Opinion ID: 1351198
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: the definition of substance

Text: As previously noted, defendant was arrested in a vehicle containing slightly over 11 pounds of a white powder, which later proved to be 83 percent cocaine. (5) Defendant asserts the word substance as used in section 11370.4 does not refer to a mixture of different compounds but is in effect a shorthand notation for controlled substance, which denotes an illicit drug in its pure form. He contends that because he possessed less than 10 pounds of pure cocaine, there was insufficient evidence to support a quantity enhancement under section 11370.4, subdivision (a)(2). [6] Defendant, however, fails to examine the word substance within its statutory context. Section 11370.4, subdivision (a), requires that a defendant be convicted with respect to a substance containing ... cocaine. The Court of Appeal observed that if it accepted defendant's interpretation, the words substance containing would either be rendered meaningless or produce an absurd result. We agree. Substituting defendant's definition, the requirement for imposing an enhancement under section 11370.4 would effectively read, with respect to pure cocaine containing cocaine. The Court of Appeal found a more likely interpretation of substance containing ... cocaine to include `an identifiable chemical element, compound, or mixture  sometimes restricted to compounds and elements.' (Quoting Webster's New Internat. Dict. (3d ed. 1981) p. 2279, italics added.) As the Court of Appeal noted, this definition comports with the express legislative objective: The Legislature enacted ... section 11370.4 to discourage the transfer of large quantities of cocaine and other controlled substances. No authority suggests `the severity of these sanctions must be finely tuned to correspond to the amount of pure [narcotic] involved in any given transaction....' [Citation.] ... The focus is on the quantity, not the quality, of the drug seized. [7] We conclude that the Court of Appeal correctly interpreted the language of section 11370.4 in holding that enhancements under that section are triggered by the weight of a mixture containing the drug and not merely by the weight of the pure drug itself. [8]