FI FTH DI VI SI ON

M CFA DDEN, C. J.

, R I CKM A N, P. J.

, and SENI OR A PPELLA TE JUDGE PHI PPS

N O T IC E : M otions for r e c ons i de r a tion m us t be

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C O U R T. A LL FILIN G S M U ST B E S U B M I TTE D WITH IN

TH E TIM E S S E T B Y

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June 25, 2021



# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 65 1 . GOW EN v . THE STATE.

R I C K M A N , Pres i d i n g J u d g e.

Ho ward Go wen b ri n gs th i s i n t erl o cu t o ry ap peal fro m an o rd er o f t h e Cl a rk e

Co u n t y Su p eri or Co u rt den y i n g Go wen ’ s m ot i o n t o s u p p res s co n t rab an d d i s co v ered

d u ri n g a w arran tl es s search o f hi s v eh i cl e. G o wen co n t en ds t h at th e t ri al co u rt erred

i n d en y in g h i s m o ti o n b ecau s e p o l i ce lack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e fo r t h e search

. He fu rt h er

as s ert s th at p o li ce l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau se t o sei ze t h e al l eg ed crac k c o cai ne l o cat ed

d u ri n g t h e s earch

, an d t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n w h e n i t f a i l ed to

ad d res s t h i s arg u m en t i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g t h e m o t i o n

. Fo r reas o n s ex p l ai n ed m o re

fu l l y b el o w, we fi n d n o erro r an d affi rm

.

I n rev i ewi n g a t ri al co u rt ’ s d eci s i o n on a m o t i o n t o s u pp res s

, t hi s Co u r t

c o n s t ru es t h e ev i den ce i n t he l i g h t m o st fav o rab le t o th e t ri al co urt ’ s ju d g m e n t

,accep t s t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s fi n d i n g s o n d is p u t ed i ss u es o f fact i f t h ere i s an y ev i d en ce to

s u p p ort t hem

, an d d efers t o t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s cred i b i li t y d et erm i n at i o ns

. See Ed wa r d s

v. St a t e

, 3 5 7 Ga. Ap p

. 3 9 6

, 3 9 6 -3 9 7 (8 5 0 SE2 d 8 3 7 ) (2 0 2 0). Vi ewed i n t he l i g h t m o s t

fav o rab l e t o t h e o rd er at i s su e, t h e reco rd s h o ws th at w h i le o n p at ro l i n do wn t o wn

At h en s

, O f

fi cer Jack s o n Fi el d s o f t h e At h en s -Cl ark Co u n t y Po l i ce Dep art m en t

o b s erv ed a m in i v an d ri v in g t h ro u g h a l o cal ap art m en t co m p l ex an d ran a ch eck o f t h e

v eh icl e’ s l i cen s e pl at e. T h e ch eck s h o wed t h at a U.S. M ars h al ’ s w arran t h ad b een

i s su ed fo r Go wen

, t h e reg is t ered o wn er o f t h e v an

. Becau se h e was n ot fam i l i ar wi th

t h i s t y p e o f warran t

, Fi el d s d id n o t co n du ct a t raffi c s t o p o f t h e v a n

, b u t i n s t ead

o b t ai n ed fu rt h er i n fo rm at i o n an d d et erm i n ed t h at t h e warran t w as v al i d

. A s h o rt t i m e

l at er, Fi el d s s aw t h e v an p ark ed i n a p ub l i c p ark in g l o t an d h e a l s o s a w Go wen

m o vi n g a w a y fro m t h e v eh icl e, t o ward s t he en tran ce of a wal k in g trai l

. Fi el d s

ap p ro ach ed Go wen an d as k ed t o s p eak wi t h hi m ; th e o ffi cer an d h i s p art n er t h en

d et ai ned Go w en un t i l t h ey co u l d co n fi rm th e d et ai l s o f t h e warran t

. As t h ey were

wai t i n g t o l e a rn m o re ab o u t t h e warran t

, Go w en as k ed p o l i ce i f he co u l d cal l h i s

s i st er, wh o was an at t orn ey

. Th e o f f i cers ag reed t o t h e req u es t, an d Go wen g av e

Fi el d s t h e k ey s to h i s v an an d as k ed t h e o ffi cer t o ret ri ev e Go w en ’ s cel l p ho n e fro m

2t h e cen t er co n s o l e. Acco rd i n g t o Fi el d s

, wh en h e o p en ed t h e van

, h e d et ect ed t h e o d o r

o f b u rn t m ari

ju an a.

At ab o u t t h e t i m e Go wen s p o ke w i t h hi s s is ter, p o l i ce l earn ed t h at t h e fed eral

warran t was fo r am

ph et am i n es

, h ad b een i s s u ed a m o n t h earl i er, an d was t h e p ro d u ct

o f an i n v es t i gat i o n b y a l o cal d ru g t as k fo rce. Po l i c e th en arres t ed Go wen p u rs u an t

t o t h e warran t

. Fo l l o wi n g t h e arres t

, p o l i c e ex ecu t ed a s earch o f t h e van

, b el i ev i n g

t h at t h e o d o r of m ari

ju an a an d t h e fact t hat t h e fed eral warran t was fo r am p h et am i n es

p r o v i d e d p r o b ab le cau s e fo r t h e s earch

. 1 Du ri n g t h e s earch

, o ffi cers fo u n d a s m al l

wh i te, y el l o w i s h ro ck t h at ap p eared t o Fi el d s t o b e crack c o c a i n e

, s o m e “ l o o s e

m ari ju an a s h ak es ” i n si d e a b l ack b o x , an d s o m e “ s m o k in g d ev i ces .”

Go wen was s u b s eq uen t l y ch arg ed w i t h a si ng l e co u n t o f p o s s es s io n o f co cai ne.

Befo re t ri al

, Go wen fi led a m o t i o n t o s u p pres s t h e it em s d i s c o v ered i n h i s v eh i cl e,

a rg u i n g t h at p o l i ce l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s earch t h e v an

. In s u p p o rt o f t hi s

arg u m en t

, Go wen rel i ed o n t h e Geo rg i a Hem p Farm i n g Act

, O CGA § 2 -2 3 -1

, et s eq

.

1 Fi e l d s e x p l ai n ed t h at al t h o u gh t he warran t d i d n ot sp eci fy wh et h er Go wen

was b e i n g ch arg ed wi t h p os s es s i on or d is t ri b u t i o n o f am p h et am i n es

, i n h i s

ex p eri en ce, a fed eral warran t fo r a d ru g o ffen s e u s u al l y rel at ed t o di s t ri b u t i o n o f

d ru g s.

3(“ GHFA” o r “ t h e Act ”), wh i ch wen t i n t o effect o n M ay 1 0

, 2 0 1 9

. 2 Th i s s t at u t e

l eg al ized t h e l i cen s ed cu l t i v at i on o f h em p wi th a s p eci fi cal ly

d efi n ed l ev el o f THC,

t h e m an u fact u re o f p ro d u ct s fro m t h at h em p

, an d t h e p o s s es si o n o f t h o s e p ro d u ct s

.

OCGA § 2 -2 3 -5 (o u t l i n i n g l i cen s i n g req u irem en ts fo r t h e cu l ti v at i o n o f hem p an d t h e

ap p li cat io n p ro ces s fo r ob t ai n i n g a l i cen s e); O CGA § 2 -2 3-6 (o u t l i n i n g t h e p erm i t t i n g

req u i rem en t s fo r t h e p ro ces s i ng o f h em p p l an t s i n t o co m

m e r c i al p ro d u ct s an d t h e

ap p li cat io n pro c e s s fo r o bt ai n i n g a p erm i t ). Go w en co n t en d ed t h at b ecau s e l eg al

h em p an d i l l eg al m ari

ju an a h av e a s i m i l ar s m el l

, t h e o d or o f m ari ju an a can n o t p ro v i d e

p ro b ab l e cau se fo r t h e search o f a v eh i cl e b ecau s e p ol i ce h av e n o way of kn o wi ng i f

t h e o d o r i s fro m m ari

ju an a ( a n i ll eg al s u b s t an ce) o r h em p (a l eg al s u bs t an ce.) He

fu rt her co n t en d ed t h at t h e l eav es p o l i ce lo cat ed i n h i s v an m i g h t h av e b een h em p an d

m i g h t h av e b een t h e s o u rce o f t h e s m el l Fi el ds d et ect ed

.

At t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n t o s up p res s, Fi el d s t es t i fi ed t h at h e had recei v ed

t rai n in g o n d ru g i d en t i fi cat i o n an d h e was fam i l i ar wi t h m ari ju an a an d t he o d o r o f t h e

d r u g i n b o t h i t s raw an d b u rn t fo rm s

. He ack n o w l ed g ed o n cro s s -ex am i n at i o n t h a t

h em p was n o w leg al i n Geo rg i a an d t h at h em p i s s i m i l ar i n ap p earan ce an d s m el l to

m ari ju an a. Fi el d s fu rt h er t es t i fi ed t h at h e h ad recei v ed n o t rai n i n g o n h em p ’ s o d o r an d

2 Go wen ’ s arres t an d t h e s earch o f h i s v eh i cl e o ccu rred i n J u l y 2 0 1 9

.

4h e d i d n o t k n o w wh et her b u rn t h em p wo u ld s m el l l i k e b u rn t m ari ju an a. Ad d it i o n al l y

,

Go wen ’ s s i s ter t es t i fi ed t h at i t was p o ss i b l e h e r b r o t h er was us i n g h em p o r h em p

p ro d uct s at t h e t im e p o l i ce search ed h i s v an

, ex p l ai n i n g t h at s h o rt l y b efo re h i s arres t

,

s h e had g o n e wi t h G o wen t o a s t o re w h ere t h o s e it em s were s o ld

. W h i l e at t h e s t o re,

s h e saw an d s m el l ed h em p an d, i n h er op i n i o n

, t h e h em p w a s a l m o s t i d en t i cal in

ap p earan ce an d o d o r t o m ari ju an a.

Fo l l owi n g t h e h eari n g o n t h e m o t i o n t o s u p pres s

, t h e t ri al co u rt den i ed t h e

s am e. In s o d o i n g, t h e co u rt reject ed t h e i d ea t h at t h e GHFA m ean t th at a p o l i ce

o ffi cer m u s t b e ab l e t o d i s t i n g u i s h t h e o d o r o f m ari ju an a fro m t h at of h em

p b efo re

rel y i n g o n t h e s m el l o f m ari ju an a t o ju s t ify t h e s e a r c h of a veh i cl e. Th e co u rt t h en

co n cl u d ed t h at t ak en t o g et h er, “ t h e o d o r o f b u rn t m ari ju an a

. . . [an d ] t he s u b

ject

m at t er o f th e p en d i n g warran t ” p ro v i d ed p o l ice wi t h p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s earch

Go wen ’ s v an

.

At Go w en ’ s req u es t

, th e t ri al co u rt cert i fi ed i ts ord er fo r i m m ed i at e rev i ew. W e

g ran t ed Go wen ’ s ap p l i cat i o n fo r an i n t erl ocu t o ry ap p eal

, an d th is ap p eal fo l l o wed

.

1

. Go wen d o es no t d i s p u t e t h a t u n d er o u r preced en t

, t h e o do r o f m ari ju an a

em an at i n g fro m a v eh i cl e pro vi d es p o l i ce w i t h p ro bab l e cau s e to s earch t h at v eh i cl e.

See Jo nes v. S t at e

, 3 19 Ga. Ap p

. 6 7 8

, 6 7 9 (7 3 8 SE2 d 1 3 0 ) (2 0 13 ) (“ Th e fact t h at t h e

5o ffi cer d et ect ed t h e o d o r of m ari ju an a em i t t i n g fro m [t h e d efen dan t ’ s ] car p ro v i d ed

p ro b ab l e cau s e t o b el i ev e t h at t h e car co n t ai n ed d ru g co nt rab an d

, wh ich au t h o ri zed

t h e s earch o f t h e car.”); St a t e v. Fo lk

, 2 38 Ga. Ap p

. 2 0 6

, 2 0 8 (5 2 1 SE2 d 1 94 ) (1 9 9 9 )

(“ [A] t rai n ed p ol i ce o ffi cer’ s p ercep t i o n o f t h e o d o r o f b u rn i n g m ari ju an a, p ro v i d ed

h i s ab i l i t y t o i d en t ify t h at o d or is p l aced i n t o ev i d en ce, co n s ti t u t es s u ffi ci en t p ro b ab l e

cau s e t o su p po rt t h e warran t l es s s earch o f a v eh i cl e.”). See al s o Do u g l a s v. S t a t e

, 3 0 3

Ga. 1 78

, 1 8 2 (2 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d 3 3 7 ) ( 2 0 1 8 )

. He co n t en d s

, h o wev er, t h at t h e GHFA

req u i res th at we o v ert u rn or m o d i fy th i s p reced en t

. Sp eci fi cal l y

, Go wen arg u es t h at

b e cau s e h em

p i s n o w l eg al i n G eo rg i a, an d i n l i g h t o f t he t es ti m o ny th at h em p a n d

m ari ju an a are s i m i l ar i n sm el l an d ap pearan ce, w e s h ou l d fi n d t h at an o ffi cer’ s

d et ect i o n o f an o d o r i n d icat i n g t h e p res en ce o f m ari ju an a can n o t p ro v i d e p ro b ab l e

cau s e fo r t h e warran t l es s s earch o f a veh i cl e. To p rev ai l o n t hi s arg u m en t

, h o wev er,

Go wen wo ul d n eed to sh o w t h at t h e GHFA perm i t s th e ret ai l sal e o f raw h em p --- i

. e.,

h em p i n a fo rm t h at res em

b l es m ari ju an a. Gi v en t h e pl ai n l an g u ag e o f t h e Act

, Go wen

can n ot m ak e t hi s s h o wi n g

.

Th e GHFA defi n es “ h em p ” as “ t h e C a n n a b i s s at iv a L

. pl an t an d an y p art o f

s u ch p l an t

, i n cl u d i n g t h e seed s t h ereo f an d al l d eri v at i v es

, ex t ract s, can n ab i n o id s

,

i s om ers

, aci d s

, s al t s

, an d s al t s o f i s o m ers

, wh et her gro wi n g o r no t

, wi t h th e fed eral l y

6d efi n ed THC l ev el fo r h em p[ 3 ] o r a l ower lev el

. ” OCGA § 2 -2 3 -3 (5 ). An d i t d efi n es

“ h e m p p r o d uct s ,” i n rel ev an t p art

, as “ al l p ro d u ct s wi t h t h e fed eral l y d efi n ed T HC

l ev el fo r h em

p d eri v ed fro m

, o r m ad e b y

, p ro ces s i n g h em p p l an t s o r p l an t part s t h at

are p rep ared i n a fo rm av ai lab l e fo r l eg al co m m erci al sal e

. . . .” OCGA § 2 -2 3 -3 (6 ).

Th e Act al s o al l o ws en t i t i es o r i n d i v i du al s wh o h av e b een l i cen s ed an d / o r p erm i t t ed

b y t h e Geo rg i a D e p a rt m en t o f Ag ri cu l t u re t o g ro w hem p an d p ro ces s i t i nt o h em p

p ro d uct s

, wh i ch m ay be s o l d t o co n s u m ers

. OCGA § 2 -2 3 -5 ; O CGA § 2 -2 3 -6 ; OCGA

§ 2 -2 3-3 (1 0 ) (A). As u s ed i n th e Act

, h o wev er, t h e term s “ p ro ces s ” an d “ p ro ces s i n g ”

d o n o t in cl u de “ m erel y pl aci n g raw o r d ri ed m at eri al i n t o a n o t h er co n t ai n er o r

p ack ag i ng raw o r d ri ed m at eri al fo r res al e[.] ” OCGA § 2 -2 3

- 3 (1 0 ) (B) (i ). In d eed

,

t h e GHFA m ak es i t u nl awfu l fo r “ [a] n y p ers o n t o o ffer fo r s al e at ret ai l t h e

u n p ro ces s ed fl o wer o r l ea v e s o f t h e h em p p lan t [.] ” OCGA § 2 -2 3 -4 (a) (7 ).

Acco rd in g ly

, t h e A ct d o es n ot al l ow th e p o s s es s i o n of raw h e m p --- i.e., h em

p t h at

h as n o t y et b een p ro ces s ed i n t o a d i fferen t p ro du ct

--- b y an y o n e o t her t h an a l i cen s ee

o r p erm i t ee o f t h e Geo rg i a Dep art m en t o f Ag ri cu l tu re. Th e GHFA, t h erefo re, d o es n ot

au t h o ri ze m ak i n g h em

p av ai lab l e t o i n d i v i d u a l c o n s u m ers i n a fo rm t h at res em b l es

3 “ ‘ Fed eral l y d efi n ed T HC l ev el fo r h em p ’ m ean s a d el t a-9 -THC co n cen t rat i o n

o f n o t m o re t h an 0 .3 p ercen t o n a d ry wei g h t b as i s, o r as d efi n ed i n 7 U.S.C. Sect i o n

1 6 3 9 o , wh ich ev er i s g reat er.” OCGA § 2 -2 3 -3 (3 ).

7raw m ari

ju an a. An d t he reco rd co n t ai n s n o ev i d en ce s h o wi n g t h at al th o u g h t he GHFA

p ro h ib i t s t h e co m

m erci al s al e o f raw h em

p

, t h ere n ev ert h el es s ex i st s a p ro ces s ed

h em p pro d u ct t h at i s des ig ned t o b e b u rn ed o r s m o k ed

. In s t ead

, i n s up p ort o f h i s

m o ti o n

, Go wen rel ied s o l el y o n t h e fact t h at th e Act l eg al i zed t h e cu l t i v at i o n o f h em p

as an ag ri cu lt u ral p ro d u ct

, an d arg ued t h e p o s s ib i l i t y t h at t h e “ s h ak e l eav es ” fo u n d

i n h i s v an were h em

p

.

In l i g h t o f t h e fo reg o i n g

, we ag ree wi t h t h e t ri al co u r t t h a t t h e s m el l o f b u rn t

m ari ju an a i n Go wen ’ s v an p ro v i d ed p o l i ce wi t h p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s earch t h at v eh i cl e.

See Jo n es , 3 1 9 Ga. Ap p

. at 6 7 9

.

2

. In h i s am en d ed m o ti on t o s u p p res s, Go wen arg u ed t h at t h e t ri al co u rt s h o u ld

s u p p res s t h e al l eg ed co cai n e s ei zed fro m h is v an b ecau se, at t h e t i m e p o l i ce s aw t h e

i t em

, i t was n o t “ read il y ” or “ i m m ed i at el y ” ap p aren t th at t h e i t em w as an i l l eg al

s u b s t an ce. Th e tri al co u rt di d n o t ad d r e s s t h i s arg u m en t i n i t s o rd er d en y i n g t h e

m o ti o n t o s u p p res s

, an d G o wen n o w co n t en d s t h at t h e t ri al co u rt ab u sed i t s d i s cret i o n

b y fai l i ng t o m ak e an y fact u al fi n di n g s as t o wh et h er i t was read i ly ap p aren t t h at t h e

s ei zed i t em

was co n trab an d . Th i s arg u m en t i s wi t h o u t m eri t

.

W h ere a t ri al co urt m ak es n o ex p li ci t fact u al fi n di n g s i n v o l v i n g an i s s u e rai s ed

i n a m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

, “ we p r e s u m e t h at t h e tri al co u rt im pl i ci t l y m ad e al l t h e

8fi nd i ng s i n s u p p o rt o f it s ru l in g t h at t h e reco rd w o u ld al l o w

. ” S t a te v. W a l den

,

_ _ _

Ga.

_ _ _ (Cas e No

. S2 1 A0 2 10

, d eci d ed M ay 3

, 20 2 1). Th u s

, t h e q u es t i o n b efo re u s

i s wh et her t h e reco rd s h o ws t h at t h e s ei zu re o f t h e al l eg ed co cai n e w as l awfu l

. W e

fi nd t h at t h e reco rd s u pp o rt s s uch a co ncl u s i o n

.

A p o l i ce offi cer wh o

, d u ri n g t h e co u rs e o f a l awfu l s earch

, d i sco v ers wh at h e

s u s p ect s i s co n t rab an d i s au t h o ri zed t o s ei ze t h e it em

. OCGA § 1 7 -5 -1 (b ). See al s o

Gl en n v. S t a t e

, 2 8 5 Ga. Ap p

. 8 7 2

, 8 7 4 (6 4 8 S E2 d 1 7 7 ) (2 0 0 7 ) (Ci t at i o n an d

p u n ct u at i o n o m i t t ed

. ) (“ [I] t i s wel l -s et t led t h at o b j ect s fal l i n g in t he pl ai n v i ew o f an

o ffi cer wh o h as a r i g ht t o b e i n t h e p os i t i o n t o h av e t hat v i ew are s ub ject t o s ei zu re

an d m ay b e in tro du ced i n ev i d en ce.”) Des p it e Go wen ’ s as s ert i o n s t o t h e co n t r ary

,

h o wev er, “ [t ] h ere i s n o req u i rem en t t h at t h e offi cer k n o w wi t h cert ai n ty t h at t h e i t em

i s [co n t rab an d ] at th e t i m e o f th e s ei zu re, o n l y t hat t h ere b e p ro b ab le cau s e t o b el i ev e

t h at th i s i s t h e cas e.” (Ci t at io n an d p u n ct u at io n o m i tt ed .) Mi l l er v. S ta t e

, 2 6 1 Ga. Ap p.

6 1 8 , 6 2 0 (5 8 3 SE2 d 48 1 ) (2 0 0 3 ). An d p ro b ab l e cau s e to b el iev e t hat a s u bs t an ce i s

co n trab an d req u i res o n l y

t h at t h e fact s av ai l ab le t o t h e offi cer w ou l d warran t a m an o f reas o n ab l e

cau t io n i n t h e b el i ef th at [t h e i t em ] m ay b e co n trab an d

. . . ; i t do es n o t

d em an d an y sh o wi ng t h at s u ch a b el i ef b e co rrect or m o r e l i k el y t ru e

9t h an fal se. A p ract i cal

, n o n -t ech n i cal p ro b ab i l i t y th at i n cri m i nat i n g

ev i d en ce i s i n v o lv ed i s al l t h at i s req u i red

.

(Ci t at i o n an d p u n ct u at i o n o m it t ed ). Co mb s v. S t at e

, 27 1 Ga. Ap p. 2 7 6

, 2 76 (6 0 9 SE2 d

1 9 8 ) (2 0 0 5 ).

Here, th e reco rd s ho ws t h at Offi cer Fi el d s h ad t rai n i n g i n d ru g reco g n i t i o n an d

ex p eri en ce wi t h d ru g i n ves t i g at i o n s

. Fi el d s tes t ifi ed t h at b as ed on h i s trai n i n g an d

ex p eri en ce, wh i ch i ncl u d ed p rev i o u s ex p eri en ce wi th crack co cai n e, h e b el i ev ed t h e

i t em h e s ei zed w as crack co cai n e. Th i s ev i d en ce s u p po rt s th e co n cl u s i o n t hat Fi el d s

h ad p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s u s p ect t h e i t em sei zed fro m t h e v an was co nt rab an d

, an d t h e

s ei zu re, t h erefo re, was ju s t i fi ed

.

Fo r th e reas o n s s et fo rt h ab o v e, we affi rm t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s o rd er d en y i n g

Go wen ’ s m o t i o n t o s u p p res s

.

Ju d g men t af fi r med

. S en io r A p p el l a t e Ju d

g e Her b er t E. Ph i

pp s

, co ncu r

s a n d

McFa d den , C. J., co ncu r

s f ul l y i n Di vi si o n 2 a n d

s p eci a l l y i n Di vi s io n 1

.

10

# I n th e Co u r t o f

A p p eals o f

G eo r g ia

A2 1 A0 65 1 . GOW EN v . THE STATE.

M C F A D D E N , Ch i ef J u d g e, co n cu rri n g fu l l y i n p art an d s p eci al l y

i n p art

.

I co n cu r fu l l y i n Di v i si o n 2 o f t h e m ajo ri ty o p i n i o n

. I co n cu r s p e c i a l l y i n

Di v is i o n 1

. I ag ree wi th t h e m ajo ri t y t h at we s h o u l d affi rm th e d e n i a l o f Go wen ’ s

m o ti o n t o s u p p res s, b u t fo r a d ifferen t reas o n t h an t h e m ajo ri ty ’ s reas o n i n Di v i s i o n

1

. I wo u l d affi rm

t he t ri al co u rt b ecau s e t h e o ffi cer’ s o wn s u bjec t i v e b e l i e f t h at t h e

s u b s t an ce he s m el l ed was m ari ju an a s u p p o rt ed t h e fi nd i n g o f p ro b ab le cau s e— ev en

i f h i s b el i ef u l ti m at el y m i g h t h av e b een m i s t ak en

.

11Ou r S u p r e m e Co u rt h as h el d t hat an o ffi cer h as pro b ab l e cau s e to s earch a

v eh icl e w i t h o ut a warran t “ wh en t h e fact s an d ci rcu m s t an ces b efo re t h e o ffi cer a r e

s u ch as wo u l d lead a reas o n ab l y d i s creet an d pru d en t m an t o b el iev e t h at t h e co n t en t s

o f t h e v eh i cl e offen d th e l aw. T h e t e s t o f p ro b ab l e cau se req u i res m erel y a

p ro b ab i l i t y

— l es s t han a cert ai n t y b ut m o re th an a m ere su s p i ci o n o r p o s s i b i l i t y .”

Br o wn v. St a t e

, 2 6 9 Ga. 8 3 0, 8 3 1 -8 3 2 (2 ) (5 0 4 SE2 d 4 43 ) ( 1 9 9 8 )

. Th e o d o r o f

m ari ju an a em an a t i n g fro m a v eh i cl e p ro v i d es p ro b ab l e cau se au t h o ri zi n g a

warran t l es s search o f t h at v eh i cl e. Do ug l a s v. St a te

, 3 0 3 Ga. 1 7 8

, 1 8 2 (2 ) (8 1 1 SE2 d

3 3 7 ) (2 0 1 8 ).

Th e u nd i s p u t ed fact s an d t h e fact s as fo un d b y t h e t ri al co u rt in i t s o rd er, s ee

Hu g h es v. S ta t e

, 2 9 6 Ga. 7 4 4, 7 4 6 (1 ) (7 7 0 SE2 d 6 3 6 ) (2 0 1 5 ) (n o t i ng t h at we m u s t

l i m i t o u r co n s i d erat i o n o f d is p ut ed fact s t o t h o se ex p res s ly fo u n d b y t h e tri al co u rt in

i t s o r d er), v al i d at e t h e t ri al co u rt ’ s co n cl u s i o n t h at p ro b ab l e cau s e s u p p o rt ed t h e

warran t l es s s earch o f Go wen ’ s v eh i cl e. Th e t ri al co u rt ex p res s l y fo u n d th at t h e o ffi cer

s m el l e d t h e o d o r of b u rn t m ari ju an a i n Go wen ’ s v eh i cl e. Th e co u rt fo u nd t h at t h e

o ffi cer b as ed t h e warran t l es s s earch on t he d et ect i o n o f t h at od o r as wel l as t h e arres t

warran t “ fo r am

ph et am i ne” an d h el d t h at t h es e fact s p ro v id ed p ro bab l e cau s e.

12Go we n ’s c h a l l en g e t o t he d en i al of h is m o t io n to s u p pres s i s b as ed o n t h e

as s ert i o n t h at l eg al hem

p sm el ls l i k e i l l eg al m ari

ju an a. He arg u es t h at g i v en t h at t h e

l eg al s u b s t an ce an d t h e i l l e g a l s u b s t an ce s m el l th e s am e, th e o ffi cer co u l d n ot

d e t e rm i n e wh ich s u b s t an ce h e s m el l ed

. Th e o ffi cer co ul d h av e s m el l ed i l l eg al

m ari ju an a, b ut h e j u s t as eas il y co u ld h av e sm el l ed l eg al h em p. Th u s, G o wen arg u es

,

t h e o ffi cer l ack ed p ro b ab l e cau s e t o s earch h i s v an

.

As t h e Un i ted St at es Su p rem e Co u rt h as reco g ni zed a search can b e reas o n ab l e

an d th erefo re ju s t ifi ed u nd er t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t b y an o ffi cer’ s m i s t ak en b el i ef,

i f t h at m i s t ak e i s o b

ject i vel y reas o nab l e.

Th e Fo u rt h Am en dm en t p ro h i b i t s u n reas o n ab l e s earch es an d s ei zu res

.

Un d er t h i s s t an d ard

, a s earch o r s ei zu re m ay b e p erm i s s i b l e ev en t ho u g h

t h e ju s t i fi cat i o n fo r t h e act i o n i n cl ud es a reas o nab l e fact u a l [o r l eg al ]

m i s t ak e. A n offi cer m i g h t

, fo r ex am p l e, s t op a m ot o ri s t fo r t rav el i n g

al o n e i n a hi g h -o ccu p an cy v eh i cl e l an e, o n l y to di s co ver u p o n

ap p ro ach i n g t he car t h at t wo c h i l d r en are s l u m p ed o v er as l eep i n th e

b ack s eat

. Th e d ri v er h as n o t v i o l at ed t h e law, b u t n ei t h er h as t he o ffi cer

v i o l at ed t he F o u r t h Am en d m en t

. . . . T o b e reas o n ab l e i s no t t o be

p erfect

, an d s o t h e Fo u rt h Am en d m en t al l o ws fo r s o m e m i s t ak es o n th e

p art o f g o v ern m en t o ffi ci al s , g i v i ng t h em fai r l eeway fo r en fo rci n g th e

l aw in t h e co m

m u n i t y ’ s p ro t ect i o n

. . . . T h e l i m i t i s t h at t h e m i s t ak es

m u s t b e t h o s e o f reas on ab l e m en

.

13Hei en v. No r t h Ca r o l i na , 5 74 U.S. 5 4

, 5 7

, 6 0 -6 1 (II) (1 3 5 SCt 5 3 0

, 1 9 0 LE2 d 4 7 5 )

(2 0 1 4) (ci t at i o n s an d p u nct u at i o n ).

At m o st

, Go wen ’ s as s ert i o n ab o u t th e s i m i l a r i t y o f t h e s m el ls o f h em p an d

m ari ju an a cal l s i n t o q ues ti o n t h e reas o nab l en es s o f t h e o ffi cer’ s b el i ef t h at h e s m el l ed

b u rn t m ari

j u an a. As su m i ng fo r p urp o s es o f t hi s ap peal t h at Go wen ’ s as s ert i o n i s

co rrect (ev en t h o ug h t h e t ri al co u rt m ad e n o s uch fi n d i n g an d m ay h av e as s i g n ed n o

wei g h t t o t h e t es t i m o ny Go wen el ici t ed i n s u p p o rt o f t h at as sert i o n ), t h e o ffi cer co u ld

h av e reas o n ab l y

, b u t m i s t ak en ly

, b el i ev ed th at h e s m el l ed b u rn t m ari ju an a; th e s m el l

co u ld h av e b een hem

p b ut i t al s o co u l d h av e b een m ari ju an a s i n c e

, acco rd i n g to

Go wen

, t h ey s m el l th e sam e. Becau s e t h e o ffi cer reas o n ab l y

— ev en i f

m i s t ak en l y

— b el i ev ed t h at h e s m el l ed m ari j u an a, h e had p ro b ab l e cau se t o s earch t h e

v an

. See, e.g

., Un i t ed S t a t es v. Bi g n o n

, 8 13 Fed . Ap p x . 3 4 (2 d Ci r. 2 0 2 0 ) (p ro b ab l e

cau s e fo r arres t ); Un it ed S t a tes v. Bo g g es s

, 44 4 FSu p p 3 d 7 3 0, 7 3 6 -7 37 (III) (b ) (S.D.

W

. Va. 2 0 2 0 ); Un i t ed S ta t es v. Va u g h n

, 4 2 9 FSu p p 3 d 4 9 9, 5 0 9 -5 1 0 (III) (B) (E.D.

Ten n. 2 0 1 9 ).

14