The "Cognalyzer" Can Test for Cannabis Impairment by Reading Brainwaves
Zentrela, an Ontario-based company, claims to have a technology that can read a person's brainwaves to determine whether they're under the influence of cannabis. The "Cognalyzer" -- an electroencephalogram (EEG) device contained in a headband that can detect whether an individual has recently consumed tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and measure the impact it's having on their brain.
The Ontario government's awarded the company a grant of $1 million to continue researching the technology. However, while roadside testing for cannabis impairment is a big challenge, that was not the original aim of the Cognalyzer. Instead, it was designed to confirm whether someone's recently used cannabis (as opposed to whether they're high at that specific moment in time).
Zentrela CEO Israel Gesparin says that "Within five minutes employers and law enforcement will have a result of the mental state of their subjects." Saliva tests currently offer police the best way to accurately test drivers to see if they are impaired by cannabis; this technology could help to complement and confirm those results.
Source Fool.com
