Opinion ID: 2067998
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 4

Heading: claim of vagueness

Text: Connely begins by claiming that §§ 28-446 and 28-447 are so vague that they do not apprise him of the proscribed conduct, thus depriving him of the constitutionally required due process of law. Specifically, he asserts that §§ 28-446 and 28-447 are vague because they make the delivery of anabolic steroids illegal, not upon an actor's actual delivery or his intent in making the delivery but rather how the ultimate user uses the steroid. Brief for appellant at 11. Next, he contends the two statutes are vague because they fail to define valid medical purpose. Id. In order to have standing to assert a claim of vagueness, Connely must not have engaged in conduct which is clearly prohibited by the questioned statute and cannot maintain that the statute is vague when applied to the conduct of others. See, State v. Pierson, 239 Neb. 350, 476 N.W.2d 544 (1991); State v. Burke, 225 Neb. 625, 408 N.W.2d 239 (1987); State v. Copple, 224 Neb. 672, 401 N.W.2d 141 (1987). However, Connely is entitled to show that the statutes, when applied to his particular conduct, are vague. See State v. Copple, supra . Adopted in 1990 Neb.Laws, L.B. 571, effective July 10, 1990, §§ 28-446 and 28-447 were repealed in 1992 and incorporated into § 28-405 and Neb.Rev.Stat. §§ 28-401 and 28-404 (Cum.Supp.1992). 1992 Neb.Laws, L.B. 1019. The relevant portions of § 28-447 provided: (2) No person shall: (a) Prescribe, dispense, deliver, or administer an anabolic steroid or deliver a prescription form for an anabolic steroid to a person for human use for any purpose other than a valid medical purpose and in the course of professional practice. Section 28-446 declared that for purposes of § 28-447, an anabolic steroid was one of seventeen specific compounds, including testosterone, or any isomer, ester, salt, or derivative of the following that acts in the same manner on the human body except when in the form of a livestock implant. Section 28-446 further stated: (2) The use of an anabolic steroid for the purpose of hormonal manipulation that is intended to increase muscle mass, strength, or weight without a medical necessity to do so or for the intended purpose of improving physical appearance or performance in any form of exercise, sport, or game shall not be a valid medical purpose or in the course of professional practice. A statute is presumed to be constitutional, and all reasonable doubts will be resolved in favor of its constitutionality. State v. Garza, 242 Neb. 573, 496 N.W.2d 448 (1993); State v. Sexton, 240 Neb. 466, 482 N.W.2d 567 (1992). Thus, before a court can declare a statute unconstitutional, its unconstitutionality must be clearly demonstrated, State v. Crowdell, 234 Neb. 469, 451 N.W.2d 695 (1990), and State v. Copple, supra , and the burden to do so rests upon the party making the claim of unconstitutionality, State v. Garza, supra ; State v. Sexton, supra ; State v. Crowdell, supra . The test for determining whether a statute is vague is whether it forbids or requires the doing of an act in terms so vague that men of common intelligence must necessarily guess at its meaning and differ as to its application.... A statute will not be deemed vague if it uses ordinary terms which find adequate interpretation in common usage and understanding.... In determining whether a statute is vague and therefore does not give a defendant adequate notice that his conduct is proscribed, the statute must be examined in light of the conduct with which the defendant is charged.... ... The prohibition against vagueness does not invalidate a statute simply because it could have been drafted with greater precision. The test is whether the defendant could reasonably understand that his conduct was proscribed by the statute. (Citations omitted.) State v. Sprague, 213 Neb. 581, 587-88, 330 N.W.2d 739, 744 (1983). Accord, State v. Scott, 225 Neb. 146, 403 N.W.2d 351 (1987); State v. Copple, supra ; State v. Sailors, 217 Neb. 693, 352 N.W.2d 860 (1984).