Colorado K9s Being Trained to Ignore Marijuana

Being a drug-sniffing police dog in Colorado is getting tougher - as K9 puppies in Rifle are being trained to detect drugs, but to ignore the smell of marijuana.

According to the Vail Daily, the Rifle Police Department has two new K9 puppies which are being trained to sniff out drugs - but not marijuana.

It was bound to happen once recreational marijuana was legalized in Colorado. The rules had to change for dogs that were trained to sniff out all types of illegal drugs including pot.

It certainly is yet another indication of how times have changed. Because marijuana is legal in Colorado, the legal process gets a little complicated when it comes to dogs sniffing for drugs, and that's why police dogs need to know the difference.

The things dogs can be trained to do -- or not do - is pretty amazing. But, can you teach an old dog new tricks -- like the trick of not sniffing out a stash of marijuana?

As for the new pups in Rifle, if everything goes according to plan, they will be ready to start sniffing on the job in about a year. On a side note, it's pretty cool that the new pups in Rifle come thanks to the fundraising efforts of a 12-year-old boy from Newcastle.

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