If an officer detects the smell of marijuana during a traffic stop, what do they have?

When an officer detects the smell of marijuana during a traffic stop, it provides them with probable cause to search the vehicle. The smell of marijuana is recognized as an indicator of illegal substance possession, which satisfies the legal threshold for probable cause. Probable cause is established when there are reasonable grounds for believing that a crime has been committed, which, in this case, is the unlawful possession of marijuana.

The presence of a strong and distinctive odor associated with marijuana typically allows the officer to take further investigative action, including conducting a search of the vehicle. This is grounded in the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, which supports the notion that an officer can search for evidence related to a violation of law when they have probable cause.

In this context, the other options do not align with the legal standard. For instance, stating there is no probable cause to search underestimates the significance of the odor as an indicator of potential criminal activity. Similarly, mentioning only reasonable suspicion to investigate would suggest a lower threshold than what is actually provided by the smell of marijuana. Grounds for a roadside test only would not encompass the comprehensive investigative authority that arises from establishing probable cause through the detected odor. Thus, the correct perspective affirms that the smell of marijuana equips the officer