In anticipation of the possible legalization of marijuana, Vermont police dogs are no longer trained to recognize the drug's smell.
This year is the first that the Vermont Police Academy K-9 class had marijuana excluded from their training.
The Times Argus reports that officials first discussed the move last year.
The Vermont Police Academy trains all state and local K-9s.
Robert Ryan, the state's head K-9 training coordinator, says the decision follows the assumption that Vermont will legalize marijuana. Police can easily train the dogs to smell it later if it isn't ultimately decriminalized.
Montpelier Police Chief Anthony Facos says legalizing marijuana would have financial ramifications, with every law enforcement agency in the state needing new dogs that weren't trained to detect marijuana.
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