Drugs Flashcards
Saxton v Police
Import includes “to introduce from abroad or cause to be brought in from a foreign country”
What is the definition of importation?
Any goods, means the arrival of the good in New Zealand in any manner, whether lawfully or unlawfully, from a point outside New Zealand
What are four ways drugs can be brought into NZ?
- concealed in or on their person or in their luggage
- have another person (mule) bring the drugs in
- send or have drugs sent by international mail or courier
- conceal drugs inside legitimate goods e.g. in shipping containers
What is the story behind Saxton v Police?
Saxton sent a parcel to himself from London to Dunedin containing cannabis resin. Customs intercepted it and he was charged with importation. The court of appeal held that import includes “to bring in” but it also has a wider definition
What section is importing?
6(1)(a)
When does importation start and when does criminal liability arise in relation to importation?
- Importation begins at the point of origin and continues until the drugs have reached their destination
- Criminal liability arises as soon as the drugs cross the NZ border even if the drugs are intercepted by customs
R v Hancox
Bringing the goods into the country, i.e. importing them exists from the time the good enters NZ until they reach their immediate destination, when they have become available to the consignee or addressee.
In relation to importation, what does the Crown need to prove?
- the defendants conducts contributed to the actual importation of the drug
- the defendant knew about the importation AND
- knew the imported substance was a controlled drug AND
- intended to cause importation
What is wilful blindness?
Deliberately turning a blind eye to the facts. Deliberately refraining from making further inquiries or confirming their suspicion in order to remain ignorant
R v Martin
What is the definition of New Zealand under the customs and excise Act 2018
The land and the waters enclosed by the outer limits of the territorial sea of NZ. The outer limits of the territorial sea is 12 nautical miles form the land mass of New Zealand
What is the definition of ‘Any controlled drug’
Any substance, preparation, mixture or article specified or described in schedule 1, 2,3 to this act and includes any analogue
What is a controlled drug analogue?
Any substance other than the exceptions specified in the definition, with a structure substantially similar to a controlled drug. A substance that has similar dangerous effects but that is not specifically listed in schedules in the act
In relation to a drug analogue, what does it not include?
- Any substance specified or described in schedules 1 or 2 or parts 1-6of schedule 3 in Moda
- Any pharmacy only medicine, prescription medicine or restricted medicine within the meaning of the medicines Act 1981
- An approved product within the meaning psychoactive substances Act 2013
What class is a drug analogue?
It will always be Class C no matter which drug it resembles
What are 5 examples of Class A drugs?
- methamphetamine
- cocaine
- heroin
- lysergide
- AMB-FUBINACA
For class A B and C what is the risk to individuals and society?
A=very high risk
B=High Risk
C=Moderate
What are five examples of a class B controlled drug?
Cannabis oil MDMA pseudoephedrine Ephedrine Amphetamine
What are four examples of a class C controlled drug?
Cannabis plant
Cannabis seed
BZP
Controlled drug analogues
What are the exceptions for the importing of ‘any controlled drug’
Controlled drugs listed in part 6 of schedule 3
R v Strawbridge
Guilty knowledge. It is not necessary for the crown to establish guilty knowledge on the part of the defendant. Guilty knowledge will be presumed unless the defendant can prove beyond reasonable doubt that they honestly believed on reasonable grounds that their act was innocent i.e. growing cannabis plants but not knowing they’re cannabis
If the defendant makes a mistake as to the nature of the drug what happens?
Section 29 states that it would not be a defence that the defendant believed the drug was a different substance to what it is
R V Emerali
There serious offence of possessing a narcotic does not extend to some minute amount and useless residue of the substance
Do you have to prove the quantity of the controlled drug is useable?
Under section 29A is is not necessary to prove it’s usable unless the defendant brings it up as an issue
What is the section for producing and manufacturing?
6(1)(b)
R v Rua in relation to producing and manufacturing
That producing and manufacturing are not two separate and distinct crimes they should be read as complementary terms
R v Rua
The words produce or manufacture broadly cover the creation of controlled drugs by some form of process which changes the original substance into a controlled drug
What is the definition of produce?
To bring something into existence from raw materials or elements and includes compound
What is the story behind Re Parke?
The defendant was charged with producing psilocybine when he crushed magic mushrooms and put the powder into capsules. This did not count as producing as he did not ‘bring something new into existence’
Does the separating of component parts count as producing?
Yes. Think of the process of separating cannabis oil from cannabis plants
What is the definition of manufacturing?
The process of synthesis, combining components or processing raw materials to create a new substance
When is the offence of manufacturing complete and what is the case law that relates?
Once the prohibited substance is created whether or not it’s in a usable form.
R v Rua - methamphetamine is suspended state is a two layered liquid. It can’t be used in this state but it is meth
Section 29B deals with producing cannabis preparations, what does this include?
Cannabis preparations is subjecting the plant to a process that renders it unrecognizable as a plant such as cannabis oil or brownies.
What class drug is cannabis preparations?
Class B. It is up to the prosecution to prove that the preparations include tetrahydrocannabinol
What is the definition for supply?
To furnish or provide something that is needed or desired and includes distribute, give and sell
Supply includes more than just handing the drugs over, what is it?.
It includes conferring on the recipient the ability to use the drugs for their own purpose
R v Maginnis in relation to supply?
Holding drugs for a friend and expecting that at some stage they will collect them is enough to satisfy supply because it restores the friends ability to use the drugs for their own purpose
What does distribution mean and what is the case law that relates?
Distribution means to supply drugs to multiple people and can include joint owners
R v Donald
What is the definition of giving?
Handing over or in some other way transferring and item to another person. The act of giving is complete when the recipient accepts possession or when the drug is placed under the control of a willing recipient
What is R v Knox?
Safe keeping of drugs with the intent to return it back to the person is enough to count as giving
What is held in R v Wildbore?
Left a key for a joint owner of LSD to access the shed whenever they wanted. A passive custodian who relinquishes custody of a drug to meet the needs of another is enough to have intent to supply
When does a sale occur?
When drugs a quantity or share of drugs are exchanged for some valuable consideration
What is the definitions of administering?
Introducing the drug directly into a person’s system. To direct and cause a drug to be taken directly into the system
What are three examples of administering?
- Injecting someone with heroin
- slipping a date rape drug into a drink without the person’s knowledge
- heating cannabis resin between two knives while someone inhales the smoke
What are the two elements of offering to supply or administer?
- communicating the offer (Actus Reus)
- an intention that the other person believes the offer is genuine (mens Rea)
What must an offer to supply or administer do?
Arouse a person’s interest in the drug or tempt another person to use them
What is R v During?
An offer is an intimation by the person charged to another, that he is ready on request to supply to that other person a controlled drug
What are the four things found in R v Brown?
The defendant is guilty of offering to supply in the following circumstances;
- offers to supply a drug they have on had
- offers a drug they will get in the future
- offers a drug they mistakenly think they can get
- offers a drug deceitfully knowing they will not supply that dryg
If a defendant deceitfully offers a drug with the intent to rip them off (selling sugar instead of meth) what will sentencing be based off?
The equivalent dishonesty offence
What are the four things in R v Marr and Wilkinson?
-Offering to supply is to be given it’s ordinary meaning
-more than one person may be guilty of ‘offering to supply’s in any one transaction
-an intermediary/agent may be guilty of offering to supply or could be a party as per section 66 CA 1961
-offers to supply under 6 and 7 of MODA can include an offer to arrange for someone else to hand over the drug
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R v Brown
The making of an intimation, with the Intention that is should be understood as genuine offer, is an offence
What does the Crown need to prove in relation to an offer to supply?
The defendant intended the offer was interpreted as genuine but do not need to prove they had the ability to supply the drugs
What is the definition of otherwise deals in?
Drug dealing other than distribution, giving, selling, administering, offering to supply or administer.
What is the example in ‘Hooper and another’ ?
Otherwise dealing could mean a barter or exchange
To any other person?
A person is proven by circumstantial evidence and judicial notice
R v Forrest and Forrest?
The best evidence possible needs to be given by prosecution to prove the victims age
R v Clancy?
Victims birth certificate was not produced but the victims mother gave evidence as to the victims age
R v Cox in relation to possession?
Physical element- physical custody or control over the drugs
Mental element - knowing that they are in possession, that it is a controlled drug and intend to exercise possession
What is potential custody or control?
Can include things in their possession or something subject to their control i.e. storing drugs at a friend’s house where they can exercise their control
Lockyer v Gibb
A person cannot be in possession of something is they do not realise it is in their possession
R v Cruze?
Proof that a substance is cannabis is not limited to scientific evidence. If the material is not recovered and the defendant admits to police that they thought it was cannabis, circumstantial evidence would be sufficient to prove identity of the substance
What is knowledge and intention?
Know they’re in possession
Know the substances nature or qualities
Intend to use the substance in a way that allows you to charge them with possession
Police v Rowles (lack of knowledge)
A person cannot knowingly be in possession of something which they mistakenly but honestly believe they do not possess
Martin v Police
Lack of knowledge because of a memory lapse. It needs to be established that the defendant had completely forgotten about the drugs or that the drugs were just not at the forefront of the defendants mind
Joint possession
Where one or more person’s has access to a saleable amount of drugs they can be jointly charged with possession. You must prove a shared intention to sell
R v Rees?
If you cannot prove a combined intent to sell, you should file separate charges for possession
R v Searle?
Where a common stock of drugs exist that multiple people can take stuff from they can be in common possession. However a common pool or joint enterprise must be established it cannot only be the others knew of the drugs
Is attempted possession an offence and what is the case law?
Yes, it is a charge that covers someone obtaining something with the mistaken belief that it is a drug
-R v Jay - he obtained hedge clippings believing it was cannabis
What must the Crown prove in drug possession cases?
- Knowledge the drug exists
- knowledge it is a controlled drug
- actual physical control or some degree of control over it
- intention to possess it
Define intention
A deliberate act with intention to produce a prescribed result
R v Collister
Circumstantial evident where an offenders intent can be inferred;
- words and actions before during and after
- surrounding circumstances
- nature of the act itself
How do you prove intent in drug cases?
- admissions
- cicumstantial evidence (packages, scales, ticklists, cash)
- presumptive amount
What is section 6 of MODA?
Presumptive amount
With the presumptive amount what must the person that was in possession prove?
On the balance of probabilities that they did not intend to commit a dealing offence. I.e. they are heavily addicted and it was for personal use
R v Hooper
In relation to class C controlled drugs the charge should be specified based on the evidence produced, like sale, supply or dealing
R v Tracy
Class C drugs only where the purpose for possession cannot be proven or is uncertain the charge should be drafted in the alternative
R v Paterson
Where there is no evidence of supply or intended supply to any person under 18 years of age the charge should use the words ‘for the purpose of supply’
Where the Tracy formula is used what does the defendant need to prive
On the balance of probabilities that they did not intend to supply, administer or sell
Give 5 examples of presumptive amounts listed in schedule 5
- Heroin .5grams
- cocaine .5grams
- meth 5grams
- cannabis resin 5grams
- cannabis plant 28grams or 100 or more cigarettes
If a drug is not listed in section 5 the presumptive amount is 56 grams
What is the section of conspiring to deal with controlled drugs?
6(2A)
What is a conspiracy?
An agreement between two or more people to form a common intention to commit the offence
R v Johnston
The use of NZ customs and postal service by the conspirators in posting cannabis resin from England to NZ was enough to bring the matter into NZ jurisdiction
R v Greenfield
The conspiracy is complete once the agreement has been made
R v Lambert
There can be a conspiracy if one person agrees to supply another