Development of an electrochemical biosensor for psychoactive metabolites of marijuana

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Impaired driving remains an unfortunately common occurrence with a major impact on Canadians. The rate of drunk driving has steadily fallen since the mid-1980s, driven in part by the development of rapid, reliable, and portable breath alcohol testing devices. However, estimates suggest that, during weekends, up to 20 percent of drivers are impaired due to the use of recreational or prescription drugs, for which there are currently no practical roadside tests. This is a particularly relevant challenge now due to the impending legalization of marijuana in Canada.This proposal addresses the pressing need to develop a roadside marijuana sensor. The project combines the sensitivity afforded by optimized electrochemistry with the exquisite specificity of protein engineering. Our industrial partner, Alcohol Countermeasure Systems (ACS), is a world-leader in the development of alcohol breath sensors. The development of a sensitive, specific roadside test for marijuana would would provide law enforcement with new tools to ensure the safety of Canada's roads and would establish ACS and Canada as an international leader in this emerging sector.