Court Opinion

ID: 4648472
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2020-12-31 18:12:44.3993+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T08:01:14.977270
License: Public Domain

J-A28009-20

NON-PRECEDENTIAL DECISION - SEE SUPERIOR COURT I.O.P. 65.37

    COMMONWEALTH OF PENNSYLVANIA               :   IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF
                                               :        PENNSYLVANIA
                                               :
                v.                             :
                                               :
                                               :
    STEPHEN GARY MURRAY                        :
                                               :
                       Appellant               :   No. 316 WDA 2020

       Appeal from the Judgment of Sentence Entered February 21, 2020
      In the Court of Common Pleas of Greene County Criminal Division at
                        No(s): CP-30-CR-0000012-2019

BEFORE: OLSON, J., MURRAY, J., and McCAFFERY, J.

MEMORANDUM BY OLSON, J.:                            FILED DECEMBER 31, 2020

       Appellant, Stephen Gary Murray, appeals from the judgment of sentence

entered on February 21, 2020, following his bench trial convictions for driving

under the influence (DUI) of a controlled substance and possession of a small

amount of marijuana.1 We affirm.

       In an order entered on December 20, 2019, the trial court set forth the

facts of this case as follows:

       [On July 27, 2018, Appellant] was paid [to drive] a passenger in
       his Kia Soul vehicle from the Pittsburgh area to [the State
       Correctional Institution in Greene County (S.C.I. Greene)]. The
       purpose of the transport was to permit [Appellant’s] passenger to
       visit with a friend or loved one incarcerated at S.C.I. Greene[.
       …Appellant] is approved by the State Department of
       Transportation to transport people for [prison] visitation[.]

       [Sergeant Joseph Burger], who is employed by the Pennsylvania
       Department of Corrections as a K9 Officer[,] was on a specialized
____________________________________________

1   75 Pa.C.S.A. §3802(d)(1)(i) and 35 P.S. §780-113(a)(31)(i).
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       detail on that day and was conducting a checkpoint with the
       purpose of eradicating or slowing the flow of drugs, weapons, and
       other contraband into the State Correctional Institute.
       [Appellant’s] car was searched. Ultimately, a small amount of
       marijuana was found in [Appellant’s] pocket[.] The []marijuana
       was procured from an [unlicensed] source and [Appellant
       admitted he] purchased that marijuana at a [Kentucky Fried
       Chicken (KFC)] restaurant located near the State Prison[,] from
       [an unlicensed source, and that he smoked the marijuana before
       driving to SCI Greene].

       [Appellant] has a medical marijuana identification card [which
       was] admitted [in]to the record [at trial]. The [] medical
       marijuana identification card permitted [Appellant] to use
       marijuana under certain conditions and [] it was effective [] on
       July 27, 2018.

       As a result of [Appellant’s] possession of marijuana and
       [subsequent performance on] field sobriety tests, [the
       Commonwealth] charged [Appellant] with [possession of a small
       amount of marijuana and] two separate counts of DUI[, the
       aforementioned charge under Section 3802(d)(1)(i) (operating a
       motor vehicle with a Schedule I controlled substance present in
       an individual’s blood) (“DUI – controlled substance”), as well as,
       driving under the influence of a drug or combination of drugs to a
       degree which impairs an individual's ability to safely operate a
       motor vehicle, pursuant to 75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(d)(2)2
       (“DUI – general impairment/drugs”)].
____________________________________________

2   Section 3802(d) provides, in pertinent part:

       (d) Controlled substances.--An individual may not drive,
       operate or be in actual physical control of the movement of a
       vehicle under any of the following circumstances:

          (1) There is in the individual's blood any amount of a:

              (i)    Schedule I controlled substance, as defined in
                     the act of April 14, 1972 (P.L. 233, No. 64),
                     known as The Controlled Substance, Drug,
                     Device and Cosmetic Act;

                                           ***

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Trial Court Order, 12/20/2019, at *1-3 (unpaginated).

       The trial court held a bench trial on December 18, 2019 and heard

testimony from Sergeant Burger, Appellant, and the arresting officer, Kevin

B. Kulka. The Commonwealth also presented the testimony of two forensic

scientists who opined that Appellant’s blood test revealed the presence of

tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), an active element of marijuana, in Appellant’s

bloodstream that would have rendered Appellant impaired at the time of the

incident.

       In an order, entered on December 20, 2019, the trial court made the

aforementioned factual findings, but reserved judgment regarding the offense

of DUI - controlled substance under Section 3802(d)(1)(i) pending additional

argument on an issue raised by Appellant. Appellant ultimately argued that,

pursuant to Section 3802(d)(1)(i), the Commonwealth needed to prove that

Appellant had a Schedule I controlled substance in his bloodstream to support

a conviction for DUI – controlled substance. While marijuana is listed as a

____________________________________________

            (2) The individual is under the influence of a drug or
            combination of drugs to a degree which impairs the
            individual's ability to safely drive, operate or be in actual
            physical control of the movement of the vehicle.

75 Pa.C.S.A. § 3802(d)(1)(i) and (2).

       Moreover, we note that the Commonwealth also charged Appellant with
possession of narcotics paraphernalia and careless driving.           35 P.S.
§780-113(a)(32) and 75 Pa.C.S.A. §3714(a). However, the Commonwealth
later nolle prossed those charges and they are not the subject of this appeal.

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Schedule I controlled substance for “a high potential for abuse, no currently

accepted medical use in the United States, and a lack of accepted safety for

use under medical supervision[,3]” Appellant argued that the Medical

Marijuana Act (MMA)4 essentially removed marijuana from the Schedule I

controlled substance list. Appellant argued that because he was authorized

under the MMA to procure and use medical marijuana at the time of the traffic

stop, he could not be convicted of DUI – controlled substance pursuant to

Section 3802(d)(1)(i) because he could not be found to have had a Schedule

I controlled substance in his bloodstream.

____________________________________________

3   35 P.S. § 780-104(1)(iv) (schedule of controlled substances).

4 Effective May 17, 2016, our legislature established the MMA, “[a] medical
marijuana program for patients suffering from serious medical condition[s.]”
35 Pa.S.C.A. § 10231.301. “Medical marijuana” is defined as “marijuana for
certified medical use.” Id. “Certified medical use” is defined as “the
acquisition, possession, use or transportation of medical marijuana by a
patient, or the acquisition, possession, delivery, transportation or
administration of medical marijuana by a caregiver, for use as part of the
treatment of the patient's serious medical condition, as authorized in a
certification under this act, including enabling the patient to tolerate treatment
for the serious medical condition.” Id. Medical marijuana is sold by a
“dispensary” or “[a] person, including a natural person, corporation,
partnership, association, trust or other entity, or any combination thereof,
which holds a permit issued by the department to dispense medical
marijuana.” Id. The MMA further states that “[t]he growth, processing,
distribution, possession and consumption of medical marijuana permitted
under [the MMA] shall not be deemed a violation of the Controlled Substances”
Act and “[i]f a provision of the Controlled Substances [] Act relating to
marijuana conflicts with a provision of [the MMA], [the MMA] shall take
precedence.” 35 P.S. § 10231.2101.

                                           -4-
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       By order entered on January 27, 2020, the trial court found Appellant

guilty of DUI - controlled substance and possession of a small amount of

marijuana and deferred sentencing.5 On February 21, 2020, the trial court

sentenced Appellant to five days of house arrest followed by six months of

probation, plus fines. This timely appeal resulted.6

       On appeal, Appellant presents the following issue for our review:

       Whether the trial court committed an error of law in determining
       that 35 P.S. § 10231.2101 of the Medical Marijuana Act did not
       remove medical marijuana consumed by an individual pursuant to
       a valid Medical Marijuana Identification Card from the definition of
       a Schedule I Controlled Substance as defined by The Controlled
       Substance, Drug, Device and Cosmetic Act, 35 Pa.C.S.A.
       §780-101 and therefore removing it from the list of substances
       prohibited from being in a driver's blood in any amount by 75
       [Pa.C.S.A.] § 3802(d)(1)(i) of the DUI [s]tatute?

Appellant’s Brief at 4.

       In support of his appeal, Appellant makes the following arguments.

“Appellant submits that passage of the [MMA] removed medical marijuana

from classification as a Schedule I controlled substance[,] thus removing it

from the list of controlled substances prohibited from being in a driver's blood

in any amount while operating a motor vehicle.” Id. at 8. Appellant claims

____________________________________________

5 The trial court found Appellant not guilty of DUI (general impairment) under
Section 3802(d)(2).

6 Appellant filed a notice of appeal, and corresponding concise statement of
errors complained of on appeal pursuant to Pa.R.A.P. 1925(b), on February
27, 2020. On April 27, 2020, the trial court filed a statement pursuant to
Pa.R.A.P. 1925(a), largely relying upon the rationale set forth in its previous
orders with some minor “additions to the record[.]” Rule 1925(a) Statement,
4/27/2020, at 1.

                                           -5-
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that “[i]t is clear from the language of the MMA that the legislature intended

to create a legal distinction between marijuana and medical marijuana and to

provide the latter with a distinct legal status, exemptions, and its users with

[protection from prosecution for conduct that would otherwise be subject to

criminal sanction].” Id. at 14.    As such, Appellant argues that his DUI

conviction cannot stand.      In the alternative, citing our Court’s decision in

Commonwealth v. Jezzi, 208 A.3d 1105 (Pa. Super. 2019), Appellant

argues that the case should be remanded for the trial court to make “a finding

as to whether the substance in the Appellant's blood was from medical

marijuana or not.” Id. at 8.

      Because Appellant’s claim is that the MMA preempts a prosecution for

DUI – controlled substance in the instant case, our standard of review is as

follows:

      The proper interpretation of a statute raises a question of law,
      over which our standard of review is de novo and our scope of
      review is plenary.

      When interpreting a statute, we look to ascertain and effectuate
      the intention of the General Assembly. Additionally, we must give
      effect to all of the laws[‘] provision[s] and are not to render
      language superfluous or assume language to be mere surplusage.
      If the text of the statute is clear and free from all ambiguity, the
      letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing
      its spirit.

      Moreover, where there is a conflict in the terms of a statute, 1
      Pa.C.S.A. § 1933 provides the following guidance:

           Whenever a general provision in a statute shall be in conflict
           with a special provision in the same or another statute, the
           two shall be construed, if possible, so that effect may be
           given to both. If the conflict between the two provisions is

                                       -6-
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         irreconcilable, the special provisions shall prevail and shall
         be construed as an exception to the general provision,
         unless the general provision shall be enacted later and it
         shall be the manifest intention of the General Assembly that
         such general provision shall prevail.

Commonwealth v. Bundy, 96 A.3d 390, 395 (Pa. Super. 2014) (internal

case citations and quotations omitted).

      In Commonwealth v. Jezzi, 208 A.3d 1105 (Pa. Super. 2019), this

Court confronted the interplay between the MMA and the Controlled

Substances Act. Therein, Jezzi was charged with various narcotics charges

including, inter alia, two counts of possession with intent to deliver marijuana

in connection with “a cannabis grow [operation] with approximately 40

[marijuana] plants.” Jezzi, 208 A.3d at 1108. Jezzi argued that the MMA and

Controlled Substances Act conflicted, that marijuana had been removed from

the Schedule I controlled substances list, and he was entitled to equal

protection under the law. Our Court ultimately concluded:

      [Jezzi] calls upon us to abrogate the Schedule I classification of
      marijuana under the [Controlled Substances Act], in light of the
      passage of the MMA, based on an equal protection argument.
      Initially, [Jezzi’s] statutory “irreconcilable differences” argument
      lacks merit, where the MMA simply establishes a scheme for the
      lawful use of medical marijuana. See 35 P.S. §§ 10231.102(3),
      10231.102(1) (stating scientific evidence suggests medical
      marijuana is one potential therapy that may have therapeutic
      benefits). The usage of language like “suggests,” “potential,” and
      “may” does not conclusively demonstrate the General Assembly
      found marijuana to have accepted medical use other than for its
      palliative or analgesic effects. Rather, the statutory language
      illustrates the General Assembly's intent to create legal avenues
      for research into the use of medical marijuana while providing
      pathways to potential relief for certain categories of patients. See
id.

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     Furthermore, the temporary nature of the MMA serves as an
     acknowledgement of the General Assembly that more research
     into the medical value of marijuana is necessary. See 35 P.S.
     § 10231.102(4). The MMA established a medical marijuana
     program to serve as a stopgap measure, “pending Federal
     approval of and access to medical marijuana through traditional
     medical and pharmaceutical avenues.” See id. The plain text of
     the MMA acknowledges the potential therapeutic value of medical
     marijuana, but it does not declare that marijuana has accepted
     medical use. See 35 P.S. § 10231.102(1),(3). Instead, the MMA
     intends to be “a temporary measure, pending Federal approval of
     and access to medical marijuana through traditional medical and
     pharmaceutical avenues.”       See 35 P.S. § 10231.102(4).
     Therefore, the MMA and the [Controlled Substances Act] Schedule
     I classification of marijuana do not conflict on the ground of
     “currently accepted medical use.” Instead, the General Assembly
     allows for the use of medical marijuana under very specific
     guidelines which, when followed, will not lead to criminal
     punishment. See 35 P.S. § 10231.2101. [Jezzi] did not meet any
     criteria under the MMA to merit its protection directly or indirectly.
     In short, the MMA is not relevant to [Jezzi’s] case in any form.

     Regarding [Jezzi’s] equal protection challenge, we first observe[d]
     that medical marijuana is not listed in the [Controlled Substances
     Act] as a Schedule I substance, only marijuana is listed. The MMA
     provides a very limited and controlled vehicle for the legal use
     of medical marijuana by persons qualified under the MMA. See
     35 P.S. § 10231.102(3). Outside the MMA, marijuana remains
     a prohibited Schedule I controlled substance for the general
     citizenry who are unqualified under the MMA. See 35 P.S.
     § 10231.304.

Jezzi, 208 A.3d at 1114–1115 (case citations omitted; emphasis added).

     In this case, the trial court determined that despite having a valid

medical marijuana identification card, “the marijuana [found on Appellant]

was procured from an illegal source and that [Appellant] purchased that

marijuana at a KFC restaurant located near the state prison and from [an

unlicensed] dispenser.” Trial Court Order, 12/20/2019, at *2 (unpaginated).

Appellant has not challenged that factual determination, and upon our review,

                                     -8-
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the record supports the trial court’s conclusion. Here, Officer Kulka testified

that “while [waiting] at [Appellant’s preliminary] hearing, [Appellant, without

provocation,] related [] that he obtained the marijuana he had on the date of

the incident from a random individual at KFC in Waynesburg.”              N.T.,

12/18/2019, at 54. Thereafter, at trial, Appellant admitted under oath that

he had procured the marijuana at issue at a KFC restaurant. Id. at 72.

Moreover, at the time of the incident, Appellant admitted to Officer Kulka that

he had smoked some of the marijuana found on his person earlier that

morning. Id. at 53.

      Initially, we agree with Appellant that “there is a legal distinction

between marijuana and medical marijuana.”           As set forth above, our

legislature allows for the limited use of medical marijuana under very specific

guidelines which, when followed, will not lead to criminal punishment.

Appellant, however, did not follow those guidelines.    By his own admission,

Appellant did not legally procure medical marijuana at an official dispensary

despite having an authorized medical marijuana identification card to do so.

Furthermore, having an authorized medical marijuana identification card did

not give Appellant carte blanche to procure marijuana illegally from a random

person on the street. Additionally, Appellant also admitted to using the

marijuana illegally obtained from the KFC restaurant prior to driving. In this

matter, medical marijuana is simply not at issue and no additional fact-finding

is warranted.   Put simply, there was ample evidence introduced at trial to

prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Appellant operated a motor vehicle with

                                     -9-
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marijuana in his    bloodstream, in    violation of Section 3802(d)(1)(i).

Accordingly, we conclude that the trial court did not err in determining the

MMA inapplicable and Appellant’s sole appellate issue lacks merit.

     Judgment of sentence affirmed.

Judgment Entered.

Joseph D. Seletyn, Esq.
Prothonotary

Date: 12/31/2020

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