A Rutgers University law professor, William J. McNichol, asserts that current roadside tests for marijuana impairment are "inadequate" and "pseudoscientific." He argues that unlike alcohol, there's no clear correlation between cannabinoid levels in bodily fluids and behavioral impairment, and that methods like Drug Recognition Experts (DREs) are not scientifically rigorous. McNichol advocates for the substance-use science community to lead in developing scientifically valid and objective methods for detecting marijuana impairment. Other reports and studies also support these findings, indicating that blood THC levels do not reliably correlate with driving impairment and that current federal drug testing policies contribute to driver shortages in the transportation industry.

Law Professor Calls Current Roadside Marijuana Impairment Tests Pseudoscience

Jul 18, 2025

Source:

Ben Adlin

Marijuana Moment

Ever feel like those roadside sobriety tests are a bit of a guessing game? You are not alone. A Rutgers law professor is calling out the current methods used by police as pseudoscientific and totally inadequate. Whether it is blood THC limits or Drug Recognition Experts checking your muscle tone, the science just does not back it up. Unlike alcohol, having THC in your system does not automatically mean you are a danger behind the wheel. In fact, studies show a near-50% error rate in these police-led protocols, which is basically a coin flip for your freedom.

The push here is to get real scientists—not just cops—to create objective tests that actually prove you are too high to drive. This is a game-changer for the community because it protects daily users from being unfairly targeted just because they have metabolites in their system. Moving toward evidence-based safety standards ensures that tokers can enjoy their lifestyle without living in fear of a bogus roadside arrest.

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