K9 named Karma poses with an 18 pound suitcase full of weed from the broke at the Florida airport

On Monday, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO) in Orlando, Fla., posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, a photo rejoicing over a large 18-pound bust of what appears to be brick grass that was found at Orlando International Airport.

“Karma Ruins Central Florida Marijuana Shipment,” Yahoo! news reports. Cannabis is not yet fully tolerated in Florida airports, especially in large quantities.

While Florida approved Amendment 2 allowing medicinal cannabis, airport officials went out of their way to clarify that cannabis is not permitted on the premises. The Greater Orlando Aviation Authority Board promptly issued a policy banning visitors from traveling with their prescription cannabis at the airport. The reason for this policy is to avoid potential conflicts with the board of the Federal Aviation Authority, which provides grants to Orlando International Airport.

The police proudly placed Karma in front of the suitcase. “OCSO K9 Karma would like to meet the owner of this suitcase found at baggage claim containing 18 pounds of marijuana. Thanks to K9 Karma and their skillful discovery, these drugs will never hit the streets of Orlando.”

OCSO K9 Karma would like to meet the owner of this suitcase found at baggage claim containing 18 pounds of marijuana. Thanks to K9 Karma and their skillful discovery, these drugs will never hit the streets of Orlando. pic.twitter.com/SZmy3HDIU8

— Orange County Sheriff’s Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 7, 2023

18 pounds of marijuana is below the 25 pound limit, which normally elevates a charge of possession to a charge of human trafficking under Florida Statute 893.1351(4). But at airports, federal law takes precedence over state law.

Commentators did not understand this. “Imagine alcohol is legal where you live, ruining way more lives than weed ever could, but you can’t relax with a joint and munchies to watch your favorite movie,” wrote one commenter. “How ridiculous.”

“This was a waste of money, resources and time,” wrote another commenter. “I know you all have to be transparent, but sounding proud of it sounds really bad.”

This comes at a time when police are routinely criticized for boasting about suspects posted on social media. In one post, police officers in Tenaha County, Texas, spread one-dollar bills on a table after arresting three year-olds in their 20s with a post intended to impress people. Commenters toasted details in the photo, such as an empty canister and empty bags scattered around the table.

Not everyone celebrates marijuana when dozens of states have legalized it in one form or another — even if it’s 18 pounds of the plant.

Drug sniffer dogs and weed

However, Karma’s days as a drug dog may be numbered. At least when it comes to frequent traffic checks on the road.

Cannabis legalization puts police dogs out of work. The Olmsted County Sheriff’s Office in Minnesota, for example, told USA Today last July that its last drug-sniffing dogs are being retired.

According to USA Today, a 2005 Supreme Court decision essentially means that if a dog spots drugs at a traffic stop, the officer has probable cause to search your car without a warrant. He adds that the smell of weed from a dog in its jurisdiction can often lead to the discovery of illegal firearms or other drugs. But that could quickly fail in court in states that have legalized forms of cannabis.

In 2015, the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg wrote that searching a vehicle with drug-sniffing dogs was a clear violation of the protective shield designed to protect Americans from improper seizures.

“We believe that a police check in excess of the time necessary to deal with the matter for which the check was made violates the constitutional protections against unreasonable seizures,” the ruling reads. “A seizure justified solely by a traffic violation observed by the police therefore becomes ‘unlawful if it exceeds the time reasonably necessary to carry out the mandate’ of issuing a ticket for the violation.”