The smell of burned marijuana wafting from a vehicle in Cottage Grove was enough probable cause to search the entire vehicle, the Minnesota Court of Appeals has ruled.

The appellate decision overturns a district court order to suppress evidence in the drug possession case against Jacob Levy, 25, of Landfall.

Cottage Grove police stopped Levy for speeding in May 2013. An officer reported smelling marijuana and searched the vehicle. Nothing was found in the passenger compartment, but a search of the trunk allegedly turned up a duffel bag containing drugs and paraphernalia.

Levy was charged with four counts of felony drug possession.

Levy requested a suppression order for the evidence found in the trunk, arguing that police did not have probable cause to search the trunk. The district court granted his request.

County prosecutors disagreed and appealed. The appeals court on Monday ruled that the trunk was searched legally.

Elizabeth Mohr can be reached at 651-228-5162. Follow her at twitter.com/LizMohr.