People v. Elwell
People v. Elwell
Dissenting Opinion
(dissenting). I would dissent on the basis that, contrary to the majority’s conjecture, the Michigan Supreme Court has previously considered and rejected the same equal protection argument raised by defendant as it applies to the sale of marijuana. People v Lorentzen, 387 Mich 167, 171; 194 NW2d 827, 828 (1972).
Opinion of the Court
Defendant, Michael L. Elwell, was arrested on October 7, 1971, and charged under the old narcotic drug act with dispensing marijuana contrary to the provisions of MCLA 335.152; MSA 18.1122 after he had supplied a Federal undercover narcotics officer with a quantity of marijuana. Trial was had before a judge sitting without a jury in the Calhoun County Circuit Court and defendant was found guilty. In his written statement, dated December 4,1972, the trial judge stated that he found defendant guilty under the new Controlled Substances Act of dispensing marijuana contrary to the provisions of MCLA 335.341(l)(c); MSA 18.1070(41)(l)(c).
The provision under which the trial judge stated he found defendant guilty is part of the Controlled Substances Act of 1971, which took effect on April 1, 1972. The conduct for which defendant was tried, however, does not fall within the reach of that act. MCLA 335.361(5); MSA 18.1070(61X5) provides:
"This act applies to violations of law, seizures and forfeiture, injunctive proceedings, administrative proceedings and investigations which occur after its effective date.”
We also hold, however, that defendant could not properly be convicted of violating MCLA 335.152; MSA 18.1122, the crime he was charged with committing. In People v Sinclair, supra, our Supreme Court held that the inclusion of marijuana within the definition of "narcotics” contained in MCLA 335.151; MSA 18.1121 was improper and contrary to the requirements of both the state and Federal Constitutions.
We, therefore, reverse defendant’s conviction and order him discharged since, for the two foregoing reasons, he cannot properly be proceeded against under either the old or new acts.
People v Sinclair, 387 Mich 91; 194 NW2d 878 (1972), was decided on March 9,1972.
Three Justices, T. M. Kavanagh, C. J., and Swainson and Williams, JJ., found that the inclusion of marijuana within the statute’s definition of narcotics constituted a violation of the equal protection clauses contained in Const 1963, art 1, § 2 and U.S. Const, Am XTV Justice T. G. Kavanagh found that the statute violated the state and Federal Constitutions in that it constituted an impermissible intrusion on fundamental rights and an unwarranted interference with the right to possess and use private property.
It has been suggested that People v Sinclair, supra, does not constitute binding precedent on this Court. Although the decisions of People v Waxman, 41 Mich App 277; 199 NW2d 884 (1972), and People v Cannon, 41 Mich App 85; 199 NW2d 657 (1972), tend to support such a claim, the summary' reversal of Waxman by our Supreme Court (388 Mich 774) on the. basis of Sinclair persuades us that reliance on this argument would be misplaced.
Const 1963, art 1, § 16; US Const, Am VIII.
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