Comparison of THC and Ethyl Alcohol Molecules (IMAGE)

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)

Comparison of THC and Ethyl Alcohol Molecules

Caption

One reason it is difficult to design a reliable marijuana breathalyzer is that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive compound in marijuana, is a large molecule with a complex structure. Ethyl alcohol is more easily measured with a breathalyzer. In these images, carbon atoms are dark gray, hydrogen atoms are light gray, and oxygen atoms are red. 3-D model based on computer rendering, not experimental data.

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Kelly Irvine/NIST

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