Nose ’telescopes’ to sniff out cannabis smell being used by police

Nose ’telescopes’ to sniff out cannabis smell being used by police

Mangalore Today News Network

Police are using ’nose telescopes’ to map the smell of cannabis across the city of Denver.

Colorado has legalised the drug, but a new law means they can charge people with an environmental offence if their smoking causes an unreasonable smell.

Unlawful stinkiness carries a fine of up to $2000 (about £1247).

 

Police have started using a ’Nasal Ranger’ - a type of olfactometer, which measures the ratio of smell to clean air - to map areas with an offensive smell of marijuana.

Fines can be imposed for anything beyond an 7:1 clean to smell ratio.

Retail sale of cannabis is set to become legal on 1st January 2014.

While most smell complaints are currently about home grown weed farms, police expect an increase in smokers being reported when the drug is more freely available.

Denver City Council president Mary Beth Susman told the Denver Post: "It’s hard to legislate odour.

"I wonder if people will get used to the smell and the dislike of it now may change over time."

Courtesy: Mirror News