County officials are doing the right thing looking for ways to determine if drivers are impaired by marijuana.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has noted marijuana is the illicit drug most frequently found in the blood of drivers who have been involved in vehicle crashes, including fatalities. And Warren County’s border with New York, which has already legalized marijuana use, and ongoing discussions in Pennsylvania to legalize recreational adult use of marijuana are reasons to be ahead of the curve.

But the Gaize device the county is about to begin using as part of a pilot project as well as a pilot project for the Cannabix breathalyzer aren’t without potential issues. Both are just now entering the marketplace after years of research and development. It’s more than a bit ironic that the makers of the Gaize VR goggles rapid screening device spend time on their website telling readers why devices like the Cannabix breathalyzer don’t work since Warren County is using both devices. The Gaize website once again shines a light on the age-old dilemma for police and prosecutors — there still isn’t a tried and true method to determine impairment.

Perhaps both devices Warren County is using will work. Perhaps neither will work. In our view, this is an area where the state of Pennsylvania could be of assistance by helping its local police departments with this sort of testing. Compiling data from throughout the state may help local departments more quickly arrive at a testing system that protects the public.