Drugs Flashcards
Section 6(1)(a) Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Imports into / exports from NZ
Imports into OR
Exports from NZ
Any Controlled Drug
How are drugs commonly imported into NZ?
Drug importers will:
- Conceal drugs in/on their person or in their luggage
- Have another person bring the drugs in for them
- Send or have drugs sent by international mail or courier
- Conceal drugs inside legitimate goods
Customs and Excise Act 2018 - Imports definition
Means the arrival of the goods in New Zealand in any manner, whether lawfully or unlawfully, from a point outside New Zealand
Saxton v Police
To import includes “to introduce from abroad or to bring in from a foreign country”
R v Hancox
The act of importation does not cease when the aircraft / vessel enters NZ’s territorial limits - instead it continues until they reach their immediate destination, when they have ceased to be under the control of the authorities and have become available to the consignee or addressee.
Anyone who KNOWINGLY assists up until that point may be liable for a charge of being a party to the importation however if someone picks up the controlled drugs from their final destination, they may only be charged as having possession for supply (As seen in R v HANCOX)
What must the crown prove in relation to importation?
The crown must not only prove that the defendants conduct in some way contributed to the importation. It must also prove that:
- They knew about the importation AND
- Knew the substance was a controlled drug AND
- Intended to cause the importation
What does the term ‘wilful blindness’ mean?
You must prove guilty knowledge on the part of the accused however proof that the defendant intentionally turned a blind eye to the facts will suffice.
Section 5 Customs and Excise Act 2018 - NZ
New Zealand means the land and waters enclosed by the outer limits of the territorial sea of NZ (12 nautical miles from the land mass of NZ)
What is a controlled drug analogue?
An analogue is any substance with a structure significantly similar to a controlled drug - a substance that has similar dangerous effects but is not specifically listed in the schedules
What does a controlled drug analogue not include?
- Any substance specified in schedule 1, 2 or parts 1-6 of schedule 3 (being a controlled drug)
- Any pharmacy-only medicine or prescription medicine or restricted medicine within the meaning of the medicines act
- An approved product within the meaning of the psychoactive substances act 2013.
Class A Controlled drug
A Class A controlled drug is listed in schedule 1 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.
- It poses a very high risk of harm to society and to the individuals.
Includes:
- Cocaine
- Heroine
- Lysergide (LSD)
- Methamphetamine
- Psilocybine (Mushrooms)
Synthetic drugs are also included as class A controlled drugs
Class B Controlled drug
A Class B controlled drug is specified in schedule 2 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
- Poses a high risk of harm to society and to the individual
Includes:
- Amphetamine
- Cannabis preparations (oil and hashish)
- GBH (Fantasy)
- MDMA (Ecstacy)
- Morphine
- Opium
- Pseudoephedrine
- Ephedrine
Class C Controlled drug
Class C controlled drug is described in schedule 3 of this act and also includes any controlled drug analogue
- Class C controlled drugs pose a moderate risk to the individual and to society
Includes:
- Cannabis plant
- Cannabis Seeds
- Benzylpiperazine (BZP)
- Controlled drug analogues
What Class C controlled drug is not included under 6(1)(a) MODA 1975?
Any controlled drug listed in Part 6 of schedule 3
Guilty knowledge
For a person to be guilty of an offence relating to controlled drugs, they must have guilty knowledge:
A person who innocently possesses something they genuinely believed was not a controlled drug has a defence.
Guilty knowledge (Case Law)
R v STRAWBRIDGE
- 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 it was not so.
Usable Quantity
While the court acknowledged in EMERALI that there must be a usable quantity of a controlled drug. They also acknowledged that this is dependant on more than just size and weight.
The nature of the controlled drug and the condition in which it is found is also relevant. As is whether or not it might be used to supplement any other small samples found to create a larger quantity.
Small samples can also provide circumstantial evidence.
Section 6(1)(b) Misuse of Drugs Act 1975
Producing/Manufacture
Produces OR
Manufactures
Any controlled drug
Producing and manufacturing definition
While R v RUA states that producing and manufacturing can be used synonymously, the prosecution must choose one or the other and police should therefore treat them as seperate offences.
Produce definition
Means to bring something into being or to bring something into existence from raw materials or elements
To compound: create a whole by mixing or combining two or more elements or parts
Is cannabis resin produced?
Yes, because the separating out of component parts may amount to production, such as separating cannabis resin (oil) from cannabis plant, as this creates a new form of the drug.
while they have not been altered, they have been concentrated which changes the schedule which the chemical is classified in. (Class C to Class B)
Manufacturing definition
Manufacturing is the process of synthesis, combining components or processing raw materials to create a new substance.
Example; manufacturing methamphetamine from pseudoephedrine or heroine from morphine
When is the offence of producing / manufacturing complete?
Once the prohibited substance has been created, whether or not it is in a usable form. EG meth suspended in liquid.
Supply definition
To “Supply” means to “furnish or provide something that is needed or desired” and includes to “distribute, give or sell.
R v MAGGINIS
Supply involves more than mere transfer of physical control. It includes enabling the recipient to apply the thing, to a purpose which he desires. (allowing people to use the controlled drug for their own purpose)
Distributing definition
Distribution relates to the supply of drugs to multiple people
The distribution is complete when the defendant has done all that is necessary to accomplish delivery of the drug to others
Giving definition
Giving involves handing over or in some way transferring an item to another person.
The act of giving is complete when the recipient accepts possession - or where it is placed under the control of a willing recipient.
NOTE: Giving can occur without an active transfer of the drugs. EG where a person permits another to access a cache of drugs.
Selling definition
A sale occurs when a quantity or share in a drug is exchanged for some valuable consideration - commonly money.
Administering definition
Administering involves introducing a drug directly into another persons system.
EG. Injecting a person with heroine, heating cannabis resin between two knife blades while another person inhales, causing a person to consume a date rape drug by sipping a drink without their knowledge
Offering to supply or administer definition
This provision prohibits arousing another persons interest in the controlled drugs, or of tempting others to use them.
What must the prosecution prove in relation to offering to supply a controlled drug?
- The communication of an offer to supply or administer a controlled drug (acts reps)
- an intention that the other person believes the offer to be genuine (the mens Rea)
R v DURING
An offer is an intimation by the person charged to another that they are ready on request to supply to that other drugs of a kind prohibited by this statute
R v BROWN - 4 circumstances of supply
The defendant is guilty of supply in the following circumstances:
(1) offering to supply a drug they have on hand
(2) offering to supply a drug that will be procured at some future date
(3) offering to supply a drug that he mistakenly believes he can supply
(4) offering to supply a drug deceitfully, knowing he cannot supply that drug
R v Brown - is it a defence that the substance supplied was not a controlled drug?
No. The representation of the drug is the whole point of the offer - regardless of their true nature.
Where the defendant intends to rip off a person sentencing will be based on…..
the equivalent dishonesty offence
R v Brown - offer
the making of such an intimation, with the intention that it should be understood as a genuine offer, is an offence.
This offer could be conveyed using words, writing or gestures.
What must the court prove in relation to an offer to supply?
That the defendant intended the other person to believe the offer.
The crown does not have to prove that they had the capacity to supply the controlled drug.
Otherwise deals definition
Means something other than distributing, giving or selling it, administering it or offering to supply or administer it.
An example would be barter or in exchange for something.
To any other person definition
The prosecution must prove that it was supplied to another person however it is not necessary to identify who.
The offence is gender neutral and a “person” is accepted by judicial notice of by circumstantial evidence.
Age is not relevant under paragraph (c) but it is under (d) and (e) involving Class C controlled drugs.
Why is being a Person under 18 significant in relation to drug offending
The legislation recognises the vulnerability of young people and the fact that drug use is likely to have a greater impact on them than on an adult.
Proof of age required
Where age is an essential element of a charge, the prosecution must prove the victims age at the time of the alleged offence, using the best available evidence to do so.
In practice; producing the birth certificate in conjunction with independent evidence (parents statement) that identifies they are the person named in the birth certificate.
What must be proven for knowledge (RE possession)
- the defendant must be aware they possess the substance
- the defendant identifies that the substance is a controlled drug
- physical custody presumes knowledge, unless otherwise proven.
What must be proven in regards to knowledge and intent (possession)?
You need to establish they :
- Know they have the substance
- Know the substances nature or qualities (s29 deals with mistaken beliefs)
- Intend to use the substance in a way that allows you to charge them with possession.
Is lack of knowledge an excuse when possessing a controlled substance?
Yes, a genuine lack of awareness would exclude ‘knowing possession’ and thereby intent.
Control defintion
Means to exercise authoritative or dominating influence or command over something
Can more than one person be charged with possession?
Yes, where more than one person has access to drugs of a saleable quantity, they may be charged jointly with possession. However, you must prove that there was a shared intention to sell the drugs. (they must have entertained the purpose of selling - it is unnecessary to show that they had actually been sold)
Is it an offence to attempt possession of a controlled drug?
Yes, it is an attempt - which covers someone obtaining something innocuous believing it to be a controlled drug.
Purpose - definition in relation to supply
Can mean ‘aim’ or ‘intention’
Intent definition
Deliberate act committed to produce a specific result
Proving intent
The onus is on the prosecution to prove an offenders intent beyond reasonable doubt.
Proving intent in drugs cases
Evidence of intent can be inferred from
- admissions
- Circumstantial evidence (packaging, scales, tick lists, cash etc)
- The statutory presumption under 6(6)
Statutory presumption - definition
A person is presumed until the contrary is proved, to be in possession of a controlled drug for any of the purposes in subsection (1)(c) (d) or (e) if he / she is in the possession of the controlled drug in an amount, level or quantity at or over which the controlled drug is presumed to be for supply.
When is there a defence to the presumption for supply?
The presumption may be rebutted, if the person is able to prove, on the balance of probabilities, that they did not intend to commit a dealing offence. EG - if the defence may argue that the defendant was heavily addicted and required large amounts for personal use.
Can someone in possession of less than the presumption be charged with possession for supply?
Yes, a person can still be charged with possession for supply if other circumstances provide good cause to suspect the offence.
This may include - the environment the drugs for found, the way they were packaged, the suspects admissions, presence of large amounts of money or tick lists showing sales.
What is the presumptive amount for Heroine?
0.5grams
What is the presumptive amount for Cocaine?
0.5grams