Colorimetric drug tests, widely used by law enforcement for their low cost and speed, are causing thousands of wrongful arrests annually due to alarmingly high false-positive rates, according to experts. These inexpensive pouches change color when certain compounds are detected, typically costing between $2 and $10 each. However, research suggests the error rate is far higher than manufacturers' claims of around 4%; studies point to rates between 15% and 38%, and even 79% to 91% in some correctional settings.

A great-grandmother's hospital room search, a toddler's ashes, and bird droppings all registering as drugs have spawned legal nightmares and forced her to refinance her home. The tests are so unreliable that manufacturers explicitly state results are merely presumptive and must be confirmed by a lab. Colorado has now enacted the nation's first law banning arrests based solely on these test results, a move experts say could set a precedent.

The stark contrast in cost highlights the issue: confirming results via lab analysis can cost $24,000 to $80,000 per test, making colorimetric tests the default despite their flaws. This new law directly addresses the risk of lives being derailed by inaccurate tests.