Earlier this week, New York became the 15th state to legalize recreational marijuana for adults.
CNN reports a new memorandum says NYPD can’t search a vehicle based on the scent of weed alone. With the new policy, cops can only search a car if a driver appears to be under the influence of marijuana. There has to be probable cause to believe that a driver was smoking or vaping while operating a vehicle. The report also says police can’t search the trunk unless the officer has a separate probable cause to believe the trunk contains evidence of a crime.
The memo also says, NYPD “can’t charge an individual with the sale of marijuana by witnessing a hand to hand exchange of 3 ounces or less of marijuana to a person over 21 years old unless they see money being offered.” Officers aren’t allowed to “approach, stop or detain a parolee based on their use or possession of lawful amounts of marijuana unless the terms of their parole specifically prohibit it.”
Driving while smoking weed and the sale of it are still illegal. Take a look at Ebro In The Morning talking about the new legislation: