Why this study is so important
In Switzerland – as in many other countries – there is a legal limit for THC in the blood. If this limit is exceeded, a person is considered unfit to drive. The problem is that this limit only provides very limited information about the actual impairment.
THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis, does not have a linear or predictable like alcohol. Nevertheless, it is often treated as if the two can be treated the same. This scientific dilemma leads to uncertainty, unfair situations, and legal problems.
The new driving study is intended to finally help actual driving behavior under the influence of cannabis obtain
The core problem: THC is not alcohol
The crucial difference between alcohol and cannabis lies in the way the substances are processed in the body.
alcohol
- water soluble
- Distributes evenly throughout the body water
- It is broken down relatively constantly via the liver
- Blood alcohol levels decrease predictably over time
➡️ Blood alcohol levels correlate relatively well with impairment.
THC
- fat-soluble
- It accumulates in fatty tissue, organs, and the brain.
- is slowly released back into the bloodstream
- It can days after consumption be detected in the blood
- Breakdown products can even in urine for weeks. be detected
This means that
a person can sober and fit to drive – and still have a THC blood level above the legal limit.
The measured value often reveals more about past consumption than about current unfitness to drive . This is precisely where the scientific and legal imbalance lies.
Why this affects everyone – not just Recreational Consumption
This issue is not only relevant for people who consume cannabis recreationally. It also affects many patients who use cannabis as part of a therapy. They, in particular, depend on clear, fair, and scientifically sound regulations.
Without reliable measurement methods, the legal situation remains uncertain. A blood test result alone is insufficient to determine genuine unfitness to drive. What is lacking are effect-based assessments – that is, systems that demonstrate whether someone actually impaired.
A look into the future: Technology instead of rigid limits
In the long term, solutions are needed that function similarly to a breathalyzer test – but adapted for cannabis. That is, systems or testing procedures that indicate:
👉 Is a person at the moment of the check or not?
This is precisely why basic research like this study is needed. It can help us understand which driving parameters actually change under the influence of THC and which do not. Switzerland has the opportunity here to take a pioneering role and make important international scientific contributions.
Help make regulations fairer now
To ensure that future laws are based on real data and not assumptions, we need people willing to participate in this research. Every single participant helps to make the issue more nuanced, fairer, and safer.
Those who have the opportunity and meet the requirements can make an important contribution to road safety and a scientifically sound drug policy with this study.
Find out more and get in touch:
https://im.ethz.ch/revelio.html
