Opinion ID: 303588
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: The Refusal to Dismiss the Count Charging Sale of

Text: Heroin to a Minor 15 Appellant takes the position on this appeal, as he did in the trial court, that 21 U.S.C. Sec. 176b should not be applied to transfers of narcotics to juveniles when the narcotics are not for the juvenile's own use, and the juvenile acts as a mere agent. 17 It would be helpful if there were some case law to guide us here, but apparently there is none. In view of this paucity, the plain words of the statute, and the possibility of juvenile use of narcotics even when they are not sold for him, we think appellant's contention must fail. 16 The penalty provisions of the statute here in question apply to whoever, having attained the age of 18 years, knowingly sells, gives away, furnishes or dispenses . . . any heroin unlawfully imported or otherwise brought into the United States, to any person who has not attained the age of 18 years. . . . There is no exception in the statute for those who transfer heroin to minors for the use of adults. Appellant observes, rightly we think that Congress was concerned about youths being introduced to the use of drugs or otherwise pulled into the stream of drug distribution. We also think it plain, however, that the drugs given to the youth do not have to be intended for him in order for him to be introduced to their use or drawn into drug-dealing. We can foresee juveniles tempted to use themselves the drug intended for another, or to transfer the drug, meant for an adult, to another juvenile. At the very least, the transaction cannot fail to excite the juvenile's curiosity about what the capsules contain and why people buy them; at the very worst, it might tempt him to try them or to realize profits from their sale, and thus plunge him into the stream of drug distribution. We agree with the District Court and the Government that the only safe rule is that a juvenile may not be made an agent to transfer heroin, whether it be intended for his own use or not, without running afoul of 21 U.S.C. Sec. 176b. The judgment of the District Court is 17 Affirmed.