Court Opinion

ID: 9668030
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-24 02:00:42.506002+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T18:15:42.511518
License: Public Domain

COOPER, Justice,
concurring.
I disagree with the proposition that the mere fact that hemp resembles marijuana provides a rational basis for criminalizing the possession of hemp. If that were true, the legislature could criminalize the possession of sugar because it resembles powder cocaine.
Nevertheless, the reason the General Assembly has criminalized the possession of marijuana is that it contains hallucinogenic substances known as Tetrahydrocan-nabinols (THC). Both marijuana and hemp are members of the Cannabis species of plants and hemp also contains THC, though admittedly to a substantially lesser extent than does marijuana. The legislature has classified THC as a schedule I controlled substance, KRS 218A.050(3), and has defined “marijuana” broadly enough to include hemp within that definition. KRS 218A.010(14). But even if hemp were not included within the definition of marijuana, possession of any substance containing THC would constitute possession of a controlled substance in the second degree, which carries a potentially greater penalty than possession of marijuana. Compare KRS 218A.1416 and KRS 218A.275 -with KRS 218A.1422 and KRS 218A.276. We have held that the quantity of the controlled substance possessed is immaterial to the criminality of the act and that “any amount” suffices. Commonwealth v. Shivley, Ky., 814 S.W.2d 572 (1991). Thus, the fact that hemp contains less THC than marijuana is immaterial to the criminality of its possession.
Kentucky is not unique in criminalizing the possession of THC. The United States Congress also classifies THC as a schedule I controlled substance, 21 U.S.C. § 812(c), Schedule I(c)(17); see also 21 C.F.R. § 1308.11, Schedule I(d)(27), and provides criminal penalties for its possession. 21 U.S.C. § 841(a)(1) and (b)(1)(C).
Because there is a rational basis for criminalizing the possession of hallucinogenic substances such as Tetrahydrocan-nabinols (THC), and because hemp contains THC, I conclude that the statutory scheme which criminalizes the possession of hemp does not violate section 2 of our Constitution. For that reason, I concur in the result reached by the majority in this case.
STUMBO, J., joins this concurring opinion.