Who else thinks that cops will ignore this court-ruling whenever they feel like?

[DetlefK]

http://www.alternet.org/drugs/massachusetts-high-court-cops-search-vehicles-pot-possession

Civil rights advocates and marijuana legalization supporters are welcoming a decision from the state (Massachusetts) Supreme Judicial Court that says police can't stop motorists solely because they suspect the vehicle's occupants are carrying marijuana. The decision came in Commonwealth v. Rodriguez.

...

Before trial, Rodriguez filed a motion to suppress the evidence from the search, arguing that since the state had decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana in 2008, the mere odor of marijuana coming from the car did not create sufficient probable cause to undertake the traffic stop and subsequent search.

[tblue37]

1. KnR for visibility. nt

[Warren DeMontague]

2. I spent enough time driving around the country knowing that just a steal your face sticker

Was "probable cause" to get pulled over, in a lot of places.

What will finally stop cops from busting people for marijuana- legalization, not decriminalization.

It is also worth noting that even in a legal setting driving under the influence is still illegal, and sparking up in your car - even if it's just your passengers- is sort of akin to them drinking an open beer in the car- which may be legal in some states, but not in most.

So I wonder- even as a dedicated proponent of legalization of cannabis- if the cop smelled pot because someone had it in the car, or someone was smoking it in the car.

There is a difference.