Cannabix Technologies Inc. (CSE: BLO) (OTC: BLOZF), a developer of the Marijuana Breath Test (“MBT”) system for law enforcement and workplace applications, along with Omega Laboratories, announce significant progress in the development and validation of a portable breath-based THC collection and laboratory analysis method for more accurate assessment of recent marijuana use. As laws regarding marijuana shift across North America and beyond, the discussion around ensuring responsible use has moved from “if” to “how.” Yet amid regulatory changes and evolving public attitudes, a critical question remains unresolved: how do we know when someone is actually under the influence?
Current drug testing methods like oral fluid, urine, or hair are not designed to answer this. While they can confirm marijuana use days, weeks, or even months after consumption, they offer no clear picture of impairment in the moment. The only method currently available would be to utilize blood which would be highly invasive. This mismatch poses growing challenges for employers, law enforcement, and public safety policymakers. In a world where cannabis is legal but operating heavy machinery while high is not, the distinction between past use and present influence isn’t just important it’s essential.
The Science of Recency: A Complex Puzzle
Unlike alcohol, which metabolizes in predictable curves, is very volatile, and can be breath-tested with relative precision, tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in cannabis behaves differently. It's fat-soluble, meaning it can remain detectable in the body long after its intoxicating effects have worn off. This makes conventional drug tests ill-suited for scenarios where the timing of consumption matters.
“There’s a clear need for tools that don’t just detect marijuana,” says Bryan Loree, CFO and Director at Cannabix Technologies. “We need tools that can detect recent use ideally within a few hours.”
Cannabix has developed a breath-based collection device to be used with laboratory-based mass spectrometry analysis, which aims to address this challenge. By focusing on detecting delta-9 THC specifically within a time window that aligns with psychoactive effects, the company is contributing to a new approach in marijuana testing designed for more relevant assessment of recent use.
From Lab to Real World Device and Results: Engineering a Breath Detection Breakthrough
Solving the recency problem isn’t just a matter of building a new gadget; it requires novel science. The challenge lies in isolating THC in exhaled breath, where concentrations are extremely low measured in picograms (trillionths of a gram) and non-volatile.
This is where Cannabix's long-term investment in R&D sets it apart. The company has spent several years refining its Breath Collection Unit (BCU) and partnering with Omega Laboratories (in May 2024) to develop a laboratory test method for mass spectrometry analysis. Omega Laboratories is a major player in the drug testing services market.
Through this partnership, Cannabix and Omega have successfully:
- Developed a validation packet for delta-9 THC in breath using Cannabix hardware and Omega’s laboratory developed test method
- Established quantification protocols using Cannabix’s breath samples
- Published a study in March 2026 in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology publication, titled: "Simultaneous Analysis of Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC, CBD, and CBN in Breath Aerosols Collected Using Cannabix Technologies Breath Collection Unit." The study is available at doi.org/10.1093/jat/bkag016.
This opens the door to broader cannabinoid profiling, offering more nuance than traditional pass/fail drug tests and enabling better-informed decisions across industries.
Law Enforcement and Employers: A New Tool for a New Era
The real-world applications of a breath-based THC test are expansive. For law enforcement, it could provide objective, post-accident, time of stop evidence during impaired driving investigations, an area currently plagued by subjectivity and legal ambiguity. For employers, it represents a fairer approach to workplace safety, focusing on recent use rather than penalizing legal, off-duty use.
The urgency is rising. As noted in a 2025 New York Times article on cannabis and road safety, roadside cannabis impairment tests are fraught with legal challenges and inconsistent outcomes. A precise, validated breath test would offer a more defensible and socially acceptable solution.
Not Just a Device — A Shift in Paradigm
Cannabix Technologies isn’t alone in pursuing breath-based THC detection, but it’s one of the few with several years of runway and deep technical credibility. The team includes biomedical engineers, medical imaging specialists, and forensic science experts, among them Dr. Raj Attariwala, a dual board-certified radiologist, nuclear medicine physician, and Ph.D. in biomedical engineering. His role in applied physiology, shaping the company’s IP and validation strategy, signals that this is more than a tech startup it’s a science-first innovation venture.
“Breath testing for THC provides the shortest detection time window for recent marijuana use,” stated Rav Mlait, CEO of Cannabix Technologies. “California's Assembly Bill 2188, which took effect in January 2024, prohibits employers from discriminating against employees or job applicants based on non-psychoactive marijuana metabolites, which can linger for days or weeks after use.”
Unlike blood or urine tests, breath analysis offers non-invasive, near-instant results. That aligns with growing demand for portable breath collection tools in criminal justice, workplace compliance, and even healthcare. And with increasing scrutiny of cannabis policies in legalized jurisdictions, the need for breath-based testing, coupled with gold standard mass spectrometry analysis, may soon become a regulatory standard.
Looking Ahead: From Validation to Commercialization
With key validation work now completed, Cannabix is rapidly advancing toward commercial launch of the Marijuana Breath Test. The Company’s ongoing collaboration with Omega Laboratories continues to build strong momentum toward delivering a new era in drug testing — one that better balances evolving marijuana policies with public safety.
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