While Maryland hasn’t gone as far as to legalize recreational marijuana, it’s taken another step in that direction by limiting the rights of police officers who catch the odor of weed.
In a 7-0 vote, the state’s Court of Appeals has ruled the odor of marijuana doesn’t constitute enough probable cause for a police officer to search a person. The ruling comes five years after Maryland decriminalized marijuana by making possession of up to 10 grams a minor offense, punishable by a $100 fine.
Oddly enough, the new ruling does not apply to vehicle searches. That means a police officer who smells pot is allowed to search a car, but not the people inside it.
Source: https://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2019/08/15/marylands-highest-court-rules-pot-smell-not-enough-to-search-person/
