Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks was arrested early Friday morning after police claimed his car smelled strongly of cannabis during a traffic stop in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bodycam footage shows officers pulling Brooks over around 1 a.m. after they said they saw the vehicle swerving between lanes.
As officers approached the Rolls-Royce, they mentioned smelling marijuana several times. One officer told Brooks the inside of the car smelled “like a dispensary.”
Brooks immediately pushed back on the claim. He told officers their patrol car had also been swerving on the same road.
The interaction quickly shifted from a routine traffic stop to a driving-under-the-influence investigation.
Bodycam Footage Shows Breathalyzer Result
During the stop, Brooks told officers he had not consumed alcohol in six months.
Police asked him to take a breathalyzer test as part of the investigation.
The test registered a 0.0 blood alcohol level, meaning no alcohol was detected.
Even with that result, officers continued their DUI investigation. Arizona law allows police to investigate impairment from drugs, including cannabis.
Brooks was eventually arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and taken to the Scottsdale City Jail.
According to reports, he was released around 3:30 a.m.
During the encounter, Brooks also asked officers when he would be able to retrieve his Rolls-Royce after being taken into custody.
Suns Forward Mentioned Recent Hand Injury
The Phoenix player also discussed his current injury during the stop.
Brooks recently fractured his left hand during a game between the Suns and the Orlando Magic on February 21.
He mentioned the injury while speaking with officers during the roadside investigation.
Before the injury, Brooks averaged 20.9 points per game this season, making him a key part of Phoenix’s lineup.
The Phoenix Suns later issued a brief statement saying the team is aware of the situation and is reviewing the matter.
Cannabis Smell and DUI Investigations
The situation also reflects a larger issue surrounding cannabis enforcement in states where marijuana is legal.
Arizona legalized recreational cannabis in 2020, allowing adults over 21 to purchase and possess marijuana.
However, driving under the influence of cannabis remains illegal.
Unlike alcohol, there is no widely accepted roadside test that measures marijuana impairment in real time.
Because of this, officers often rely on driving behavior, physical observations, and sometimes odor when deciding whether to investigate a driver further.
Legal experts continue to debate whether the smell of cannabis alone should justify a DUI investigation in states where marijuana is legal.
Why the Case Is Getting Attention
High-profile athletes often find their legal situations amplified in national headlines.
Any police interaction involving a professional player quickly becomes public once bodycam footage surfaces.
At the same time, incidents like this highlight the ongoing gray area surrounding cannabis use and driving laws.
As legalization spreads across the country, lawmakers and regulators still struggle to create clear standards for determining marijuana impairment.
For now, the case involving Brooks serves as another example of how cannabis legalization and DUI enforcement continue to collide in real-world situations.
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