Smell Of Cannabis Is Not Enough For Warrantless Car Searches, Illinois Supreme Court Rules
The Illinois Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the smell of burnt cannabis alone does not give police officers the right to conduct a warrantless search of a vehicle. Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. delivered the unanimous opinion, citing changes in Illinois’ cannabis laws.
“We hold that the odor of burnt cannabis alone is insufficient to provide probable cause for police officers to perform a warrantless search of a vehicle,” Justice Neville wrote, according to CBS News. “We also hold that the totality of the facts and circumstances known to Officer Combs did not provide probable cause to search Redmond’s vehicle.”
How Ryan Redmond’s Traffic Stop Led To A Cannabis Possession Charge
The case involved Ryan Redmond, who was pulled over by Illinois State Police Officer Hayden Combs in 2020. When Redmond rolled …