Michigan Supreme Court: Smell of marijuana no longer legal grounds for search of a vehicle. 

Police in Michigan are now prohibited from using the scent of marijuana as a basis for establishing probable cause that a crime is occurring.

A recent ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court determined that since marijuana is legal for adults to purchase in the state, law enforcement is not permitted to conduct searches based solely on the smell of the substance.

Does it work that way for alcohol too? It’s sold legally in Michigan. Nope.

They can’t say because we smell weed we are going to search your car. Because the whole town may reek.  Alas… there are a hundred other words to choose from to make the arrest.

So don’t think this is a win.

It’s just they have to say something else now. Like…. “I believe you’re impaired” and sitting in the driver’s seat of a motorized vehicle and in the police officer’s opinion of you being impaired is simple enough. That’s all.

Read the ruling linked below.

Have a good day….

Michigan Supreme Court Smell of marijuana no longer legal grounds for search 250403 (PDF)

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