Opinion ID: 1975000
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Furnishing Marijuana

Text: The definition of furnishing is found in 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1101(18): 18. `Furnish:' A. To furnish, give, dispense, administer, prescribe, deliver or otherwise transfer to another; B. To possess with the intent to do any act mentioned in paragraph A. Inasmuch as the state did not adduce any evidence that the defendants actually transferred marijuana, it is clear that the state undertook to prove that they possessed marijuana with the intent to furnish it, within the meaning of subdivision (18)(B) of section 1101. Adequate evidence was introduced to show that both defendants knowingly possessed marijuana. Baker was the owner of the house where growing marijuana plants were located, and both Baker and White lived there. The defendants' own witness testified that he had seen both Baker and White in actual possession of marijuana in their home. Dried plant substance which was taken from their home was determined by chemical analysis to be marijuana. The jury could have properly inferred possession from that evidence. Sufficient evidence was also produced to show that defendants intended to furnish marijuana. The chemically tested twelve gram sample was introduced in evidence as was the remaining plant material in State's Exhibit No. 9 from which the twelve grams were taken. By comparing it with the chemically tested marijuana the jury could have rationally inferred that the plant material in State's Exhibit No. 9 was also marijuana. Since the remaining 21 plastic bags contained plant material similar in appearance to the chemically tested material and State's Exhibit No. 9, the jury could have concluded that the other bags also contained marijuana. Since there were 22 bags each containing close to one ounce, the relatively large quantity involved, nearly a pound and a half, considered in conjunction with the manner in which it was packaged, and the presence of two sets of scales on the premises, permitted a rational inference that the marijuana was intended for more than the personal use of the possessors; namely, that it was intended for transfer to others. The evidence was sufficient to convict the defendants of furnishing marijuana. See Commonwealth v. Hunt, 256 Pa. Super. 140, 389 A.2d 640 (1978). The trial justice instructed the jury as follows, concerning the inference permissible under 17-A M.R.S.A. § 1106(3): [2] Now in that regard, ladies and gentlemen, our statutes provide that a jury may infer that an individual was unlawfully furnishing a scheduled drug and that is marijuana, if he intentionally or knowingly possesses more than one and a half ounces of marijuana. So, if a person possesses, has subject to their dominion and control, more than one and a half ounces of marijuana, that fact and that fact alone will permit the jury to infer that they are guilty of the offense here charged. Now, again, it must be shown that such possession was intentional, that it was the conscious object to possess marijuana or knowing that the possession was with an awareness of what the object was, that it was marijuana. So, if it is proven beyond a reasonable doubt that each Defendant intentionally or knowingly possessed more than one and a half ounces of marijuana, from that fact and that fact alone you are permitted but not compelled to find that the particular Defendant is guilty of this offense. You may reach such conclusion, of course, only if you are convinced beyond a reasonable doubt as to the particular Defendant's guilt. The defendants did not object during trial to the inclusion in this instruction of the statutory permissible inference. Hence, if there was error in the charge, it is cognizable on appeal only if it was a seriously prejudicial error tending to produce manifest injustice. Rules 30(b) and 52(b), M.R. Crim.P.; State v. McKeough, Me., 300 A.2d 755, 757 (1973). In the absence of evidence of any actual transfers, to convict defendants of furnishing marijuana, the jury must have concluded that defendants possessed it with intent to furnish. On the evidence introduced in this case, to conclude that defendants possessed more than 1½ ounces of marijuana, the jury must have found that marijuana was contained in the 22 separate bags, each containing close to one ounce. The jury would have had to conclude that if defendants possessed marijuana at all, they possessed far more than 1½ ounces and that it was packaged in a manner strongly suggestive of its ready availability for transfer to others. Assuming for the sake of argument that there was some infirmity in the judge's charge, we cannot find, on the facts of this case, that it was seriously prejudicial or tended to produce manifest injustice. Moreover, the jury was properly instructed that the inference was only permissive, not mandatory, and they were warned that the inference was not to be made unless they were convinced of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. [3]