Court Opinion

ID: 9777048
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2023-08-29 19:52:45.589966+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T07:32:46.640908
License: Public Domain

DOUGLAS, Judge,
dissenting.
The majority incorrectly holds that the evidence is insufficient to show that appellant possessed a usable quantity of marihuana.
Article 4476-15, Section 1.02(17), V.A.C.S., defines marihuana as follows:
“ ‘Marihuana’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L., whether growing or not; the seeds thereof; and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of the plant, or its seeds. However, it does not include . the sterilized seed of the plant which is incapable of germination.” (Emphasis added).
In Getters v. State, 170 Tex.Cr.App. 331, 340 S.W.2d 806 (1960), the conviction was for the possession of marihuana under Article 725b of the former code. The evidence showed that two Houston police officers had found some marihuana seeds and 35 marihuana leaf fragments in defendant’s apartment. The leaf fragments weighed .02 of a gram and would not have made a marihuana cigarette. It was unknown whether the seeds were viable.
On appeal, defendant contended that the evidence was insufficient to support the conviction because the 35 leaf fragments, by themselves, were not of sufficient quantity to make a marihuana cigarette and thus was not an amount sufficient to be applied to the use commonly made thereof. Reasoning that the leaf fragments together with the seeds were of sufficient quantity to make a marihuana cigarette, this Court held that the evidence was sufficient to *229meet the requirements set forth in Pelham v. State, 164 Tex.Cr.R. 226, 298 S.W.2d 171 (1957).
On the motion for rehearing in Getters, defendant argued that marihuana seeds were not commonly used for smoking and were to be excluded in determining whether the amount of marihuana was sufficient under Pelham. We rejected that contention and stated:
“. . . However, the majority holding [in Pelham ] was upon the assumption that the only use commonly made of marihuana is to smoke it in cigarettes. The seed which are specifically included in the definition of marihuana and the plant Cannabis Sativa L. are not restricted to that use, though the officers testified they were so commonly used.” 340 S.W.2d at 808.
Taking together Section 1.02(17), supra, and Getters v. State, supra, marihuana seeds are to be included in determining whether the evidence is sufficient to show a usable quantity of marihuana, and smoking marihuana in cigarettes is not the only use commonly made of the drug. The marihuana could have been placed in a pipe and smoked and thus could have been usable. It does not take a full marihuana cigarette to be smoked. Roach clips are used for smoking “roaches” or very small marihuana cigarette butts. If a butt can be smoked, it contains a usable amount.
In the instant case, a pipe containing the residue of smoked marihuana was found under the seat of appellant’s automobile, and a “pink roach” was found in the ash tray. Marihuana fragments and seeds were found all over the car. Eight seeds were tested for viability and one germinated. At the request of the prosecutor, the chemist tested eight seeds. On the fourth day none had germinated. On the fifth day one germinated. Such viable marihuana seeds are usable in the growing of marihuana plants. Although the testimony presented by the State was ambiguous with respect to the number of seeds found in the car, it appears that more than eight were found. The marihuana particles found in the car weighed approximately .10 of a gram.
The State thus proved that twelve per cent of the seeds tested were viable and that some non-tested seeds apparently were scattered throughout appellant’s automobile. These non-tested seeds could have been used in making a cigarette even if they were incapable of germination.
The evidence that appellant possessed, almost .10 of a gram of marihuana fragments, without more, was sufficient to show possession of a usable quantity. Cf. Tuttle v. State, 410 S.W.2d 780 (Tex.Cr.App.1966) [63 milligrams of marihuana held sufficient]; Rainey v. State, 464 S.W.2d 865 (Tex.Cr.App.1971) [.02 grams of marihuana held sufficient]; Mitchell v. State, 482 S.W.2d 223 (Tex.Cr.App.1972) [.0074 grams of marihuana held sufficient]; and Terrill v. State, 531 S.W.2d 642 (Tex.Cr.App.1976) [1.48 grams held sufficient to show a usable quantity of marihuana]. In any event, the preponderance of the evidence of possession of both the marihuana fragments and the seeds was sufficient to show that appellant possessed a usable quantity of marihuana.
No abuse of discretion has been shown. The judgment should be affirmed.