Source: http://equalrights4all.us/www.chrisconrad.com/docs/expert.witness/spark.htm
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 19:43:55+00:00

Document:
Appellate court in People v. Spark overturns conviction after finding that the Compassionate Use Act does not require a finding of "serious illness" for affirmative defense under Prop 215, California's Compassionate Use Act.
Note: The portion of this ruling that was published and citable deals with not second-guessing the doctor and not having to prove the defendant was "seriously ill". The portion that was not certified for publication is regarding whether or not there was substantial evidence supporting the conviction. People v. Spark is good law in California.
NOEL CLARENCE SPARK, Defendant and Appellant.
Patricia A. Scott, under appointment by the Court of Appeal, for Defendant and Appellant.
Bill Lockyer, Attorney General, Robert R. Anderson, Chief Assistant Attorney General, Mary Jo Graves, Assistant Attorney General, John G. McLean and Mark A. Johnson, Deputy Attorneys General, for Plaintiff and Respondent.
In June of 2002, a jury found appellant guilty of cultivating marijuana (Health & Saf. Code, § 11358).[FOOTNOTE 1] His unsuccessful defense was based upon the Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (§ 11362.5), also known as Proposition 215, adopted by the California electorate as an initiative statute in November of 1996. Subdivision (d) of section 11362.5 states in pertinent part that: "... Section 11358, relating to the cultivation of marijuana, shall not apply to a patient, or to a patient's primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician." Appellant's jury was instructed with the 1999 revision of CALJIC No. 12.24.1, which stated in part that, "[t]he defendant has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence all of the facts necessary to establish the elements of this defense ...." Then on July 18, 2002, before appellant was sentenced, the California Supreme Court decided People v. Mower (2002) 28 Cal.4th 457 (Mower). In Mower the court expressly rejected the argument that a defendant must prove a compassionate use defense by a preponderance of the evidence. The Mower court stated, "we conclude that, as to the facts underlying the defense provided by section 11362.5(d), defendant is required merely to raise a reasonable doubt." (Mower, supra, at p. 481.) Appellant moved for and was granted a new trial.
At appellant's second trial he again raised a Compassionate Use Act defense, but again was found guilty of cultivating marijuana (§ 11358). This time appellant's jury was instructed that, "[t]he burden of proving the defense of compassionate use rests upon the defendant to raise a reasonable doubt as to the case against him." The jury was also instructed, however, that one of the "elements" of that defense was that "[t]he defendant was seriously ill." The court sentenced appellant to three years probation subject to several conditions, including that he serve six months in the county jail.
On this appeal he raises three issues. He contends: (1) the jury was erroneously instructed on the defense of compassionate use; (2) the evidence was insufficient to support the verdict; and (3) the court erred in failing to sentence him under the diversion provisions of Proposition 36. As we shall explain, we agree with appellant's first contention and disagree with the second. Our conclusion that the jury was erroneously instructed requires reversal of the judgment and renders moot appellant's third contention. In the published portion of this opinion, we hold that the compassionate use defense of section 11362.5 does not require a defendant to present evidence that he or she was "seriously ill."
On October 10, 2001, the Kern County sheriff received an anonymous tip about marijuana growing in the backyard of Zelma Spark's trailer home in Inyokern. Two sheriff's deputies went to the home on the night of October 25 and saw a marijuana plant growing in the backyard area. The plant was about six feet tall.
The deputies went to the front door and contacted Ms. Spark. She told them her son, appellant Noel Spark, had been given permission to grow marijuana. The deputies searched the backyard and found two more marijuana plants. One of the plants was about three feet tall and was in full bloom; the other was a recently-harvested stalk. The officers seized all three plants from the backyard. The plants belonged to Ms. Spark's son, appellant Noel Spark, who was living with his mother at the time.
The next day, appellant telephoned the police and said he had stayed in his mother's home for three or four weeks but now lived in San Bernardino County. He admitted the marijuana plants seized from his mother's home were his, and he said he took lengths to keep the plants hidden. He also said he smoked about a half ounce of marijuana per week. Appellant claimed that he smoked marijuana for pain and that he had obtained a marijuana prescription from Dr. William Eidelman.
Appellant called to the stand Dr. William Eidelman. On May 8, 2001, appellant consulted Dr. Eidelman about medicinal marijuana. Appellant complained he had suffered from chronic back pain for about 10 years. Dr. Eidelman conducted an examination and determined appellant suffered from back pain. He gave appellant a letter approving the use of medicinal marijuana pursuant to Proposition 215. At trial, Dr. Eidelman opined appellant was in fact a seriously ill patient who qualified for medicinal marijuana to treat his pain.
On cross-examination, Dr. Eidelman acknowledged he was no longer licensed to practice medicine at the time of the trial. His license had been suspended for giving medicinal marijuana recommendations to four undercover police officers.
Dr. Eidelman also acknowledged that, when he examined appellant in May 2001, he did not review any of appellant's medical records before making his recommendation for marijuana use. The doctor used only his hands and his eyes when examining appellant. Dr. Eidelman's medical practice consisted only of himself-he had no receptionist or nurse. He did not accept insurance and usually only accepted cash payment. He did not arrange to have appellant return for a follow-up consultation.
Appellant also called to the stand Dr. David Bearman. On June 7, 2002-well after appellant's arrest-Dr. Bearman saw appellant to determine if he met the criteria for a recommendation for medicinal marijuana under Proposition 215. After giving appellant a physical examination and reviewing some of appellant's medical records, Dr. Bearman concluded appellant suffered from chronic back pain. Dr. Bearman considered appellant's condition to be serious, qualifying for medicinal marijuana.
Appellant took the stand on his own behalf. He said he was growing the three marijuana plants seized from his mother's yard solely for medicinal use to control back pain. He also said he had suffered from back pain for over 10 years.
Appellant claimed Dr. Eidelman recommended marijuana for treatment and gave him the letter only after the doctor examined him and concluded that appellant suffered from serious, chronic back pain. Only then did appellant begin cultivating marijuana. He claimed he had never grown marijuana prior to the doctor's recommendation. He also said he provided the police with Dr. Eidelman's recommendation after the police seized the plants. Appellant also said Dr. Bearman later examined him and also found his back condition was a serious illness warranting the use of medicinal marijuana.
The San Bernardino County police received information that Dr. Eidelman would sell a medicinal marijuana recommendation "for $250 with no medical condition needed." Police Detective Michael Wirz conducted an undercover operation to investigate the matter. On October 10, 2001, he telephoned Dr. Eidelman to arrange a meeting. Dr. Eidelman told the detective a recommendation would cost $250 to be paid in cash only.
The detective went to Dr. Eidelman's office that same day. He told the doctor he had no medical condition but wanted to buy a marijuana recommendation to keep the police away while he grew his own marijuana. With no further questions, Dr. Eidelman printed a written recommendation. The doctor handed over the certificate and said he needed to list some illness for his records. Detective Wirz again said he smoked marijuana because he liked it, because it made him happy, and because it helped him sleep. Dr. Eidelman then said he would list the detective as suffering from depression for purposes of the recommendation.
The detective then handed Dr. Eidelman $250 in cash. At no time did Dr. Eidelman ask anything about medical history or conduct any kind of examination.
Santa Monica Police Detective Joan Rosario also conducted an undercover investigation of Dr. Eidelman's practice. On August 1, 2001, she telephoned Dr. Eidelman. He said she could come to his office to buy a marijuana prescription letter for $250 in cash. She went to Dr. Eidelman's office that same day and said she was there to purchase a marijuana prescription. Again, Dr. Eidelman conducted no examination and took no medical history. Again, he simply gave her a recommendation letter and took $250 in return. Again, the detective never complained of any actual illness but simply said she was unable to sleep and suffered from headaches without marijuana.
A. The Text of the Compassionate Use Act and of the Trial Court's Instruction.
" (a) This section shall be known and may be cited as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996.
"(d) Section 11357, relating to the possession of marijuana, and Section 11358, relating to the cultivation of marijuana, shall not apply to a patient, or to a patient's primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician.
" A person is not guilty of the unlawful cultivation possession or cultivation of marijuana when the acts of the defendant are authorized by law for compassionate use.
"The burden of proving the defense of compassionate use rests upon the defendant to raise a reasonable doubt as to the case against him.
"3. The amount of marijuana possessed or cultivated was reasonably related to the defendant's then current medical needs."
Appellant contends that the essence of the Compassionate Use Act defense is set forth in subdivision (d) of section 11362.5 (that he "cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician" ) and does not include a requirement that he present evidence that he was "seriously ill." As we shall explain, we agree with appellant.
C. The Language of the Statute is Clear.
" Section 11357, relating to the possession of marijuana, and Section 11358, relating to the cultivation of marijuana, shall not apply to a patient, or to a patient's primary caregiver, who possesses or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician."
We also observe that none of the published opinions addressing the Compassionate Use Act has assumed or suggested that the compassionate use defense includes being "seriously ill" as one of the facts underlying this defense. See, e.g., People v. Jones (2003) 112 Cal.App.4th 341; People v. Galambos (2002) 104 Cal.App.4th 1147; People v. Fisher (2002) 96 Cal.App.4th 1147; People v. Bianco (2001) 93 Cal.App.4th 748; People v. Young (2001) 92 Cal.App.4th 229; People v. Rigo (1999) 69 Cal.App.4th 409; People ex rel. Lungren v. Peron (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1383; and People v. Trippet (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 1532. The one California Supreme Court decision addressing the Compassionate Use Act, People v. Mower, supra, 28 Cal.4th 457, referred to the defense of compassionate use as "the section 11362.5(d) defense" and "the defense provided by section 11362.5(d)." (Mower, supra, at pp. 464, 476.) One case, People v. Tilehkooh (2003) 113 Cal.App.4th 1433, held that a trial court erred in refusing to allow a defendant to present a compassionate use defense at a probation revocation hearing when one of the trial court's reasons for finding the defense inapplicable was that the defendant "was not ' seriously ill.' " (Id. at p. 1440.) We note that in Tilehkooh, unlike in the present case, "[t]he People [did] not contest defendant's argument ... that the trial court improperly evaluated the preliminary facts necessary to establish the section 11362.5 defense" (id. at p. 440, fn. 9), but instead raised other, unsuccessful arguments for the inapplicability of section 11362.5 to probation revocation proceedings. Nevertheless, Tilehkooh is in accord with our conclusion that being "seriously ill" is not one of the facts underlying the compassionate use defense.
D. The Error was Prejudicial.
Section II -- Not certified for publication.
Comment: We have not included the portion of the ruling that is not to be cited.
WE CONCUR: BUCKLEY, J., WISEMAN, J.
FN*. Pursuant to California Rules of Court, rules 976(b) and 976.1, this opinion is certified for publication with the exception of section II.
FN1. All further statutory references are to the Health and Safety Code unless otherwise indicated.
FN2. Appellant also takes issue with the third paragraph of the compassionate use defense instruction given to his jury. (See section I.A. of this opinion, ante.) More particularly, he objects to the statement that the defense is available to a defendant who "proves all of the facts necessary to establish the elements of the defense" even though a defendant need not prove the defense by a preponderance of the evidence in order for the defense to be successful. (Mower, supra, 28 Cal.4th at p. 484.) Whether this language is so susceptible of misinterpretation as to constitute instructional error is an issue we need not reach here. The instruction was already fatally flawed because, as we have explained, it erroneously included a component that the defendant "was seriously ill."

References: v. 
 v. 
 § 11358
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.