Legal Pot Puts Drug-Sniffing Dogs Into Retirement

Although dogs will still be needed for police departments across the state for a variety of purposes, some K-9 units are finding out their services are no longer needed, now that pot is legal in Washington state.

A number of dogs that have been serving in K-9 units over the years have been specifically trained to sniff out marijuana in virtually all forms of disguise. But now that it's legal, these dogs are being retired - especially if they've been on the force for a number of years.

  For example, in Arlington, WA, Arnie has been serving the citizens in the community, and boasts a 92% accuracy rate during her years on the force. But because she's been trained to find pot, officials say she can't really be "re-trained" to find other dogs with enough rate of accuracy to justify her staying on the job.

So, now Arlington is having to find $15,000 to locate and train another drug-sniffing dog that will be able to locate other illegal drugs, just not pot.

Her handler, Officer Mike Gilbert, says it's a bittersweet moment, and he will miss her on the force.  But changing times have forced Arnie, and other pot-sniffing dogs off their police forces, and forcing departments that are strapped for cash, to find other such animals.