Pointing to laws allowing the use of medical marijuana and hemp, a state appeals court Wednesday reversed course and said police officers can’t search vehicles only based on smelling cannabis.

The 2nd District Court of Appeal’s main opinion said that for “generations, cannabis was illegal in all forms — thereby rendering its distinct odor immediately indicative of criminal activity.” But the opinion said legislative changes have “fundamentally changed its definition and regulation” and made cannabis legal to possess in multiple forms.

Citing the U.S. Constitution’s Fourth Amendment protections against unreasonable searches and seizures, the appeals court backed away from what it described as a “plain smell doctrine” related to cannabis.

“In light of significant legislative amendments to

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