NYPD Tells Its Cops The Smell Of Weed Alone Is No Longer Enough To Justify A Car Search
A memo sent to officers by the NYPD on Wednesday said cops can no longer use the smell of marijuana as a reason to search a vehicle now that New York has officially legalized weed.
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According to the Daily News, the memo, which went out to all of the police department’s commands, lists out the new law of the land, and how it affects cops’ day-to-day interactions with the public: “Effective immediately, the smell of marijuana alone no longer establishes probable cause of a crime to search a vehicle,” the memo states. “This change applies to both burnt and unburnt marijuana.”
Despite this, the news site notes that smoking marijuana while driving is still illegal under vehicle and traffic law.
The new law also affects how police officers can enforce “hand-to-hand” street sales of marijuana. For example, someone can’t be charged with sale of marijuana unless an officer sees money exchanging hands, according to the guidance, the news site notes.
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