K-9 Unit Forced to Retire Because of Shifting Cannabis Laws
A change in California’s cannabis laws is forcing a canine police office in California into early retirement.
Hank the labrador has been a member of the Lompoc Police Department for over seven years, but his home city in Lompoc, California is forcing him to retire in light of recent changes in the legal cannabis landscape. Namely, Proposition 64, which allows for recreational consumption within the state. The initiative, which was approved by voters last November, is scheduled to take effect at the beginning of next year.
“With Prop 64 we’ve seen some changes in California law as it applies to marijuana . . . one of the odors he’s trained to alert on is marijuana,” Lompoc Police Sgt. Kevin Martin said.
Because Hank is trained to detect trace amounts of narcotics and other drugs, like cannabis, his nose may now be a liability in searches where only cannabis is found. This could result in sentences being overturned or being outright thrown out of court.
“With Hank’s training being in marijuana, we felt we couldn’t use him the same way we could prior to the change in the law,” Martin said. “If the detectives need the dog to do a sniff of an item, a car, a garage to help with their probable cause to get a search warrant and they’re looking for one of the other odors like methamphetamine, cocaine or heroin . . . if your dog is only trained on that then it’s good probable cause to assist with a search warrant.”
Sgt. Martin fears that numerous departments across California will be forced to retire K-9 units well before their time due to prop. 64.
“They’re all facing this issue . . . and they’re going to have to make a determination on how they’re going to deal with it,” Martin said.
The department estimates that they will save approximately $7,000 a year with the retirement. Hank will live with his former detective partner.
