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Filed 4/9/21 P. v. Braganza CA3

NOT TO BE PUBLISHED

California Rules of Court, rule 8.1115(a), prohibits courts and parties from citing or relying on opinions not certified for 

publication or ordered published, except as specified by rule 8.1115(b). This opinion has not been certified for publication 

or ordered published for purposes of rule 8.1115.

IN THE COURT OF APPEAL OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA

THIRD APPELLATE DISTRICT

(Lassen)

----

THE PEOPLE,

Plaintiff and Respondent,

v.

ALEX JONATHAN BRAGANZA,

Defendant and Appellant.

C091158

(Super. Ct. No. CH030105)

Defendant Alex Jonathan Braganza pleaded guilty to possessing less than an 

ounce of cannabis in 2011 while in prison, in violation of Penal Code section 4573.6. In 

2017 voters passed Proposition 64, decriminalizing adult possession of less than an ounce 

of cannabis in most situations. Defendant filed a petition in superior court requesting 

dismissal of his conviction under Proposition 64, which the trial court denied. On appeal, 

defendant argues Proposition 64’s reach includes decriminalization of cannabis 

possession in prison. We will affirm.
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BACKGROUND

In August 2012, defendant was charged with possession of cannabis while an 

inmate at High Desert State Prison (Pen. Code, § 4573.6) and resisting an executive 

officer using force or violence (Pen. Code, § 69) on or about October 11, 2011. It was 

further alleged as to both counts defendant had two prior convictions for serious or 

violent felonies (Pen. Code, §§ 667, subds. (b)-(i), 1170.12). Defendant possessed 0.68 

grams of cannabis.

Defendant pleaded guilty to possession and admitted one prior conviction; the 

remaining charges were dismissed. The court sentenced defendant to the middle term of 

three years for possession in prison, doubled to six years for the prior strike.

In October 2019, defendant petitioned for resentencing under Health and Safety 

Code section 11361.8, subdivision (b).1 After an initial denial without prejudice and 

further research, the court denied the petition.

DISCUSSION

Defendant argues on appeal the trial court erred in not dismissing his conviction 

for possessing 0.68 grams of cannabis. Defendant contends Proposition 64 

decriminalized possession of less than an ounce2 of cannabis in all but specific 

exceptions not relevant to him, invalidating his Penal Code section 4573.6 conviction. 

Though ingestion and smoking cannabis in prison remain illegal, defendant asserts there 

is no such exception from Proposition 64’s decriminalization for possessing cannabis in 

prison. We disagree.

Penal Code section 4573.6 provides: “Any person who knowingly has in his or 

her possession in any state prison . . . any controlled substances, the possession of which 

1 Undesignated statutory references are to the Health and Safety Code.

2 An ounce equals about 28.5 grams. (People v. Trippet (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 1532, 

1547, fn. 10.)
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is prohibited by Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety 

Code . . . is guilty of a felony . . . .” (Pen. Code, § 4573.6, subd. (a).) In October 2011, at 

the time of defendant’s offense, and immediately prior to Proposition 64 passing, section 

11357, subdivision (b) made possession of not more than 28.5 grams of cannabis “an 

infraction punishable by a fine of not more than one hundred dollars ($100).” (§ 11357,

former subd. (b), eff. Oct. 1, 2011, to Nov. 8, 2016.)

On November 8, 2016, voters approved Proposition 64, the Control, Regulate and 

Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. Among other things, Proposition 64 decriminalized 

cannabis3 possession and ingestion for adults over 21 years old in most circumstances. It 

accomplished this in several ways including adding section 11362.1. This section 

provides: “notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be lawful under state and 

local law, and shall not be a violation of state or local law, for persons 21 years of age or 

older to” possess not more than 28.5 grams of unconcentrated cannabis or eight grams of 

concentrated cannabis, cultivate up to six cannabis plants, smoke or ingest cannabis 

products, or give away cannabis to other persons 21 years or older without compensation. 

(§ 11362.1, subd. (a).) Proposition 64 also amended section 11357, the provision 

prohibiting cannabis possession within division 10, to conform to section 11362.1. 

(Voter Information Guide, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 8, 2016) text of Prop. 64, pp. 204-205.) 

Individuals who would not have been guilty of an offense had Proposition 64 been in 

effect at the time of their offense may petition to have their sentence recalled or 

dismissed. (§ 11361.8, subd. (a).)

There are several exceptions to the reach of section 11362.1’s decriminalization

under section 11362.45. This provision states, “Section 11362.1 does not amend, repeal, 

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In 2017, the Legislature substituted the term “cannabis” for “marijuana” in the Health 

and Safety Code. (Stats. 2017, ch. 27, §§ 113-160.) Consequently, we use the term 

“cannabis” throughout this opinion for all purposes.
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affect, restrict, or preempt,” and then it enumerates several classes of laws involving

cannabis possession and consumption in certain circumstances. Relevant to this appeal, 

subdivision (d) states: “Laws pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis or cannabis 

products on the grounds of, or within, any facility or institution under the jurisdiction of 

the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or the Division of Juvenile Justice, or 

on the grounds of, or within, any other facility or institution referenced in Section 4573 of 

the Penal Code.” (§ 11362.45, subd. (d).)

This appeal poses the question: Is possession of less than 28.5 grams of cannabis 

in prison still illegal after Proposition 64? Several courts, including this court, have 

already addressed this question, but there has not been uniformity. We follow those 

opinions concluding Proposition 64 does not permit possession of cannabis in prison.

This is a question of statutory interpretation, which we review de novo. (People v.

Medina (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 61, 66.) “ ‘In interpreting a voter initiative . . . , we apply 

the same principles that govern statutory construction.’ ” (Robert L. v. Superior Court 

(2003) 30 Cal.4th 894, 900.) “Under fundamental rules of statutory construction, we 

must ascertain the intent of the Legislature, or the electorate, from examining the statute 

as a whole in order to effectuate the purpose of the law.” (People v. Saelee (2018) 

28 Cal.App.5th 744, 752.) “ ‘Absent ambiguity, we presume that the voters intend the 

meaning apparent on the face of an initiative measure [citation] and the court may not 

add to the statute or rewrite it to conform to an assumed intent that is not apparent in its 

language.’ [Citation.] Where there is ambiguity in the language of the measure, ‘[b]allot 

summaries and arguments may be considered when determining the voters’ intent and 

understanding of a ballot measure.’ ” (Professional Engineers in California Government

v. Kempton (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1016, 1037.)

The court in People v. Perry (2019) 32 Cal.App.5th 885 (Perry) concluded

possession of cannabis in prison is still illegal. Perry found important the use of 

“pertaining to” in section 11362.45, subdivision (d). “Definitions of the term ‘pertain’ 
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demonstrate its wide reach: It means . . . ‘[b]e appropriate, related, or applicable to’ 

[citation]. We would be hard pressed to conclude that possession of cannabis is

unrelated to smoking or ingesting the substance.” (Perry, at p. 891.) It also emphasized, 

“Section 11362.45, subdivision (d), states the exception to the legalization provision of 

section 11362.1 in extremely broad terms.” (Id. at p. 892.) From this, “It is apparent that

Proposition 64, in sections 11362.1 and 11362.45, was intended to maintain the status 

quo with respect to the legal status of cannabis in prison.” (Id. at pp. 892-893.) The

Perry court also rejected the defendant’s argument that Penal Code section 4573.6 no 

longer applies to possession of less than 28.5 grams by an adult prisoner because 

Proposition 64 modified division 10. The court reasoned that such an interpretation 

“would make meaningless the express provision of Proposition 64 that its legalization of 

cannabis did not ‘amend, repeal, affect, restrict, or preempt: [¶] . . . [¶] . . . [l]aws 

pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis’ in penal institutions.” (Perry, at p. 894.) 

Finally, the court concluded if there was any ambiguity, the lack of any reference to 

reformation of cannabis laws in prison within Proposition 64’s voter information

confirms this reform was not intended. (Perry, at pp. 894-895.)

In People v. Raybon (2019) 36 Cal.App.5th 111, review granted August 21, 2019, 

S256978 (Raybon), a different panel of this court reached a different conclusion. The 

court relied on Proposition 64’s elimination of cannabis from division 10: “the insertion

of the qualifier ‘prohibited by’ before the reference to division 10 [in Penal Code section 

4573.6] means that it limits the criminalized controlled substances to those prohibited by 

division 10. Possession of less than one ounce of cannabis is no longer prohibited by 

division 10, and therefore, according to the plain language of Penal Code section 4573.6, 

it is no longer a felony to possess less than one ounce in prison.” (Raybon, at pp. 120-

121.) The court also found no ambiguity in “pertaining to smoking or ingesting” in 

section 11362.45, subdivision (d) -- it only includes smoking and ingesting. Conversely, 

“it stretches the imagination to conclude that the drafters listed two distinct activities, 
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‘smoking or ingesting,’ intending to include a third distinct activity, possession, by using 

the vague reference ‘pertaining to.’ ” (Raybon, at p. 121.) This does not render 

“pertaining to” surplusage because it describes “the vast array of means of consumption 

and consumption, not possession, is the act the voters determined should remain 

criminalized if the user is in prison.” (Raybon, at p. 122.) This includes acts of 

consumption other than smoking or ingesting, such as inhaling nonburning vapor or 

topical application. (Ibid.) “Had the drafters intended for possession to remain a felony, 

along with consumption, they would have said so.” (Ibid.)

In People v. Whalum (2020) 50 Cal.App.5th 1, review granted August 12, 2020,

S262935 (Whalum), and People v. Herrera (2020) 52 Cal.App.5th 982, review granted 

October 14, 2020, S264339 (Herrera), the courts agreed with Perry and disagreed with 

Raybon. These cases apply substantially similar reasoning, including that “pertaining to 

smoking or ingesting” must include possession. (Whalum, at pp. 11-12; Herrera, at 

p. 991.) The plain meaning of “pertaining to” is broad and relational, not an exact 

correspondence. (Whalum, at pp. 11-12; Herrera, at p. 991.) And the other exceptions in 

section 11362.45 use more precise language, such as “prohibiting” or “making it

unlawful,” confirming the relational nature of “pertaining to.” (Whalum, at pp. 11-12; 

Herrera, at pp. 991-992.) Further, there was no statute specifically making it a crime to 

smoke or ingest cannabis in a correctional institution. (Whalum, at p. 13; Herrera, at 

p. 992.) This confirms the voters’ intent to exempt provisions prohibiting possession in 

prison, such as Penal Code section 4573.6, from Proposition 64’s decriminalization. 

(Whalum, at p. 13; Herrera, at p. 992.) Herrera also adopted Perry’s analysis about

Proposition 64’s modifications to division 10.4 (Herrera, at pp. 994-995.) Finally, both 

4 Whalum examined Proposition 64’s effect on Penal Code section 4573.8, which 

prohibits possession of all drugs and alcohol within correctional institutions. This section 
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cases also agreed with Perry that if there is any ambiguity, the lack of references to 

reform of cannabis possession in prison in the voter guide or other information provided 

to voters confirms Proposition 64 did not decriminalize cannabis possession in prison. 

(Whalum, at pp. 14-15; Herrera, at p. 993.)

We conclude the analysis in Perry, Herrera, and Whalum better conforms to the

plain language of Proposition 64. The specific inclusion of “smoking or ingesting” in 

section 11362.45, subdivision (d) cannot be analyzed in a vacuum. These words are

modified by “pertaining to,” which most clearly indicates a relational list, not an 

exhaustive list. So focusing on “smoking or ingesting” would require ignoring the import 

of “pertaining to.” And disallowing section 11362.45, subdivision (d)’s application to 

“possession” would render this provision surplusage because there are no laws 

specifically addressing smoking or ingesting in prison. Though it may have been clearer 

to specifically include the word “possession” and all other possible acts “pertaining to” 

smoking and ingesting, it was not necessary to do so because of the wide reach of

“pertaining to.”

Finally, Proposition 64’s modifications to division 10 did not eliminate Penal 

Code section 4573.6’s prohibition against cannabis possession in prison. This can best be

understood by contrasting our opinion in People v. Fenton (1993) 20 Cal.App.4th 965, a

case defendant asserts we must follow. There, a prisoner was convicted for violating 

Penal Code section 4573, which proscribes smuggling into jail a controlled substance, 

“the possession of which is prohibited by Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) 

of the Health and Safety Code.” (Pen. Code, § 4573, subd. (a).) The prisoner brought a 

controlled substance into prison, but he had a prescription for it and section 11350, 

subdivision (a) permits possession of a controlled substance “upon the written

does not incorporate division 10 so Proposition 64’s effect on division 10 was not 

relevant in Whalum. (Whalum, supra, 50 Cal.App.5th at pp. 9-10, review granted.)
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prescription of a physician.” Overturning the conviction, the court reasoned “the 

reference to division 10 must include the prescription exception because [Penal Code] 

section 4573 imports the prohibition against possession of controlled substances not the 

list of controlled substances.” (Fenton, at p. 969.) Therefore, Penal Code “[s]ection 

4573 permits controlled substances to be in penal institutions under proper

circumstances.” (Fenton, at p. 969.)

This reasoning is inapposite here because section 11362.45, subdivision (d), 

specifically excludes application of Proposition 64’s decriminalization provisions in 

prison, and therefore excludes its modifications to division 10. So here, possession of 

cannabis in prison is not a “ ‘proper circumstance[].’ ” (Perry, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at 

p. 894 [contrasting Fenton]; Herrera, supra, 52 Cal.App.5th at p. 994 [same], review 

granted.) Ultimately, we do not believe the voters intended to eliminate felony liability 

under Penal Code section 4573.6 through elimination of an infraction in section 1357 

without saying so and in contradiction to the plain language of the enacted statutory 

provisions. (C.f. People v. Buford (2016) 4 Cal.App.5th 886, 903 [“Had voters intended 

to permit retention of an indeterminate term only in extraordinary cases, they would have 

said so in subdivision (f) of section 1170.126, rather than employing language that 

affords courts broad discretion to find dangerousness.”].)
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DISPOSITION

The judgment is affirmed.

 /s/

HOCH, J.

We concur:

 /s/

MAURO, Acting P. J.

 /s/

DUARTE, J.