Source: https://medicalmarijuana.procon.org/view.background-resource.php?resourceID=000867
Timestamp: 2017-11-24 18:43:06
Document Index: 556531003

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1', '§ 11362', '§ 836', '§ 10', '§ 1334', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 995', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 525', '§ 1', '§ 11362', '§ 215', '§ 214', '§ 525', '§ 1', '§ 501', '§ 500', '§ 1', '§ 501', '§ 1', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 11362', '§ 502', '§ 502']

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA - Medical Marijuana - ProCon.org
Last updated on: 6/26/2008 9:15:00 AM PST
Sections 11357 and 11358 of the Health and Safety Code make it a crime to possess and cultivate marijuana..1
At the general election held on November 5, 1996, the electors approved an initiative statute designated on the ballot as Proposition 215 and entitled "Medical Use of Marijuana." In pertinent part, the measure added section 11362.5, the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. (Prop. 215, § 1, as approved by electors, Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) adding § 11362.5, subd. (a).) Subdivision (d) of section 11362.5 (hereafter 11362.5(d)) provides that "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 possess or cultivates marijuana for the personal medical purposes of the patient upon the written or oral recommendation or approval of a physician."
In the present case, although recognizing that section 11362.5(d) provides a defense at trial, the Court of Appeal concluded that the provision does not grant what defendant characterized before the court as a novel kind of "complete" immunity from prosecution. The immunity invoked by defendant would have shielded him not only from prosecution but even from arrest, and would have required the reversal of his convictions for possession and cultivation of marijuana because of the alleged failure by law enforcement officers to conduct an adequate investigation of his status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver before proceeding to effect and arrest.
As we shall explain, we conclude that the Court of Appeal was correct in concluding that section 11362.5(d) does not confer the "complete" immunity from prosecution claimed by defendant. But we also conclude that, in light of its language and purpose, section 11362.5(d) reasonably must be interpreted to grant a defendant a limited immunity fro prosecution, which not only allows a defendant to raise his or her status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver as a defense at trial, but also permits a defendant to raise such status by moving to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial on the ground of the absence of reasonable or probable cause to believe that he or she is guilty. In this case, however, defendant did not make such a pretrial motion and, contrary to his claim, he was not deprived by the trial court of an opportunity to do so.
In his briefing in this court, defendant raises a question concerning the allocation and weight of the burden of proof as to the facts underlying the section 11362.5(d) defense. Defendant contends that the People are required to prove the nonexistence of these facts by a preponderance of the evidence or, at most, that the defendant is required merely to raise a reasonable doubt about their existence. Accordingly he claims that the trial court committed reversible error by instructing the jury that he was required to prove the facts supporting the defense by a perponderance of the evidence. Although the Court of Appeal did not expressly address this issue, it did imply, in the course of discussing another issue, that the trial court's instruction was proper. Even though defendant failed to raise this question in the Court of Appeal, it is of general importance for all future cases involving the section 11362.5(d) defense. The people do not argue that the issue is not properly before us, but rather argue its merits directly and at length. Of substantial moment, the pattern jury instruction CALJIC No. 12.24.1 (1999 rev.)(6th ed. 1996) states that the defendant bears the burden of proof as to the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence. The general importance of the question counsels us to address it.
We conclude that, under general principles of California law, the burden of proof as to the facts underlying the section 11362.5(d) defense may, and should, be allocated to defendant, but the defendant should be required merely to raise a reasonable doubt as to those facts rather than to prove them by a preponderance of the evidence. Thus, we conclude that the trial court's instruction in this case, requiring defendant to prove the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence, not only was erroneous but also reversible because it went to the heart of the case against defendant.
Accordingly, we conclude that we must reverse the judgment of the Court of Appeal and order the cause to be remanded to the trial court for a new trial before a properly instructed jury. 2
On July 11, 1997, deputies conducted another probation search of defendant's residence, this time while he was in a hospital because of complications arising from diabetes. Upon finding 31 marijuana plants at the residence, the deputies left three plants there in accordance with the three-plant policy, and confiscated the remaining 28. Later that day, a deputy interviewed defendant in the hospital. There, defendant stated that he kept the marijuana plants for himself and for two other persons who were "patients" with "prescriptions" -- "[o]ne's a lady about sixty years old...from Britain" who "doesn't know anybody in California," and "the other one...is just kind of a dumb, dumb person"; defendant refused to "giv[e] up any names until I ask them if they want to be hassled." Weeks later, defendant was arrested.
After deliberations, the jury returned verdicts finding defendant guilty of possession and cultivation of marijuana. The trial court rendered a judgment that, among other things, suspended imposition of sentence and placed defendant on probation for five years under specified conditions. 3
The Court of Appeal affirmed. Declining "to apply...principles of waiver" as urged by the People, it considered the claim, raised by defendant for the first time on appeal, that section 11362.5(d) grants a defendant "complete" immunity from prosecution, shielding him not only from prosecution but even from arrest, and requiring reversal of his convictions because of the alleged failure by law enforcement officers to conduct an adequate investigation prior to his arrest. Although the Court of Appeal recognized that section 11362.5(d) allows a defense at trial, it concluded that the provision does not grant any such immunity from prosecution. The Court of Appeal also rejected a claim by defendant that the trial court erred by failing to instruct the jury on a section 11362.5(d) defense based on theory that he was a qualified primary caregiver, determining, among other things, that such an instruction would not have been supported by substantial evidence.
We granted defendant's petition for review, subsequently limiting the issue before us to a determination of the meaning and effect of section 11362.5(d)
The initial question that we address in this case is whether section 11362.5(d) grants a defendant "complete" immunity from prosecution, an immunity that assertedly would require reversal of a conviction for possession or cultivation of marijuana whenever law enforcement officers fail to conduct an adequate investigation of the defendant's status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver prior to his or her arrest. As noted, the Court of Appeals rejected the contention that section 11362.5(d) grants any such "complete" immunity from prosecution.
Proposition 215 added sections 11362.5, which provides in its entirety:
"(b)(1) The people of the State of California hereby find and declare that the purposes of the Compassionate Use Act of 1196 are as follows:
"(b)(2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to supersede legislation prohibiting persons from engaging in conduct that endangers others, nor to condone the diversion of marijuana for nonmedical purposes.
In his briefing in the Court of Appeal, defendant contended that in addition to allowing a defendant to raise his or her status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver as a defense at trial, section 11362.5(d) grants what defendant characterized as a "complete" immunity from prosecution. In advancing this claim, defendant asserted that section 11362.5 as a whole imposes an obligation on law enforcement officers to "investigate first, arrest later": Such officers "must determine if a person is cultivating or possesses marijuana," "if that person represents that he/she is" a qualified patient or primary caregiver, and "how much [marijuana] can be grown or possessed in relation to the actual medical needs of" the person. Because, in defendant's view, no such officer conducted an investigation of this kind prior to his arrest, he maintained that the "complete" immunity from prosecution that he assertedly was granted by section 11362.5(d) requires reversal of his conviction.
We agree with the Court of Appeal that section 11362.5(d) does not grant any sort of "complete" immunity from prosecution that would require reversal of defendant's convictions. To be sure, law enforcement officers must have probably cause before they lawfully may arrest a person for any crime. (See, e.g., People v. Campa (1984) 36 Cal.3d 870, 879; see also Pen. Code, § 836.) Probably cause depends on all of the surrounding facts (see, e.g., People v. Campa, supra, 36 Cal.3d at p. 879), including those that reveal a person's status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver under section 11362.5(d). But contrary to defendant's position, the requirement that law enforcement officers have probable cause for an arrest does not mean that section 11362.5(d) must be interpreted to grant such persons immunity from arrest. It is well established that immunity from arrest is exceptional, and, when granted, ordinarily is granted expressly. (See generally 4 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law (3d ed. 2000) Pretrial Proceedings, § 10, pp. 208-209, citing among other provisions, Pen. Code, § 1334.4 [providing that "[i]f a person comes into this State in obedience to a subpoena..., he shall not, while in this State pursuant to the subpoena..., be subject to arrest...in connection with matters which arose before his entrance into this State under the subpoena"].) Plainly, section 11362.5(d) does not expressly grant immunity from arrest.
Thus, we conclude that section 11362.5(d) does not grant any immunity from arrest, and certainly no immunity that would require reversal of a conviction because of any illegal failure on the part of law enforcement officers to conduct an adequate investigation prior to arrest.
One example of a grant of limited immunity from prosecution is found in subdivision (n) of section 602 of the Penal Code (hereafter Penal Code Section 602(n)), which makes it a crime to trespass on another's property and then provides that its terms "shall not be applicable to persons engaged in lawful labor union activities..." (See In re Catalano (1981) 29 Cal.3d 1, 12, fn. 12.) Such a statutory provision bars prosecution by rendering noncriminal certain conduct that otherwise would be criminal.
Another example of a grant of limited immunity from prosecution is seen in subdivision (b) of section 12924 of the Insurance Code (hereafter Insurance Code section 12924(b)), which provides that, as a general matter, "no individual shall be prosecuted or be subjected to punishment for" any crime "concerning which he or she is...compelled" but the Insurance Commissioner "to testify or produce" other evidence. (See People v. King, supra 66 Cal.2d at p. 637.) Such a statutory provision bars prosecution for reasons extrinsic to the criminality of the underlying conduct -- here, because of compelled self-incrimination.
A statutory provision that grants a defendant a limited immunity from prosecution may serve as a basis for a motion to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial, as well as a basis for a defense at trial. (People v. Backus, supra, 23 cal.3d at pp. 380-381; People v. McGee (1977) 19 Cal.3d 948, 968, fn. 9; accord, People v. King, supra, 66 Cal.2d at p. 645.)
By its terms, section 11362.5(d) provides that 11357 and 11358, which criminalize the possession and cultivation of marijuana,4 "shall not apply to a patient, or...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." (§ 11362.5(d).) Thus, within its scope, section 11362.5(d) renders possession and cultivation of marijuana noncriminal -- that is to say, it renders possession and cultivation of the marijuana noncriminal for a qualified patient or primary caregiver.
As is indicated by the text of section 11362.5, quoted above, the purpose informing section 11362.5(d) is twofold: (1) "[t]o ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person's health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of...any...illness for which marijuana provides relief" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(A)); and (2) "[t]o ensure that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B), italics added).
We believe that just as a grant of limited immunity from prosecution is found in Penal Code section 602(n), which makes it a crime to trespass on another's property and then provides that its terms "shall not be applicable to persons engaged in lawful labor union activities" (see In re Catalano, supra, 29 Cal.3d at p. 12, fn. 12, italics added), and just as a grant of limited immunity from prosecution is seen in Insurance Code section 12924(b), which provides that, as a general matter, "no individual shall be prosecuted or subjected to punishment for" and crime "concerning which he or she is...compelled" by the Insurance Commissioner "to testify or produce" other evidence (see People v. King, Supra, 66 Cal.2d at p. 637, italics added), a grant of limited immunity from prosecution also must properly be found in section 11362.5(d), which provides that sections 11357 and 11358 "shall not apply to" qualified patients and primary caregivers (§ 11362.5(d)), particularly in view of its purpose of prohibiting "criminal prosecution [and] sanctions" of such qualified patients and primary caregivers for such crimes (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B)).
It is evident that section 11362.5(d)'s grant of limited immunity from prosecution does not operate, as does that of Insurance Code section 12924(b), for reasons extrinsic t the criminality of the underlying conduct. Rather, it operates, in the manner of Penal Code section 602(n), to render noncriminal certain conduct that otherwise would be criminal.
We have held that the prohibition against criminal "prosecut[ion]" and criminal "punishment" found in Insurance Code section 12924(b) "cannot be given its proper effect unless it...is recognized as a proper basis for" setting aside an indictment or information. (People v. King, supra, 66 Cal.2d at p. 645.) Otherwise, a criminal prosecution hardly could be said to be subject to prohibition at all, but simply could proceed unimpeded to whatever its resolution might be.
By parity of reasoning, we now hold that the prohibition against "criminal prosecution" as well as "criminal...sanction" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B)) that is implicit in section 11362.5(d) cannot be given its proper effect unless it too is recognized as a proper basis for setting aside an indictment or information.
Proposition 215's ballot pamphlet materials do not speak directly to the issue whether section 1136235(d) permits a motion to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial. But they say nothing to the contrary. That the proponents of Proposition 215 stated (in their rebuttal to the argument by the measure's opponents) that section 11362.5(d) "simply gives...a defense in court" (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) rebuttal to argument against Prop. 215, p. 61) does not signify that it allows a defense at trial but does not permit a motion to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial. Such a motion broadly would be considered a "defense in court" because, if successful, it would obviate any need for a trial.
Generally, in moving to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial based on a grant of limited immunity from prosecution, a defendant must proceed under the common law if the limited immunity operates for reason extrinsic to the criminality of the underlying conduct. (People v. King, supra, 66 Cal.2d at pp. 644-645), and may proceed under Penal Code section 995 if the limited immunity operates by rendering noncriminal certain conduct that otherwise would be criminal (see People v. Backus, supra, 23 Cal.3d at pp. 380-381).
Because the grant of limited immunity from prosecution in section 11362.5(d) operates by decriminalizing conduct that otherwise would be criminal, a defendant moving to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial based on his or her status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver may proceed under Penal COde section 995. To prevail, a defendant must show that, in light of the evidence presented to the grand jury or the magistrate, he or she was indicted or committed "without reasonable or probably cause" to believe that he or she was guilty of possession or cultivation of marijuana in view of his or her status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver. (Pen. Code, § 995, Subd. (a)(1)(B), (2)(B).) 5 " ' "Reasonable or probable cause" means such a state of facts would lead a man of ordinary caution or prudence to believe, and conscientiously entertain a strong suspicion of the guilt of the accused. "Reasonable and probable cause" may exist although there may be some room for doubt.' " (Lorenson v. Superior Court (1950) 35 Cal.2d 49, 56-57, quoting People v. Nagle (1944) 25 Cal.2d 216, 222.) Of course, in the absence of reasonable or probable cause to believe that a defendant is guilty of possession or cultivation of marijuana, in view of his or her status as a qualified patient or primary caregiver, the grand jury or the magistrate should not indict or commit the defendant in the first place, but instead should bring the prosecution to an end at that point.
Although we thus conclude that section 11362.5(d) reasonably must be interpreted to grant a defendant a limited immunity from prosecution allowing him or her to move to set aside an indictment or information prior to trial, in the present case defendant did not make any such motion. Defendant claims that the trial court deprived him of an opportunity to do so, but the record does not support his assertion. From all that appears, defendant simply failed to move prior to trial to set aside the information. The trial court did nothing to prevent or hinder him from doing so.6
As noted, the Court of Appeal recognized that section 11362.5(d) allows a medical defense at trial. In doing so, the Court of Appeal followed People v. Trippet (1997) 56 Cal.App.4th 1532, 1543-1551, People ex rel. Lungren v. Peron (1997) 59 Cal.App.4th 1383, 1388-1400, and People v. Rigo (1999) 69 Cal. App.4th 409, 412-415.
We agree that, in light of its language and purpose, section 11362.5(d) must be interpreted to allow a defense at trial. For a defendant to be able to avoid "criminal prosecution or sanction" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B)) when charged with possession or cultivation of marijuana in violation of section 11357 or 11358, he or she must be able to defend on the ground that these provisions do "no apply" (§ 11362.5(d)) because he or she is a qualified patient or primary caregiver.
Furthermore, ballot pamphlet materials for Proposition 215 expressly acknowledge that section 11362.5(d) allows a defense at trial. In rebuttal to the argument by opponents of Proposition 215 that section 11362.5(d) "will provide new legal looopholes for drug dealers to avoid arrest and prosecution" (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) argument against Prop. 215, p. 61), the measure's proponents stated: "Police officers can still arrest anyone for marijuana offenses," including possession and cultivation of the substance in violation of sections 11357 and 11358. (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) rebuttal to argument against Prop. 215, p. 61.) "Police officers can still arrest anyone who grows too much [marijuana], or tries to sell it." (ibid.) Section 11362.5(d) "simply gives those arrested" for possession or cultivation of marijuana "a defense in court, if they can prove" their status as qualified patients or primary caregivers. (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) rebuttal to argument against Prop. 215, p. 61, italics omitted.) Accordingly, section 11362.5(d) "would...protect" such persons "from criminal penalties for "possession or cultivation of marijuana. (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) argument in favor of Prop. 215, p. 60.)
Defendant contends that the Court of Appeal erred by rejecting his claim that the trial court improperly failed to instruct the jury on a section 11362.5(d) defense based on a theory that he was a qualified primary caregiver. We disagree.
As the Court of Appeal determined, such an instruction would not have been supported by substantial evidence. For a person to be a qualified primary caregiver, he or she must be "designated" as such by a qualified patient, and must have "consistently assumed responsibility" for the qualified patient's "housing, health, or safety." (§ 11362.5, subd. (e).) The sole evidence relevant to this issue was the statement made by defendant at the hospital, the truth of which he denied at trial, the he kept the 31 marijuana plants not only for himself but also for two other unnamed persons. Even if those two unnamed persons were in fact qualified patients, there was no evidence whatsoever that defendant had been designated by either one as a primary caregiver, or that he consistently had assumed responsibility for either person's housing, health or safety.
Defendant complains that the trail court deprived him of an opportunity to raise a defense under section 1136235(d) based on defendant's posttrial contention that he was a qualified primary caregiver. It is true that, in instructing on the section 11362.5(d) defense, the trial court referred only to a qualified patient and not to a qualified primary caregiver. But, as stated, there was no evidence suggesting that defendant had been designated by either one of the two unnamed persons as a primary caregiver or that he consistently had assumed responsibility for either one's housing, health or safety. The trial court did nothing to deprive defendant of an opportunity to raise such a defense; defendant simply failed to present any evidence to support it.
Defendant next raises a question concerning the allocation and weight of the burden of proof under the defense provided by section 11362.5(d), and the propriety of the trial court's related instruction.
In its charge to the jury, the trial court instructed that the defendant bore the burden of proof as to the facts underlying this defense, and that he was required to prove those facts by a perponderance of the evidence.
We begin our analysis of the question of the allocation and weight of the burden of proof under the defense provided by section 1136235(d) with the observation that the question involves two related but distinct issues.
The second issue is what is required to be done by the party who bears the burden of proof as to the facts underlying the defense, whether that party is the People or the defendant. Evidence Code section 115 provides that "[t]he burden of proof may require a party to raise a reasonable doubt concerning the existence or nonexistence of a fact or that he establish the existence or nonexistence of a fact by a perponderance of the evidence, by clear and convincing proof, or by proof beyond a reasonable doubt..."
With regard to the first issue -- whether it is the People or the defendant who bears the burden of proof as to the facts underlying the defense -- the answer is not provided by section 11362.5(d) itself, inasmuch as the statute does not expressly allocate any burden of proof as to the underlying facts, either to the People or to the defendant. Rather, as will appear, the answer is provided by the so-called rule of convenience and necessity, which has been articulated and applied in several prior decisions (see, e.g., People v. Agnew (1940) 16 Cal.2d 655, 663-667; In re Andre R. (1984) 158 Cal.App.3d 336, 341-342, and cases cited; see generally 5 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law, supra, Criminal Trial, § 525, p. 749).
The rule of convenience and necessity declares that, unless it is "unduly harsh or unfair," the "burden of proving an exonerating fact may be imposed on a defendant if its existence is 'peculiarly' within his personal knowledge and proof of its nonexistence by the prosecution would be relatively difficult or inconvenient." (In re Andre R., supra 158 Cal.App.3d at p. 342; accord, e.g., People v. Agnew, supra 16 Cal.2d at pp. 663-667.) The rule often has been invoked when the "exonerating fact" arises from an exception to a criminal statute. (See, e.g., in re Andre R., supra, 158 Cal.App.3d at pp. 341-342, citing cases; see also Model Pen. Code & Commentaries, com. 3 to § 1.12, p. 192; id., pp. 192-193, fn. 16.)
First, it would not only be unduly harsh or unfair to allocate to the defendant the burden of proving the facts underlying this defense. These facts are that he or she was a "patient" or "primary caregiver," that he or she "possesse[d]" or "cultivate[d]" the "marijuana" in question "for the personal medical purposes of [a] patient," and that he or she did so on the "recommendation or approval of a physician" (§ 11362.5(d)). The existence of these facts is peculiarly within a defendant's personal knowledge, and proof of their nonexistence by the prosecution would be relatively difficult or inconvenient.
Against this conclusion, defendant argues that section 11362.5(d) allocates to the People the burden of proof as to the facts underlying the defense provided by the statute. In support, defendant attempts to analogize this defense to the statute of limitations, under which the People bear the burden of proof (People v. Zamora (1976) 18 Cal.3d 538, 565, fn. 27). For present purposes, however, section 11362.5(d) is not analogous to the statute of limitations. Section 1136235(d) plainly allows a defense for which the rule of convenience and necessity supports allocating to the defendant the burden of proof as to the underlying facts. In contracts, the statute of limitations is self-executing and "is not a mere matter of defense" (1 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law, supra, Defenses, § 215, p. 576). The statute of limitations historically has been accorded treatment specific to itself. (See generally id., §§ 214-230, pp. 575-601.) We see no reason to accord the same treatment to section 11362.5(d), which allows a defense like that offered by many other statutory provisions.
With regard to the second issue -- what is required to be done by the party who bears the burden of proof as to the facts underlying this defense, whom we have determined to be the defendant -- the answer again is not provided by the statute itself, inasmuch as it does not expressly define the weight of the burden of proof. But neither is the answer afforded by the rule of convenience and necessity. Although the People rightly claim that the rule of convenience and necessity is "consistent" with requiring the defendant to prove the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence (See People v. Spry (1997) 58 Cal.App.4th 1345, 1367-1369, disapproved on another point by People v. Martin (2001) 25 Cal.4th 1180, 1192), the rule is just as consistent with requiring the defendant merely to raise a reasonable doubt (See People v. Agnew, supra, 16 Cal.2d at pp. 663-667; 5 Witkin & Epstein, Cal. Criminal Law, supra, Criminal Trial, § 525, p. 749; see also Model Pen. Code, § 1.12, subds. (2)(a), (3)(c)). To resolve this issue, we accordingly must look elsewhere.
We begin with Evidence Code section 501. That provision states: "Insofar as any statue, except [Evidence Code] Section 522, assigns the burden of proof in a criminal action, such statute is subject to Penal Code Section 1096." (Evid. Code, § 501.) Penal Code section 1096 requires the People to prove the facts establishing a defendant's guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. In contrast, Evidence Code section 522 requires a defendant to prove the facts underlying a defense of insanity by a preponderance of the evidence.
The comment to Evidence Code section 501 by the California Law Revision Commission, which proposed that provision, states in pertinent part: "[Evidence Code] Section 501 is intended to make it clear that the statutory allocations of the burden of proof...are subject to Penal Code Section 1096, which requires that a criminal defendant be proved guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, i.e., that the statutory allocations do not (except on the issue of insanity) require the defendant to p[ersuade the trier of fact of his innocence. Under Evidence Code Section 522, as under existing law, the defendant must prove his insanity by a preponderance of the evidence. [Citation.] However, where a statute allocates the burden of proof to the defendant on any other issue relating to the defendant's guilt, the defendant's burden, as under existing law, is merely to raise a reasonable doubt as to his guilt. [Citation.] [Evidence Code] Section 501 also makes it clear that, when a statute assigns the burden of proof to the prosecution in a criminal action, the prosecution must discharge that burden by proof beyond a reasonable doubt." (Recommendation Proposing an Evidence Code (Jan. 1965) 7 Cal. Law Revision Com. Rep. (1965) p. 91, italics added; accord, id. at pp. 88-89 [com. to Evid. Code, § 500].)
Thus, Evidence Code section 501 provides that, when a statute allocates the burden of proof to a defendant on any fact relating to his or her guilt, the defendant is required merely to raise a reasonable doubt as to the fact.
With respect to many defenses, as "ha[s] been and [is] extremely common in the penal law" (Model Pen. Code & Commentaries, com. 3 to § 1.12, p. 192), a defendant has been required merely to raise a reasonable doubt as to the underlying facts.7 Such defenses relate to the defendant's guilt or innocence. Perhaps most pertinent here are the defense of possession of a dangerous or restricted drug with a physician's prescription, against a charge of unlawful possession of such a drug (People v. Montalvo (1971) 4 Cal.3d 328, 333, fn. 3); the defense of lawful acquisition of a hypodermic needle or syringe, against a charge of unlawful possession such an item (People v. Fuentes (1990) 224 Cal.App.3d 1041, 1044-1047); and the defense of prescribing narcotics to an addict under lawful conditions, against a charge of unlawfully prescribing such substances to such a person (People v. Lawrence (1961) 198 Cal.App.2d 54, 62 [predating Evid. Code, § 501]). Such defenses relate to the defendant's guilt or innocence because they relate to an element of the crime in question. Thus, the defense of possession of a dangerous or restricted drug with a physician's prescription negates the element of unlawful possession of such a drug; the defense of lawful acquisition of a hypodermic needle or syringe negates the element of unlawful possession of such an item; and the defense of prescribing narcotics to an addict under lawful conditions negates the element of unlawfully prescribing such substances to such a person.
When a statute allocates the burden of proof to a defendant as a fact collateral to his or her guilt, however, the defendant may be required to prove that fact by a preponderance of the evidence. (E.g., People v. Frye (1998) 18 Cal.4th 894, 967; People v. Tewksbury (1976) 15 Cal.3d 953, 964-965.)
With respect to only a handful of defenses has the defendant been required to prove the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence.8 Those are defenses that are collateral to the defendant's guilt or innocence. The most prominent is the defense of entrapment. (See People v. Moran (1970) 1 Cal.3d 755, 760.) "[T]he defense of entrapement...is not based on the defendant's innocence. The courts have created the defense as a control on illegal police conduct 'out of regard for [the court's] own dignity, and in the exercise of its power and the performance of its duty to formulate and apply proper standards for judicial enforcement of the criminal law.'" (id. at pp. 760-761.) Such defenses are collateral to the defendant's guilt or innocence because they are collateral to any element of the crime in question. Thus, the defense of entrapment does not bear on the defendant's conduct in any way, but solely on the conduct of the police.9
This conclusion is supported by a comparison of this defense to other defenses under which the defendant is required merely to raise a reasonable doubt. (See generally Model Pen. Code & Commentaries, com. 3 to § 1.12, p. 192.) Most similar is the defense of possession of a dangerous or restricted drug with a physician's prescription, against a charge of unlawful possession of such a drug. For that defense, a defendant need raise only a reasonable doubt as to his or her possession of the drug in question with a physician's prescription. (People v. Montalvo, supra, 4 Cal.3d at p. 333, fn. 3.) Also, similar is the defense of lawful acquisition of a hypodermic needle or syringe, against a charge of unlawful possession of such an item. For that defense too, a defendant need raise only a reasonable doubt as to the lawfulness of his or her acquisition of the needle or syringe in question. (People v. Fuentes, supra, 224, Cal.App.3d at pp. 1044-1047.) Not dissimilar, from a different perspective, is the defense of prescribing narcotics to an addict under lawful conditions, against a charge of unlawfully prescribing such substances to such a person. For that defense as well, a defendant need raise only a reasonable doubt as to the existence of the conditions in questions. (People v. Lawrence, supra, 198 Cal.App.2d at p. 62.)
The same conclusion is supported by an examination of the defense provided by section 11362.5(d) itself. This defense plainly relates to the defendant's guilt or innocence. As stated, the purpose of the statute is: (1) "[t]o ensure that seriously ill Californians have the right to obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person's health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of...any...illness for which marijuana provides relief" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(A)); and (2) "[t]o ensure that patients and their primary caregivers who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician are not subject to criminal prosecution or sanction" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B)). Under section 11362.5(d), qualified patients and primary caregivers "who obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes upon the recommendation of a physician" are exempted not only from "criminal...sanction" for possession and cultivation of marijuana, but even from "criminal prosecution" (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(B)), because their conduct is noncriminal, involving as it does the treatment of "seriously ill" persons who "obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person's health would benefit" therefrom (§ 11362.5, subd. (b)(1)(A)).
Proposition 215's ballot pamphlet materials do not dictate a contrary conclusion. It is true that the proponents of Proposition 215 stated (in their rebuttal to the argument by the measure's opponents) that section 11362.5(d) "gives...a defense in court" to qualified patients and primary caregivers "if they can prove" its underlying facts. (Ballot Pamp., Gen. Elec. (Nov. 5, 1996) rebuttal to argument against Prop. 215, p. 61, italics added.) But, as Evidence Code section 115 provides, a defendant can "prove" the facts underlying a given defense, i.e., "establish by evidence a requisite degree of belief concerning [such] fact[s] in the mind of the trier of fact." merely by "rais[ing] a reasonable doubt concerning [their] existence or nonexistence..."
We note that People v. Trippet, supra, 56 Cal.App.4th at pages 1543-1551, People ex rel. Lungren v. Peron, supra, 59 Cal. App.4th at pages 1388-1400, and People v. Rigo, supra, 69 Cal.App.4th at pages 412-415, which recognized the defense provided by section 11362.5(d), do not address the issue of the allocation and weight of the burden of proof. CALJIC No. 12.24.1 (1999 rev.) (6th ed. 1996) does indeed state that a defendant bears the burden of proof as to the underlying facts by a preponderance of the evidence. All that is cited in support of this pattern instruction is section 11362.5 and Trippit. (Com. to CALJIC No. 12.24.1 (1999 rev.)(6th ed. 1996) pp. 15-16.) Section 11362.5 provides no support. Trippit asserts in dictum that "the burden is, of course, on the defendant to raise the defense and prove its element." (See People v. Trippit, supra, 56 Cal.App.4th at p. 1551, fn. 17.) But, as explained, Evidence Code section 115 allows a defendant to "prove" the "elements" of a given defense merely by raising a reasonable doubt as to their existence or nonexistence.
A trial court must instruct the jury on the allocation and weight of the burden of proof (Evid. Code.§ 502; People v. Simon, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 501 [citing Evid. Code, § 502]; People v. Figuerora, supra, 41 Cal.3d at p. 721 [sa,e]), and, of course, must do so correctly. It must give such an instruction even in the absence of a request (see People v. Simon, supra, 9 cal.4th at p. 501), inasmuch as the allocation and weight of the burden of proof are issues that "are closely and openly connected with the facts before the court, and...are necessary for the jury's understanding of the case" (People v. St. Martin (1970) 1 Cal.3d 524, 531).
If a trial court's instructional error violates the United States Constitution, the standard stated in Chapman v. California (1967) 386 U.S. 18, 24, requires the People, in order to avoid reversal of the judgment, to "prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the error...did not contribute to the verdict obtained." (See People v. Simon, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 506, fn. 11.) But if a trial court's instructional error violates only California law, the standard is that stated in People v. Watson (1956) 46 Cal. 2d 818, 836, which permits the People to avoid reversal unless "it is reasonably probable that a result more favorable to the appealing party would have been reached in the absence of the error." (See People v. Simon, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 506, fn. 11.)
We have left open the question of whether an instructional error like that committed by the trial court in the present case is of federal constitutional dimension or only of state law import (People v. Simon, supra, 9 Cal.4th at p. 506, fn. 11) and need not resolve this question here, because the error requires reversal even under the less rigorous Watson standard.
Such an equal balance of reasonable probabilities exists in the present case. Defendant unquestionably was a patient -- an "extremely" ill patient who suffered from "diabetes and all its complications." Furthermore, defendant unquestionably possessed and cultivated marijuana on the recommendation of a physician, who advised him to use the substance. What could be questioned, however, was whether defendant possessed and cultivated the marijuana in question entirely for his own personal medical purposes. Had the jury properly been instructed that defendant was required merely to raise a reasonable doubt about his purposes instead of proving such purposes by a preponderance of the evidence, it might have found him not guilty. We come to this conclusion because the jury might have found that defendant raised a reasonable doubt -- to wit, whether the 31 marijuana plants would yield a harvest of only 5 pounds for a year's supply, in accordance with defendant's testimony and that of his expert witness. The evidence showed that the yield of the plants was uncertain, based as it was on various agricultural and other assessments and projections. In light of such uncertainty, the jury might have entertained a reasonable doubt in defendant's favor.10
*Associate Justice, Court of Appeal, Sixth Appellate District, assigned by the Chief Justice pursuant to article VI, section 6, of the California Constitution.