Opinion ID: 767081
Heading Depth: 4
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: The Plain Meaning of Listed Chemical

Text: 8 Daas was convicted under 21 U.S.C. S 841(d)(2) for distributing a listed chemical, defined at 21 U.S.C. S 802(34) subsections (C) and (K) to include [e]phedrine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers and pseudoephedrine, its salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers. 9 Daas believes that this definition does not include mixtures like Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins, each of which contains a listed chemical among other ingredients. 10 The Supreme Court has adopted a definition of mixture as a portion of matterconsisting of two or more components that do not bear a fixed proportion to one another and that however thoroughly commingled are regarded as retaining a separate existence. Chapman v. United States, 500 U.S. 453, 461 (1991) (citation omitted). A chemical compound, on the other hand, necessarily implies not a mere mingling of components but a chemical combination of them, resulting in their destruction as distinct entities and in the development of a new substance possessing properties radically different from those of its constituent elements. Strohmeyer & Arpe Co. v. United States, 2 Ct. Cust. 285, 287 (1911). 11 The ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins retain a separate existence and are easily extractable. Indeed, Daas's own expert witness, a professor of pharmaceutical chemistry, acknowledged that Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins are mixtures containing extractable ephedrine and pseudoephedrine. (Declaration of Stephen B. Kahl, Ph.D., at P 6-7, 13.) Therefore, the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine in Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins are plainly listed chemicals within the meaning of S 841(d)(2). 12 The chemical matrix in which ephedrine and pseudoephedrine are contained is irrelevant because they do not disappear, become different chemicals, or become useless when combined with other substances to make Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins. For purposes of S 841(d)(2), the other ingredients in Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins function solely as a carrier medium or packaging material facilitating distribution of the listed chemical. Cf. Chapman, 500 U.S. at 466 (observing that LSD-infused blotter paper makes LSD easier to transport, store, conceal, and sell and is a tool of the trade for traffickers); United States v. Crowell, 9 F.3d 1452, 1454 (9th Cir. 1993) (describing dilaudid tablets -a mixture of inert ingredients and hydromorphone -as a carrier medium used to facilitate distribution); United States v. Robins, 967 F.2d 1387, 1389-90 (9th Cir. 1992) (describing as packaging material cornmeal into which defendant had mixed cocaine). So long as the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine retain their integrity or separate existence, their utility remains unaffected. 10 13 Consequently, the plain meaning of listed chemical encompasses the ephedrine and pseudoephedrine contained in Mini Thins and Pseudo Thins. 14