Professor in Massachusetts Creates Stoned Driving App

Massachusetts just voted to legalize recreational cannabis, and some in the state are wary that “stoned driving” will be a problem among recreational users. To answer to this issue, a Massachusetts professor has allegedly created an app that can test for driving under the influence of cannabis.

According to the Boston Globe, Michael Milburn, who teaches psychology at the University of Massachusetts, Boston, thinks that his app is good enough to be used by law enforcement. The app, which he created and self-funded, is called DRUID, which stands for “driving under the influence of drugs.”

The app uses a series of tests on a tablet to test a driver’s level of impairment. It includes tests like standing on one leg, stopping a clock at a certain time and tracing the trajectory of a circle as it changes direction and moves across the screen. Milburn has not yet published any peer-reviewed studies based on the app, but he claims to have run many tests on those who have ingested cannabis, and he measured the results as they metabolized.

“I could see marijuana legalization was coming eventually. Prior to now, people had no way to really know if they were impaired or not. One of my hopes in this is to create a responsible community of drug users,” Milburn told Boston Globe.

The app currently costs 99 cents, and will be available for Apple and Android products. According to Milburn, the app will be helpful in impeding those who feel they are sober enough to drive after smoking. In addition to being available to law enforcement, people can acquire the app themselves and self-test before they get behind the wheel.

However, people are already decrying his idea, claiming that chemical testing will be a fairer option to spot impaired drivers. The Globe spoke to several individuals who work with drug testing and feel that some kind of THC mouth swab test will be approved before an app like this. While Milburn’s idea may have come from a good place, an app that is not based on hard data might wind up getting innocent people in trouble.