The question. Many cases hold that the smell of marijuana provides probable cause to search a vehicle. See, e.g., State v. Greenwood, 301 N.C. 705, 708 (1981); State v. Smith, 192 N.C. App. 690 (2008) (“When an officer detects the odor of marijuana emanating from a vehicle, probable cause exists for a warrantless search of the vehicle for marijuana.”). I have been asked many times whether that principle extends to individuals. In other words, if an officer detects the odor of marijuana emanating from a person, may the officer search the person? The answer. Generally, the answer under North Carolina law is yes. See State v. Yates, 162 N.C. App. 118 (2004) (smell of marijuana provided probable cause to search suspect, and potential destruction of evidence provided exigency supporting warrantless search); State v. Burch, 2006 WL 2671337 (N.C. Ct. App. Sept. 19, 2006) (unpublished) (officer who smelled odor of marijuana emanating from suspect had probable cause and exigent circumstances supporting a warrantless search). Cf. State v. Rivens, 198 N.C. App. 130 (2009) (officer “noticed a bulge in defendant's shirt, the smell of marijuana on defendant, and the nervous twitch of defendant's mouth,” and this “was sufficient to create a reasonable and articulable suspicion of criminal activity” and to support a frisk); In re S.W., 171 N.C. App. 335 (2005) (SRO working with school officials had “reasonable grounds” to search a juvenile when the officer smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the student). Split of authority in other jurisdictions. As [...]
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