blood sample.

The breathalyser test for drunk people is an important instrument for the police to justify taking a blood sample.
Fortunately, (meanwhile) there is also a common drug testing method for police officers in Germany as well. It is called "DrugWipe". You can use it by simply touching the skin of a suspect.

DrugWipe is produced by the Securetec Detektions Systeme AG in Germany. There are probably other companies with drugwipe tests (Drogenwischtests) on the market as well.

Originally Posted by DrugWipe 5 Info

DrugWipe®5 for rapid detection of drugs in body fluids (sweat, saliva) and on surfaces.

DrugWipe®5 - simultaneous detection for
o Opiates
o Cocaine
o Amphetamines/Methamphetamines (Ecstasy)
o Cannabis

Usage
DrugWipe®5 was designed to detect invisible (nanogramme) residues of drugs.

The test is very easy to handle.

Application
o Customs and drug enforcement
o Traffic police
o Prisons
o Workplace
And many more

High detection reliability
Highest sensitivity due to highly specific antibodies.

Test duration
Approx. 3-10 minutes

Low detection limit
20-300 Nanogramm/ml (saliva, sweat)
2 - 50 Nanogramm/cm² (surfaces)

Notice:
DrugWipe® 5 rapid tests are higly accurate screening tests and are designed for direct use during investigations and controls in order to detect possible illegal drugs or to confirm initial suspicions. Final identification of suspicious substances will require laboratory analysis.

Source: Securetec Detektions-Systeme AG / Products / Drugwipe 5

About legalising Cannabis: I could accept it.
Over here, consumers of small amounts of Cannabis are already not prosecuted anymore (as long as they are not driving stoned).

[NiteStryker]

Originally Posted by Afterburner

Well what is the fastest way to test for marijuana? Urine testing? You'd probably have to provide some kind of way for cops to get a speedier warrant for urine testing on people suspected of smoking and driving.

Yea Urine tests would be good. Make them drink water. And then collect a sample. They would have to do the results fairly quickly tho.

Originally Posted by Mr. Pedantic

I doubt legalizing marijuana would work too well either.

Well if you are going to have alcohol legal then by an extension, how can you ban marijuana? Its like banning knives but you can have guns.

Originally Posted by Nemmerle

I see no reason why you couldn't construct a device to test for pot as well.

That would be great.

Originally Posted by Mephistopheles

DrugWipe is produced by the Securetec Detektions Systeme AG in Germany. There are probably other companies with drugwipe tests (Drogenwischtests) on the market as well.

Those would be awesome if they were approved by our FDA and are recognized in a courtroom.

[Mephistopheles]

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

Yea Urine tests would be good. Make them drink water. And then collect a sample. They would have to do the results fairly quickly tho.

Urine tests are not as accurate as blood tests to determine the exact amount of a substance in the body of a suspect at a given time.
A police officer also isn't allowed to force a suspect to drink water and wait until the person needs to see the toiled - that's regarded as torture and is therefore illegal.

Originally Posted by NiteStryker

Those would be awesome if they were approved by our FDA and are recognized in a courtroom.

I think that wouldn't be a problem, nevertheless they are just indicators like the breathalyser test to justify taking a blood sample as "solid evidence".
I suppose drugwipe tests are already used in some US states.

Over here, the breathalyser test alone is only a valid option for infractions like driving with a BAC (blood alcohol content / concentration) < 1.1 o/oo,
presuming that the suspect cooperates and accepts the second (more accurate "next generation") breathalyser test in the police station.

Causing an accident with a BAC < 1.1 o/oo is also considered a crime (in most cases) and requires a lab analysis of the suspect's blood sample.
Of course, the blood sample is taken by a doctor, the police officer is responsible for ordering the measure.