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Can humans detect unburnt cocaine odor?

By Marks & Katz, LLC

DEA image in the public domain. Can humans detect unburnt cocaine odor? The Maryland Court of Special Appeals said in 2003 it is "scientifically impossible that the confiscated drug could be detected because the cocaine seized and the caffeine with which it was cut had no detectible odor." Seldon v. Maryland, 151 Md. App. 204, 824 A.2d 999 (2003), cert denied, 377 Md. 114, 832 A.2d 206 (2003).  A Massachusetts Superior Court judge, in Massachussetts. v. Corniel (2005),said:   In a case like this the Commonwealth needed to offer expert testimony to explain how the chemistry of processing cocaine creates a unique, distinct odor regardless of what chemicals or extraction methods are used. The Commonwealth?s theory assumes that there is a strong correlation between the odor that Rivet smelled and the presence of cocaine...continue to full post

Full post as published by Underdog on July 13, 2010 (boomark / email).