KY: Medical Marijuana Law Will Force K9 Retirements
K9s trained in marijuana cannot differentiate between medical and illegal variants, officials say.

Dogs trained to detect marijuana cannot distinguish between medical marijuana and illegal versions of the drug.
IMAGE: Pexels, Yash Lucid
Due to the recent implementation of the Kentucky's medical marijuana law , several K-9s are being retired, making the introduction of the Ft. Mitchell Police Department's newest K-9 timely and necessary, according to a report on WXIX-TV.
Gunny, the department's latest K-9, was purchased with money recovered from drug dealers by the Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney's Office. Gunny is one of three K-9s in the county trained not to smell marijuana, the report said.
“It was very important for us to make sure he wasn’t imprinted with marijuana,” Chief Robert Nader told the media outlet.
He explained in the report there is no way for narcotics dogs trained in marijuana to know the difference between medical or illegal marijuana.
Kenton County Commonwealth Attorney Rob Sanders predicted that 10 of the county’s 12 K-9s will be forced to retire because of the marijuana law, which goes into effect in 2025, according to the report.
He stated that it is uncertain whether police K9s can continue narcotics detection if they’ve been trained on marijuana. Sanders said this will require state law enforcement agencies to review the status of K-9 officers trained in marijuana over the next six months, WXIX-TV reported.
More Special Units

Constellis’ AMK9 to Donate K9 Officer to Currituck County Sheriff’s Office
AMK9 will donate a fully trained K9 officer to the Currituck County Sheriff’s Office K9 Unit. DAX, a 20-month-old Belgian Malinois, joined his new handler and has begun training at the Constellis Training Center.
Read More →
Ohio’s Statewide Drone First Responder Program to Take Flight
Over the next two years, the Ohio DFR Pilot Program will equip municipalities with advanced drone systems, deliver comprehensive training for first responders, and enable FAA-approved Beyond Visual Line of Sight operations.
Read More →
Louisiana Motor Sergeant Dies from Injuries Suffered in June “Intentional” Crash
A motor officer, Sgt. Caleb Eisworth was on his way to participate in a funeral escort when he was struck by another vehicle.
Read More →
Tennessee Officers Say Man Tried to Detonate IED During Arrest
Inside the bedroom officers found what they believed to be an IED. The officers evacuated the house and called for the Chattanooga Police Bomb Squad and ATF agents.
Read More →
Florida School Officer Dies After On-Duty Medical Emergency
Sergeant Greg Graff was “preparing school leaders for the upcoming year during a safety training program at Clearwater High School,” the school district said.
Read More →
Grenade is Missing from Explosion That Killed 3 LASD Deputies
ATF Special Agent in Charge Kenny Cooper said definitively that only one grenade detonated at the facility on July 18.
Read More →
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Names Deputies Lost in Friday Explosion
LASD said Detective Joshua Kelley-Eklund, Detective Victor Lemus, and Detective William Osborn who were all assigned to Special Enforcement Bureau’s Arson Explosives Detail were killed in the incident.
Read More →
Maryland State Police Helicopter Rescues Victim from Overturned Boat in Chesapeake Bay
The Maryland State Police Aviation Command Trooper 7 crew, the MSP helicopter based in California, Maryland, were monitoring the county dispatch radio, overheard the dispatch, and self-launched.
Read More →3 Los Angeles County Deputies Killed in Explosion Friday Morning
At press time the names of the deputies had not been released. Sheriff Robert Luna said one had served for 19 years, another for 22 years, and another for 33 years.
Read More →
Georgia Sheriff’s Deputy Fired After K-9 Dies in Hot Patrol Vehicle
The vehicle’s air conditioning failed because of a malfunctioning compressor and its heat alarm did not function, according to the sheriff’s office.
Read More →