Can A K-9 Drug Sniffer Land You In Jail For Cannabis? Florida Court Sets New Limits
In what could be a landmark ruling, a Florida appeals court has determined that a drug-sniffing dog’s alert alone does not justify a police search of a vehicle, particularly in the era of legalized medical marijuana.
Why? The court ruled that since a dog cannot distinguish between medical and illegal marijuana, its alert does not provide sufficient probable cause.
What Happened: The case stemmed from a 2020 traffic stop where a police officer called for a drug-sniffing dog after stopping a Lyft car for speeding and faulty lights, reported News4Jax. Upon arrival, the dog alerted authorities to the presence of drugs, leading to a search that uncovered marijuana, crack cocaine, ecstasy and methamphetamine, leading to …