Two Ohio lawmakers need to ease a looming monetary burden on regulation enforcement companies of their state that must change marijuana-sniffing canine after voters accepted a plan final yr to legalize leisure marijuana use.
Almost 400 police canine in Ohio skilled within the detection of marijuana will have to be retired as a result of they can’t be reliably retrained. Meaning any alert they provide to the presence of medicine may very well be challenged in court docket as a result of they can’t unlearn the scent of hashish.
State Rep. Sean Brennan, a Democrat from Parma, referred to as that an “unintended consequence” of the choice by Ohio voters in November to legalize leisure use.
Brennan and Rep. Josh Williams, R-Sylvania, are the lead sponsors of a invoice that would supply every company with as much as $20,000 per canine to offset the price of buying, coaching and equipping narcotics canine that don’t alert to the scent of marijuana.
“I don’t assume that anyone that voted for the problem, both meant or knew that this was even going to be an issue for our police departments, and it’s an actual concern,” Brennan mentioned.
He famous that buying the canine and coaching them is a significant expense.
“The truth that we’re now going to wish 300 canines, like in a single day in Ohio, the demand for canine and for coaching goes to be at a premium,” he added.
Whitehall Police Officer Matthew Perez, a skilled canine handler who serves together with his canine associate Rico, mentioned the measure would vastly assist communities resembling his.
“These canine can vary (in value) from $7,500 to $11,000, and a few locations would possibly promote them extra,” Perez mentioned.
He inspired assist for the invoice.
“I feel the (grant cash) could be tremendous useful for some departments that will not have as a lot cash or revenue coming in, you already know, they usually’re needing a canine, or they’re wanting a canine they usually’re desirous to proceed that program,” he mentioned.
Whitehall Police Deputy Chief Dan Kelso mentioned the canine on workers reside with their handlers and the handlers will be capable to purchase the canine from the town for $1 once they’re retired.
Underneath the referendum accepted by voters, adults in Ohio can legally legally develop and possess hashish at house. Nevertheless, they can’t legally purchase it but for the reason that state legislature and state regulators are nonetheless debating precisely how the brand new guidelines can be phased in. A listening to on that plan was held Thursday, however it’s not clear when a closing resolution will come.
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Shipkowski reported from Toms River, New Jersey.
