Drug Offences Flashcards
Define CONTROLLED DRUG
Any substance, preparation, mixture, or article specified or described in Schedule 1, Schedule 2, or Schedule 3 to this Act; and includes any controlled drug analogue.
R v Strawbridge
Application - Knowledge/controlled drug (all offences)
It is not necessary for the Crown to establish knowledge on the part of the accused. In the absence of evidence to the contrary, knowledge on her part will be presumed, but if there is some evidence that the accused honestly believed on reasonable grounds that her act was innocent, then she is entitled to be acquitted unless the jury is satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that this was not so.
Police v Emirali
Application - Usable amount/controlled drug (all offences)
The serious offence of possessing a narcotic does not extend to some minute and useless residue of the substance.
Section and elements - Import or export
S6(1)(a) MODA 75
-Import into OR export from NZ
-Any controlled drug
Case laws for S6(1)(a) - excluding Strawbridge and Emirali
Saxton v Police
R v Hancox
Define IMPORT
In relation to any goods, means the arrival of the goods in NZ in any manner, whether lawfully or unlawfully, from a point outside NZ.
Saxton v Police
Application - Import
To import includes “to introduce from abroad or to cause to be brought in from a foreign country”
R v Hancox
Application - Import
The element of importing exists from the time the goods enter NZ until they reach their immediate destination [ie] when they have ceased to be under the control of the appropriate authorities and have become available to the consignee of the addressee.
Section and elements - Producing/manufacturing
S6(1)(b) MODA 75
-Produce OR manufacture
-Any controlled drug
Case law for S6(1)(b) - excluding Strawbridge and Emirali
R v Rua
Define PRODUCE
To bring something into being, or to bring something into existence from its raw materials or elements.
Define MANUFACTURE
The process of synthesis; combining components or processing raw materials to create a new substance.
R v Rua
Application - Manufacture
the words produce or manufacture in 6(1)(b) broadly cover the creation of controlled drugs by some form of process which changes the original substances into a particular controlled drug.
Section and elements - Supplying any class A or B
S6(1)(c) MODA 75
-Supply OR administer, OR offer to supply OR administer, OR otherwise deal in
-Any Class A controlled drug or Class B controlled drug
-To any other person
Case law for S6(1)(c) - excluding Strawbridge and Emirali
R v Maginnis
R v During
R v Brown
Define SUPPLY
Includes distribute, give and sell.
Define ADMINISTER
To direct and cause a drug to be taken into the system of another person
Define OTHERWISE DEAL IN
Dealing in drugs by some means other than by distributing, giving or selling, administering it or offering to supply or administering it.
R v Maginnis
Application - Supply
supply involves more than mere transfer of physical control. it includes enabling the recipient to apply the thing to purposes for which he desires.
R v During
Application - Offer
An offer is an intimation by the person charged to another that he is ready on request to supply that other drugs of a kind prohibited by statute.
R v Brown (4 points)
Application - offer to supply
The defendant is guilty if he/she offers to supply a drug;
(1) That the defendant has on hand
(2) That will be procured at some future date
(3) That he mistakenly believes he can supply
(4) Deceitfully, knowing he will not supply that drug.
R v Brown
Application - Offer
the making of such intimation, with the intention that it should be understood as a genuine offer, is an offence.
Section and elements - Supply Class C controlled drug to person under 18
S6(1)(d) MODA 75
-Supply OR administer, OR offer to supply OR offer to administer
-Any Class C controlled drug
-To a person under 18 years of age
Case law for S6(1)(d) - excluding Strawbridge and Emirali
R v During
R v Brown
R v Forrest and Forrest
Section and elements - Sell/Offer to sell any class C controlled drug to person 18+
S6(1)(e) MODA75
-Sell OR offer to sell
-Any Class C controlled drug
-To a person of or over 18 years of age
R v Forrest and Forrest
Application - under 18
the best evidence possible in the circumstances should be adduced by the prosecution in proof of the victim’s age.
Define SELL
A sale occurs when a quantity or share in a drug is exchanged for some valuable consideration.
Section and elements - Possession of controlled drugs for supply
S6(1)(f) MODA75
-Have in his possession
-Any controlled drug
-for any purposes set out in paragraphs (c)(d) or (e) of Section 6(1) MODA75
Define POSSESSION (in relation to (6)(1)(f))
For the purposes of this Act (MODA 75), the things which a person has in his possession include anything subject to his control which is in the custody of another.
R v Cox
Application - Possession
Possession involves two elements. The first, the physical element, is actual or potential physical custody or control. The second, the mental element, is a combination of knowledge and intention; knowledge in the sense of an awareness by the accused that the substance is in his position; and an intention to exercise possession.
Sentences when dealing with drugs under Section 6(1)
Class A - Life
Class B - 14 yrs
All else - 8 yrs
Sentences when conspiring to deal with drugs
Class A - 14 yrs
Class B - 10 yrs
All else - 7 yrs
What must the crown prove in importing
The defendant’s guilty knowledge (mens rea), this will involve proof that the defendant
-Knew about the importation
-Knew the imported substance was a controlled drug
-Intended to cause the importation
What is a controlled drug analogue
Means any substance (other than the exceptions specified in the
definition) with a structure substantially similar to a controlled drug. It is a
substance that has similar dangerous effects, but that is not specifically listed in the schedules to the Act.
Controlled drug analogue class
All controlled drug analogues are classified as Class C controlled drugs irrespective of the class of drug they resemble.
Well known Class A controlled drugs
-Cocaine
-Heroin
-Lysergide/LSD (Acid)
-Methamphetamine
-Psilocybine
Acronym CHAMP
Well known Class B controlled drugs
-Morphine
-Opium
-Pseudoephedrine
-Ephedrine
-Cannabis preparations (such as cannabis oil and hashish)
-Amphetamine
-GHB
MOPECAG
Well known Class C controlled drugs
-Cannabis plant
-Cannabis seeds
-Benzylpiperazine (BZP)
-Controlled drug analogues
3C+B
Risks levels for drug classes
A - Very high risk of harm to individuals and to society
B - High risk of harm
C - Moderate risk of harm
Which drugs are not included under S6(1)(a)
Drugs listed in Part 6 of Schedule 3