New marijuana detection tool may soon arrive for Ohio law enforcement

The Ohio legislature is debating approving a swab test that law enforcement could use to test for marijuana use for suspected impaired drivers.

Supporters say the swab is less intrusive and avoids having to take drivers to hospitals for a blood draw or to police stations for a urine test.

State Rep. Cecil Thomas (D-Cincinnati) told Fox 19 he voted in favor of the House version of the bill but does not think the swab test results should be the only determining factor determining impaired driving due to cannabis use, noting marijuana can stay in a person's system and be detectable for up to 30 days after usage.

Regardless of if the swab test is approved, the University of Cincinnati's Dan Bebo, MD, told Fox 19 that cannabis intoxication and driving should never mix.

"It would be a mistake to think that cannabis is any safer than alcohol or that alcohol is any safer than cannabis when it comes to operating motor vehicles," said Bebo, associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience in UC's College of Medicine. "Cannabis intoxication is connected with slower reflexes and can increase your risk of having a motor vehicle accident."

Watch the Fox 19 story.

Featured photo at top of marijuana leaves. Photo/Jeff W/Unsplash.