Police Can Search Cars For Raw Cannabis Smell, Illinois Supreme Court Says
The Illinois Supreme Court has decided that the smell of raw cannabis is enough for police to search a vehicle.
The ruling, which contrasts with an earlier decision that the smell of burnt cannabis is not enough for a search, has sparked legal and public debate over how cannabis laws are applied in the state, the Chicago Tribune reported.
Two Cases, Two Different Outcomes
The decision stems from a case involving Vincent Molina, a passenger in a car stopped for speeding on I-88 near the Illinois-Iowa border in December 2020.
See Also: Does Cannabis Affect Your Driving? University Of Colorado Researchers Find Out
A state trooper claimed to smell cannabis through the open window, prompting a search that uncovered several joints and cannabis stored in a sealed box. …