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COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTSAPPEALS COURT
CASE NO. : 2012- P- 0534
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTSAppel l ant
v.
ANTHONY CRAAN
Def endant - Appel l ee
ON APPEAL FROM A J UDGMENT OF THEBOSTON MUNI CI PAL COURT- DORCHESTER DI VI SI ON
BRI EF OF THEDEFENDANT- APPELLEE
Br i an J . Ander sonCant ant Law Of f i ces, P. C.141 Tr emont St r eet , 4t h Fl oorBost on, MA 02111( 617) 227- 8383
br i an@cont ant - l aw. c omBBO#: 670871
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS i
TABLE OF AUTHORITIES i v
STATEMENT OF I SSUES 1
I . Whet her t he t r i al j udge c or r e ct l y s uppr es sed
t he evi dence wher e t he t r ooper l acked
per mi ssi bl e gr ounds t o or der Mr . Cr aan out
of hi s vehi cl e and subsequent l y sear ch i t
based onl y on: ( 1) t he smel l of unbur ned
mar i j uana comi ng f r om t he i nt er i or of t he
vehi c l e and ( 2) t he obs er vat i on of a s mal l
quant i t y of mar i j uana i nsi de t he vehi cl e . . . 1
I I . Whet her t he t r ooper l ac ked pr obabl e c aus e t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was oper at i ng under
t he i nf l uence of mar i j uana wher e Mr . Cr aan
exhi bi t ed no char act er i st i cs of i mpai r ment
and t her e was no evi dence of consumpt i on
i n t he vehi cl e 1
I I I . Whet her t he t r ooper coul d sear ch Mr . Cr aan' s
vehi c l e bas ed on vi ol at i on of f eder al l aw
wher e t her e was no evi dence of a f eder al
i nves t i gat i on or pr os ec ut i on and Ar t i c l e 14pr ovi des hei ght ened pr ot ect i ons agai nst
unl awf ul sear ch and sei zur e as compar ed
t o t he Four t h Amendment 1
STATEMENT OF THE CASE 2
STATEMENT OF THE FACTS 3
A. J udge' s Fi ndi ngs of Fact 3
B . J udge' s Rul i ng 8
SUM~~RY OF THE ARGUMENT 9
ARGUMENT 12
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I . The t r i al j udge cor r ec t l y s uppr e ss ed t he evi denc e
because t he t r ooper l acked per mi ssi bl e gr ounds t o
or der Mr . Cr aan out of hi s vehi c l e and
s ubs equent l y s ear c h i t bas ed onl y on: ( 1) t he
smel l of unbur ned mar i j uana comi ng f r om t he
i nt er i or of t he vehi c l e and ( 2) t he obs er vat i on
of a smal l quant i t y of mar i j uana i nsi de t he
vehi cl e 12
A. Legal St andar d 12
B. The t r o oper di d not pos ses s a r eas onabl e
f ear f or hi s saf et y or t hat of ot her s t o
j ust i f y t he exi t or der and sear ch 15
C. The t r ooper di d not have r eas onabl e
s us pi c i on bas ed on ar t i c ul abl e f ac t s t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was engaged i n
cr i mi nal act i vi t y 19
D. The t r ooper di d not have pr o babl e caus e t o
sear ch t he vehi cl e under t he aut omobi l e
except i on because t her e was i nsuf f i ci ent
evi dence t hat i t cont ai ned a cr i mi nal
amount of mar i j uana 22
E. The Ar t i cl e 14 pr o t ec t i ons pr o nounc ed i n
Cr uz appl y r egar dl ess of whet her t he smel l
of mar i j uana i s bur nt or unbur ned 27
I I . The t r o oper di d not have pr obabl e c aus e t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uence of mar i j uana because he exhi bi t ed no
char act er i st i cs of i mpai r ment and t her e was no
evi dence of consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e 30
I I I . The t r ooper c oul d not s ear c h Mr . Cr aan' s vehi c l e
bas ed on vi ol at i on of f eder al l aw bec aus e t her e
was no evi denc e of a f eder al i nves t i gat i on or
pr osecut i on and Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi des hei ght ened
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pr ot ect i ons agai nst unl awf ul sear ch and sei zur e
as compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment 33
CONCLUSI ON 39
ADDENDUM 40
U. S. Const . amend. IV 40
Mass . Const . Pt . 1, ar t . XlV 40
G. L. c. 90, ~ 24( 1) ( a) ( 1) : : 40
G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32C ( a) . 41
G. L. c . 94C, ~ 32L. . 41
G. L. c. 94C, ~ 34. . 43
G. L. c . 269, ~ 10( h)( 1) . . 46
G. L. c . 276, ~ 2B. . 46
Commonweal t h v. Val l e, 80 Mass. App. Ct . 1115
( 2011) [ Rul e 1: 28 Deci si on] 47
Memor andum f r om Depar t ment of J ust i ce Deput y
At t or ney Gener al Davi d W. Ogden on I nvest i gat i onsand Pr osecut i ons i n St at es Aut hor i zi ng Medi cal
Use of Mar i j uana, t o Uni t ed St at es At t or neys
( Oct . 19, 2009) 50
CERTI FI CATE OF COMPLI ANCE WI TH RULES OF COURT
PURSUANT TO MASS. R. APP. P. Rul e 16(k) 53
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TABLE OF AUTHORI TI ES
Ar kansas v. Sander s, 442 U. S. 753 ( 1979) 12
Beck v. Ohi o, 379 U. S. 89 ( 1964) 31
Commonweal t h v. Al mei da, 373 Mass. 266 ( 1977) . . . . 15, 16
Commonweal t h v. Al var ado, 423 Mass. 266 ( 1996) . . . 4 n. 3
Commonweal t h v. Bacon, 381 Mas s. 642 ( 1980) 20
Commonweal t h v. Bost ock, 450 Mass. 616 ( 2008) . . . . 19- 20
Commonweal t h v. Cas t , 407 Mas s . 891 ( 1990) 22, 23
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. 459 ( 2011) . . 3, 14, 15- 16
18, 19, 20, 21, 22
23, 24, 25, 26, 27
28, 29, 30, 35, 36
Commonweal t h v. Damon, 82 Mass. App. Ct . 164
( 2012) 21, 24, 29
Commonweal t h v. Dani el , 81 Mass. App. Ct . 306
( 2012) 24, 25
Commonweal t h v. Fraser, 410 Mass. 541 ( 1991) . . . . . . . . 16
Commonweal t h v. Gar den, 451 Mass. 43 ( 2008) . . . . . . 27, 28
Commonweal t h v. Gonsal ves, 429 Mass. 658 ( 1999) . . 15- 16
Commonweal t h v. I sai ah I . , 448 Mas s. 334 ( 2007) . . 4 n. 3
Commonweal t h v. J ohnson, 461 Mas s. 44 ( 2011) . . . . . . . . 14
Commonweal t h v. Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . 803
( 2012) 14, 19, 21, 24
27, 29, 36, 38
Commonweal t h v. Loughl i n, 385 Mas s . 60 ( 1982) 14
Commonweal t h v. Hason, 387 Mass. 169 (1982) 23
Commonweal t h v. Mur phy, 454 Mass. 318 ( 2009) . . . . 13 n. 4
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Commonweal t h v. O' Connor , 420 Mass. 630 ( 1995) 31
Commonweal t h v. Ri ver a, 33 Mass. App. Ct . 311
( 1992) 16, 17
Commonweal t h v. Ri vet , 30 Mass. App. Ct . 973( 1991) 31
Commonweal t h v. Rovi ar o, 32 Mass. App. Ct . 956
( 1992) " . ' " " 31
Commonweal t h v. Si l va, 366 Mass . 402 ( 1974) . . . . . . 19, 20
Commonweal t h v. Sumer l i n, 393 Mass. 127 ( 1984) . . . . . . 16
Commonweal t h v. Thomas , 429 Mass . 403 ( 1999) . . . . . 4 n. 3
Commonweal t h v. Tr umbl e, 396 Mass . 81 ( 1985) . . . . 13 n. 4
Commonweal t h v. Upt on I I , 394 Mas s. 363 ( 1985) . . . 34- 35
Commonweal t h v. Val l e, 80 Mass. App. Ct . 1115
( 2011) [ Rul e 1: 28 Deci si on] 21, 24, 29, 47- 49
Commonweal t h v. Va Meng J oe, 40 Mass. App. Ct . 499
( 1996) 16
Kat z v. Uni t ed St at es, 389 U. S. 347 ( 1967) 13
Mapp v. Ohi o, 367 U. S. 643 ( 1961) 13
Mar yl and v. Wi l son, 519 U. S. 408 ( 1997) 36
Mi chi gan v. Long, 463 U. S. 1032 ( 1983) 16
Penns yl vani a v. Mi mms , 434 U. S. 106 ( 1977) 16, 36
Ter r y v. Ohi o, 392 U. S. 1 ( 1968) 13 n. 4, 15
Uni t ed St at es v. Lewi s , 816 F . Supp. 789
( D. Ma s s. 1993) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Whi t el ey v. War den, 401 U. S. 560 (1971) 23
G. L . c . 90, S i 24( 1) ( a) ( 1) 31, 40- 41
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G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32C ( a) . 2, 41I
I
G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32L. . 9, 11, 20, 21, 24
27, 28, 29, 3537 n. 7, 38, 41- 43
G. L. c. 94C, ~ 34. . 2, 43- 45
G. L. c. 269, ~ 10( h) ( 1) . 2, 46
G. L. c. 276, ~ 2B. . 23, 46
Mass. Const . Pt . 1, ar t . Xl V 11, 14, 33, 36, 38, 39
U. S. Const . amend. I V 11, 33, 36, 38, 39
Memor andum f r om Depar t ment of J ust i ce Deput y At t or ney
Gener al Davi d W. Ogden on I nvest i gat i ons and
Pr osecut i ons i n St at es Aut hor i zi ng Medi cal Use of
Mar i j uana, t o Uni t ed St at es At t or neys
( Oct . 19, 2009) 37- 38, 50- 52
St at e Pol i ce Gener al Or der TRF- 15 13 n. 4
J oseph A. Gr ass o, J r . &Chr i st i ne M. McEvoy,
Suppr essi on Mat t er s Under Massachuset t s Law,
~ 1- 11 ( 2009- 2010 ed. ) 16- 17, 34- 35
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STATEMENT OF THE I SSUES
I . Whet her t he t r i al j udge c or r ec t l y s uppr es s ed t he
evi dence wher e t he t r ooper l acked per mi ssi bl e
gr ounds t o or der Mr . Cr aan out of hi s vehi cl e and
subsequent l y sear ch i t based onl y on: ( 1) t he
smel l of unbur ned mar i j uana comi ng f r om t he
i nt er i or of t he vehi c l e and ( 2) t he obs er vat i on
of a s mal l quant i t y of mar i j uana i ns i de t he
vehi cl e.
I I . Whet her t he t r ooper l acked pr obabl e c aus e t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uence of mar i j uana wher e Mr . Cr aan exhi bi t ed
no char act er i st i cs of i mpai r ment and t her e was no
evi dence of consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e.
I I I . Whet her t he t r ooper c oul d s ear c h Mr . Cr aan' s
vehi cl e based on vi ol at i on of f eder al l aw wher e
t her e was no evi dence of a f eder al i nvest i gat i on
or pr osecut i on and Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi des hei ght ened
pr ot ect i ons agai nst unl awf ul sear ch and sei zur e
as compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment .
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On May 12, 2011, Mr . Cr aan f i l ed a Mot i on f or
Rec ons i der at i on of J udge' s Deni al f or Def endant ' s
Mot i on t o Suppr ess and a Mot i on f or Rehear i ng and/ or
Re- Openi ng of Def endant ' s Mot i on t o Suppr ess i n l i ght
of Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. 459 ( 2011) , whi ch
had r ec ent l y been dec i ded by t he Supr eme J udi c i al
Cour t and was di r ectl y appl i cabl e t o Mr . Cr aan' s case
( C. A. 5, 12, 13) .
On May 19, 2011, t her e was a hear i ng on Mr .
Cr aan' s mot i on f or r econsi der at i on ( C. A. 5) The
J udge t ol d t he pr osecut i on and Mr . Cr aan t hat she
want ed t o l i st en t o t he r ecor di ng of t he mot i on t o
suppr ess hear i ng hel d on Febr uar y 25, 2011 i n or der t o
r emi nd her s el f of t he f ac t s bef or e maki ng a dec i s i on
( Tr . 5/ 19/ 11: 34) .
On November 16, 2011, t he J udge s ai d t hat s he
made her f i nal deci si on al l owi ng Mr . Cr aan' s mot i on
f or r econsi der at i on and mot i on t o suppr ess on Octo ber
19, 2011 ( C.A. 6) ( Tr . 11/ 16/ 11: 10) 2
The docket not es t hat t he J udge i ni t i al l y al l owedMr . Cr aan' s mot i on t o r econs i der and s uppr es s on
Sept ember 7, 2011 ( C. A. 6) ( Tr . 9/ 7/ 11: 3) , however ,
t her e was conf usi on as t o whet her t he J udge made her
dec i s i on af t er gi vi ng t he pr os ec ut i on an oppor t uni t y
t o pr esent or al ar gument i n opposi t i on ( Tr . 10/ 19/ 11:3
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The Commonwealth filed its brief on August 13,
2012.
STATEMENTOFTHEFACTS
A. Judge's Findings of Fact3
On June 11, 2010, Massachusetts State Police
Trooper Scott Irish (hereinafter "Trooper Irish") was
assigned to an OUI roadblock on Gallivan Boulevard in
Dorchester (Tr. 2/25/11: 11-12, 41) The roadblock
consisted of two lanes, with three troopers in each
8) . The Judge explained that she would listen to a
recording of the hearing to determine when she made
her final decision (Tr. 10/19/11: 8,9). Mr. Craan's
trial court counsel obj ected to the judge's decision
regarding the date the motion was actually allowed
arguing that the prosecution's notice of appeal was
not filed within the required time (Tr. 11/16/11: 10).
The judge made oral findings only and denied the
Commonwealth's request for written finings (C.A. 44-
50) (R.A. 23-24). "Appellate courts may supplement a
judge's findings of facts if the evidence is
uncontroverted and undisputed and where the judge
explicitly or implicitly credited the witness's
testimony." Commonwealthv. Isaiah 1., 448 Mass. 334,
337 (2007); citing Commonwealth v. Alvarado, 423 Mass.
266, 268 n. 2 (1996). Further, '''motion judge's
findings of fact are binding in the absence of clear
error.'" Commonwealth v. Isaiah 1., 448 Mass. 334, 337
(2007); quoting, Commonwealth v. Thomas, 429 Mass.
403, 405 (1999).
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1ane (Tr . 2/25/11: 25). Tr ooper I r i sh was f ul f i l l i ng
t he dut y of " s cr eeni ng of f i cer , " meani ng t hat he
st opped ever y vehi cl e at hi s checkpoi nt and made
cont act wi t h t he oper at or t o det er mi ne i f he/ she was
under t he i nf l uence of al cohol ( Tr . 2/25/11: 12, 41).
At ar ound 1:30 am, Mr . Cr aan appr oached t he OUI
r oadbl ock dr i vi ng a gr ay Mer cedes ( Tr . 2/25/11: 13,
41) . Tr ooper I r i s h made cont act wi t h Mr . Cr aan
t hr ough t he open dr i ver ' s si de wi ndow and smel l ed a
st r ong odor of unbur ned mar i j uana comi ng f r om wi t hi n
t he vehi cl e ( Tr . 2/25/11: 13, 25, 41). Tr ooper I r i sh
t hen di r ect ed Mr . Cr aan t o pul l hi s vehi cl e i nt o t he
scr eeni ng ar ea of f t o t he si de of t he r oad ( Tr .
2/25/11: 13-14, 41).
Tr ooper I r i sh spoke wi t h Mr . Cr aan agai n at t he
scr eeni ng ar ea and i nf or med hi m t hat he coul d smel l a
st r ong or der of mar i j uana i n t he vehi cl e ( Tr . 2/25/11:
14, 41). Tr ooper I r i sh t hen asked Mr . Cr aan i f he had
any mar i j uana I n t he vehi cl e ( Tr . 2/25/11: 15, 27,
41) . Mr . Cr aan r epl i ed "yes" and st at ed t hat he and
hi s passenger had j ust smoked some weed ( Tr . 2/25/11:
16, 41). However , Tr ooper I r i sh r ei t er at ed t hat he
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di d not s mel l bur nt mar i j uana, but r at her f r es h,
unbur ned mar i j uana ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 16, 28, 42) Mr .
Cr aan t hen acknowl edged t hat he had some mar i j uana and
pr oceeded t o open t he passenger si de gl ove
compar t ment , exposi ng a smal l pl ast i c bag cont ai ni ng
what Tr ooper I r i sh bel i eved t o be mar i j uana ( Tr .
2/ 25/ 11: 17, 28, 42) Mr . Cr a an di d not r emove t he
pl ast i c bag f r om t he passenger si de gl ove compar t ment ,
r at her Tr ooper I r i sh was abl e t o see i t f r om hi s
vant age poi nt st andi ng out s i de t he vehi cl e at t he
dr i ver ' s s i de door ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 28, 42) I t was dar k
out s i de, so Tr ooper I r i sh used hi s f l ashl i ght t o
i l l umi nat e t he ar e a ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 29, 42) . Ther e wer e
al so gener at or - r un over head l i ght s set up at t he
checkpoi nt ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11 : 29, 42) . Tr ooper I r i s h
cl ai med t hat i t was a sandwi ch si zed- baggi e "maybe a
quar t er f ul l of mar i j uana, i f I r ecal l cor r ect l y" ( Tr .
2/ 25/ 11: 29) . Tr ooper I r i s h di d not know t he wei ght
of i t ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 29) .
Tr ooper I r i sh t hen r emoved Mr . Cr aan and t he
pas senger f r om t he vehi cl e t o per f or m a pat f r i s k Tr .
2/ 25/ 11: 17, 42) . He di d not f i nd any weapons or
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contraband on either of their persons (Tr. 2/25/11:
17, 42).
Trooper Irish then proceeded to search the
passenger compartment of the vehicle (Tr. 2/25/11: 17-
18). He took possession of the small plastic bag from
the glove compartment that Mr. Craan had previously
showed him, and continued to search the interior of
the vehicle (Tr. 2/25/11: 18). Within the vehicle
Trooper Irish found several small baggies containing
marijuana, marijuana in the center console, three (3)
blue pills that he believed to be Ecstasy in the
center console, and a device commonly used for
grinding marijuana in the driver's side door (Tr.
2/25/11: 18-19, 31-32, 42). Trooper Irish claimed he
could still smell a strong odor or marijuana in the
vehicle, so he checked the trunk (Tr. 2/25/11: 32).
There was no marijuana in the trunk, however, Trooper
Irish found rounds of 0.38 caliber ammunition (Tr.
2/25/11: 18-19, 32-33).
Mr. Craan and the passenger were at the front of
the vehicle while the search was occurring (Tr.
2/25/11: 19-20). Trooper Irish asked them about the
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mar i j uana, Ecst asy and ammuni t i on once he was f i ni shed
wi t h t he s ear c h ( T r . 2/ 25/ 11: 20) . Mr. Cr aan
acknowl edged t hat he smoked mar i j uana, but t hat he di d
not know wher e t he Ecst asy came f r om ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 21-
22, 43). Mr . Cr aan i ni t i al l y deni ed knowi ng wher e t he
ammuni t i on came f r om, but l at er acknowl edged t hat he
bel i eved t he ammuni t i on bel onged t o a secur i t y guar d
f r i end t o whom he had r ecent l y gi ven a r i de ( Tr .
2/ 25/ 11: 20, 43)
At t he end of t he i nt er ac t i on, Mr . Cr aan and t he
passenger wer e i ss ued summonses f or cr i mi nal of f enses
and sent on t hei r way ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 23) .
B. The J udge' s Rul i ng
Mr . Cr aan i ncor por at es by r ef er ence t he j udge' s
r ul i ng as set f or t h i n t he Commonweal t h' s Br i ef ( C. B.
6 - 8) .
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SUMMARY OF THE ARGUMENT
I . Tr ooper I r i sh' s exi t or der and subsequent
war r ant l ess sear ch of Mr . Cr aan and hi s vehi cl e
vi ol at ed t he pr ot ect i ons pr ovi ded by t he Four t h
Amendment and Ar t i cl e 14. The onl y t wo f ac t or s
caus i ng Tr ooper I r i s h t o or der Mr . Cr aan and hi s
passenger out of t he vehi cl e and subsequent l y sear ch
i t wer e: 1) t he smel l of unbur ned mar i j uana al l egedl y
emanat i ng f r om t he vehi cl e, and; 2) t he s i ght of a
smal l baggi e cont ai ni ng what Tr ooper I r i sh bel i eved t o
be mar i j uana. Si nce t he enact ment of G. L. c. 94C, ~
32L and cases deci ded subsequent l y, t hese t wo f act or s
al one di d not pr ovi de Tr ooper I r i s h wi t h pr obabl e
cause or r easonabl e suspi ci on t hat a cr i mi nal amount
of mar i j uana was pr esent i n or der t o j ust i f y t he exi t
or der and sear ch. Addi t i onal l y, t her e wer e no ot her
per mi s s i bl e gr ounds f or t he exi t or der and s ear ch
because t her e wer e no f act or s showi ng t hat Mr . Cr aan
and/ or hi s passenger wer e engaged i n cr i mi nal act i vi t y
or pr es ent ed a danger t o t he t r ooper s or ot her s . See
pp. 12-30.
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I I . Tr ooper I r i sh di d not have pr obabl e cause t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uence of mar i j uana f or t hr ee r easons. Fi r s t , Mr .
Cr aan exhi bi t ed no c har ac t er i s t i c of i mpai r ment ( r ed,
gl as sy eyes , s l ur r e d s peec h) . Sec ond, t her e was no
evi dence of consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e. Al t hough Mr .
Cr aan admi t t ed t o s moki ng weed ear l i er , t her e wer e no
f act s s howi ng t hat he cons umed i t i n t he vehi cl e or
speci f yi ng what "ear l i er " meant . Addi t i onal l y,
Tr ooper I r i sh was expl i ci t l y cl ear and adamant t hat he
smel l ed unbur ned mar i j uana as opposed t o bur nt
mar i j uana. Bur nt mar i j uana i s mor e l i kel y t o i ndi cat e
r ecent consumpt i on. Thi r d, al t hough t he st op occur r ed
at sobr i et y checkpoi nt , Tr ooper I r i s h el ect ed not t o
admi ni st er f i el d sobr i et y t est s t o Mr . Cr aan and
i ns t ead mer el y i s sued hi m a c r i mi nal s ummons f or
c har ges c ompl et el y unr e l at ed t o oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uence. See pp. 30- 33.
I I I . Tr ooper I r i sh coul d not sear ch Mr . Cr aan' s
vehi c l e bas ed on vi ol at i on of f eder a l l aw bec aus e i t
under mi nes t he power of t hi s St at e and i t s cour t s t o
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enact l aws wi t h r egar d t o t he pos ses si on of s mal l
amount s of mar i j uana. Fi r s t , Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi des
hei ght ened pr ot ec t i ons agai ns t unl awf ul s ear c h and
sei zur e compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment as
i l l ust r at ed mor e r ecent l y by cases deci ded subsequent
t o G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32L. Second, Tr ooper I r i sh was
act i ng sol el y under t he di r ect i on of t he st at e,
wi t hout any f eder al i nvol vement , and t her e was no
Thi r d, t he Depar t ment of J ust i ce i ssued a
addr essi ng bet ween
i ndi cat i on
consi der ed.
memor andum
t hat a f eder al
t he
pr osecut i on
i nconsi st ency
was ever
f eder al l aw and st at e mar i j uana l aws, advi si ng f eder al
pr osecut or s t o not di r ect f eder al r esour ces on
i ndi vi dual s i n compl i ance wi t h exi st i ng st at e l aws.
See pp. 33- 38.
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ARGUMENT
I . The t r i al j udge cor r ect l y suppr essed t he evi dence
because t he t r ooper l acked per mi ssi bl e gr ounds t o
or der Mr . Cr aan out of hi s vehi cl e and
s ubs equent l y s ear ch i t bas ed onl y on: ( 1) t he
smel l of unbur ned mar l ] Uana comi ng f r om t he
i nt er i or of t he vehi c l e and ( 2) t he obs er vat i on
of a s mal l quant i t y of mar i j uana i ns i de t hevehi cl e.
A. Legal St andar d
Bot h t he Four t h Amendment t o t he Uni t ed St at es
Const i t ut i on ( her ei naf t er r ef er r ed t o as "Four t h
Amendment " ) and Ar t i cl e 14 of t he Mass achuset t s
Decl ar at i on of Ri ght s ( her ei naf t er r ef er r ed t o as
"Ar t i cl e 14") pr ot ect agai nst unr easonabl e sear ches
and sei zur es. See U. S. Const . amend. I V. and Mass.
Cons t . Pt . 1, ar t . XI V. "A sear ch of pr i vat e pr oper t y
must be bot h r easonabl e and pur suant t o a pr oper l y
i ssued sear ch war r ant . The mer e r easonabl eness of a
sear ch, as ses sed i n t he l i ght of t he s ur r oundi ng
c i r c ums t anc es , i s not a s ubs t i t ut e f or t he j udi c i al
war r ant r equi r ed under t he Four t h Amendment . " Ar kansas
v. Sander s , 442 U. S. 753, 758 (1979) " Sear ches
conduct ed out si de t he j udi ci al pr ocess, wi t hout pr i or
appr oval by j udge or magi st r at e,
12
ar e per se
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unr easonabl e under t he Four t h Amendment subj ect onl y
t o a f ew speci f i cal l y wel l est abl i shed and del i neat ed
except i ons. / J Kat z v. Uni t ed St at es, 389 U. S. 347, 357
( 1967) . " Wher e a war r ant has not been obt ai n~d, t he
gover nment bear s t he bur den of pr ovi ng t hat i t s sear ch
and s ei z ur e f al l s wi t hi n a r ec ogni z ed exc ept i on t o t he
war r ant r equi r ement . /J Uni t ed St at es v. Lewi s , 816 F.
Supp. 789, 792 (D. Mass. 1993) . "Al l evi dence
4
obt ai ned by s ear c hes and s ei z ur es i n vi ol at i on of t he
Const i t ut i on i s, by t hat same aut hor i t y, i nadmi ssi bl e
i n a s t at e cour t . / J Mapp v. Ohi o, 367 U. S. 643, 655
( 1961) .
Assumi ng, ar guendo, t hat Mr . Cr aan was val i dl y
s t opped as par t of a s obr i et y c hec kpoi nt 4, t he proper
The st op of a mot or vehi cl e at a f i xed r oadbl ockcons t i t ut es a war r ant l es s s ei z ur e of t hat vehi cl e and
dr i ver wi t hout i ndi vi dual i z ed s us pi ci on under t he
Four t h Amendment and Ar t i cl e 14. Commonweal t h v.
Mur phy, 454 Mass. 318, 322 ( 2009) ; ci t at i ons omi t t ed.
However , t he Supr eme J udi ci al Cour t has endor s ed
cer t ai n gui del i nes f or sobr i et y checkpoi nt pr ocedur es
so t hat t hey do not of f end t he guar ant ees of t he
Four t h Amendment and Ar t i cl e 14. See Commonweal t h v.
Tr umbl e, 396 Mass . 81, 82- 83 ( 1985) ; St at e Pol i ce
Gener al Or der TRF- 15. A dr i ver di r ect ed t o t he
secondar y scr eeni ng ar ea i n a sobr i et y checkpoi nt has
been s t opped i n ac cor danc e wi t h pr i nc i pl es s et f or t h
i n Ter r y v. Ohi o, under t he f ami l i ar st andar d of " r easonabl e suspi ci on. / J Commonweal t h v. Mur phy, 454
Mass. at 325.
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anal ys i s i s whet her t he exi t or der and s ubs equent
war r ant l es s s ear c h wer e val i d based on ot her
per mi ssi bl e gr ounds.
Mass. 44, 48 ( 2011) .
See Commonweal t h v. J ohnson, 461
"Ar t i cl e 14 of t he Massachuset t s
Decl ar at i on of Ri ght s r ecogni zes t hr ee bases f or
i ssui ng an exi t or der t o a dr i ver or passenger i n a
r out i ne mot or vehi cl e st op: (1) part i cul ar i zed
r easonabl e suspi ci on of cr i mi nal act i vi t y; (2 )
r eas onabl e appr ehens i on of danger t o t he pol i ce or
ot her s ; or ( 3) ' pr agmat i c r eas ons . ' " Commonweal t h v.
Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . 803, 808 ( 2012) ; ci t i ng
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. 459, 466 ( 2011)
None of t hese j ust i f i cat i ons appl i ed when Tr ooper
I ri sh i ssued t he exi t or der t o Mr . Cr aan and
subsequent l y sear ched hi s vehi cl e. Ther ef or e, al l
evi denc e obt ai ned af t er t hi s i mpr oper exi t or der and
s ear c h mus t be s uppr es sed. See Commonweal t h v.
Loughl i n, 385 Mass. 60, 63 ( 1982) ( evi dence obt ai ned as
a r es ul t of uncons t i t ut i onal pol i ce conduct mus t be
excl uded
doct r i ne) .
under " f r ui t of
14
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B. The t r ooper di d not possess a
f ear f or hi s saf et y or t hat of
j ust i f y t he exi t or der and sear ch.
r easonabl e
ot her s t o
Not ever y c i r c ums t anc e t hat j us t i f i es a s t op al s o
j ust i f i es a f r i sk. Even a l i mi t ed sear ch f or weapons
i s a s er i ous i nt r us i on on t he s anct i t y of t he per s on.
See Ter r y v. Ohi o, 392 u. S. I, 16- 17 ( 1968) ;
Commonweal t h v. Al mei da, 373 Mass. 266, 270- 271
( 1977) . The pur pos e of t he l i mi t ed Ter r y- t ype s ear c h
i s not i nves t i gat or y, but pr ot ect i ve. The pur pos e i s
not t o di s cover evi denc e of a c r i me, but t o al l ow t he
pol i ce t o pur s ue appr opr i at e i nves t i gat i on wi t hout
f ear of vi ol enc e. r d.
Once a suspect i s val i dl y st opped upon r easonabl e
s us pi ci on, an of f i cer may conduct a l i mi t ed Ter r y
s ear c h of t he s us pect f or weapons onl y i f t he of f i cer
r eas onabl y bel i eves t hat hi s s af et y or t hat of ot her s
i s i n danger . See Ter r y v. Ohi o, 392 U. S. at 27.
Accor di ngl y, " an exi t or der i s j ust i f i ed i f 'a
r easonabl y pr udent man i n t he pol i ceman' s posi t i on
woul d be war r ant ed i n t he bel i ef t hat t he s af et y of
t he pol i ce or t hat of ot her per s ons was i n danger . 11
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Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass at 466, quot i ng
Commonweal t h v. Gonsal ves, 429 Mass. 658, 661 ( 1999) .
The f ol l owi ng f act or s ar e consi der ed i n
det er mi ni ng whet her t he pol i ce of f i cer may conduct a
Ter r y- t ype sear ch: obser vat i on of a weapon [ Mi chi gan
v. Long, 463 U. S. 1032, 1051 ( 1983) ; Commonweal t h v.
Al mei da, 373 Mas s . at 272] a bul ge i n t he c l ot hi ng of
t he suspect [ Pennsyl vani a v. Mi mms, 434 U. S. 106, 112
( 1977) ] ; a f ur t i ve ges t ur e [ Commonweal t h v. Va Meng
J oe, 40 Mas s. App. Ct . 499, 509- 511 ( 1996) ] ;
bel l i ger enc e or unr ul i nes s on t he par t of t he s us pec t
[ Commonweal th v . Ri ver a, 33 Mass. App. Ct . 311, 315
( 1992) ] ; i nf or mant s ' t i ps t hat an i ndi vi dual i s ar med
and danger ous [ Commonweal t h v. Fraser , 410 Mass. 541,
547 ( 1991) ] ; knowl edge of s us pect ' s r eput at i on f or
vi ol ence/ ki nds of cr i mes commi t t ed [ Commonweal t h v.
Ri ver a, 33 Mass. App. Ct . at 315] ; t i me of
day/ l ocat i on [ Commonweal t h v. Sumer l i n, 393 Mass. 127,
129 ( 1984) ( at ni ght , i s ol at ed ar e a) ] ; and whet her t he
of f i c er i s ' al one or out number ed
Ri ver a, 33 Mas s . App. Ct . at 315] .
[ Commonweal t h v.
I t s houl d be not ed
t hat one f act or by i t s el f i s r ar el y suf f i ci ent t o
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s uppor t a pat - f r i s k. J os eph A. Gr as so, J r . &Chr i st i ne
M. McEvoy, Suppr essi on Mat t er s Under Massachuset t s
Law, ~ 1- 11 ( 2009- 2010 ed. ) ci t i ng Commonweal t h v.
Ri ver a, 33 Mass. App. Ct . at 314- 315.
None of t hes e f act or s wer e pr es ent i n t hi s cas e
t o j ust i f y t he sear ch. Nei t her Mr . Cr aan nor hi s
pas senger pr es ent ed any danger t o Tr ooper I r i s h or
ot her s at t he t i me of t he s t op. Tr ooper I r i s h di d not
obs er ve any weapons ei t her on Mr . Cr aan, hi s
pas s enger , or i ns i de t he vehi c l e. Mr . Cr aan and hi s
pas s enger di d not make any f ur t i ve ges t ur es . Tr ooper
I r i s h di d not have any i nf or mat i on t hat Mr . Cr a an or
hi s passenger was armed and danger ous. Tr ooper I r i s h
di d not know i f Mr . Cr aan or hi s pass enger had
r eput at i ons f or vi ol ence or cr i me.
The f act s show t hat Mr . Cr aan was st opped at a
sobr i et y checkpoi nt wi t h many st at e t r ooper s pr esent s.
Ther e wer e gener at or - r un over head l i ght s set up t o
i l l umi nat e t he ar ea ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 29, 42) . Mr . Cr aan
Tr ooper I r i sh di d notamount of t r ooper s pr esent ,
at t he i ni t i al s t op- poi nt
s ec ond was pr es ent whi l e
vehi cl e ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 17) ]
t est i f y as t o t he exactbut di d s ay t her e wer e s i x
( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 25) and a
he s ear c hed Mr . Cr aan' s
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and hi s pas s enger wer e not bel l i ger ent or unr ul y
t owar ds any of t he t r ooper s . I n f act qui t e t he
opposi t e was t r ue: Mr . Cr aan f ol l owed Tr ooper I r i sh' s
i ns t r uc t i ons and ans wer ed hi s ques t i ons about t he
smel l of mar i j uana ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11; 13- 17) . At no poi nt
di d Tr ooper I r i sh t est i f y t hat he bel i eved t hat he was
i n f ear f or hi s saf et y or t hat ot her s wer e i n danger .
Addi t i onal l y, al t hough t he Commonweal t h does not
expl i ci t l y advance t he "saf et y" ar gument , t hey do
s t at e i n t hei r br i ef t hat Tr ooper I r i s h was j us t i f i ed
i n s ear c hi ng t he vehi cl e t o ens ur e t hat Mr . Cr aan
woul d not oper at e hi s mot or vehi c l e and i ngest
mar i j uana af t er t he st op ( C. B. 14) However , t hi s
ar gument t akes a t r emendous l eap i nt er pr et i ng t he
hol di ng of Cr uz and goes on an unnecessar y t angent
r egar di ng t he danger s of oper at i ng under t he i nf l uence
t hat ar e not r el evant t o t hi s case.
The Commonweal t h cl ai ms " Cr uz al so di d not hol d
t hat an of f i cer , conf r ont ed wi t h an aut omobi l e t hat
smel l s of f r esh, unbur ned mar i j uana, cannot sear ch
t hat car t o ensur e t hat , shoul d t he dr i ver be al l owed
t o go on [ hi s ] way, he does not have addi t i onal
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mar i j uana" ( C. B. 22) Thi s gr eat l y mi schar act er i zes
Cr uz. At i t s cor e, Cr uz s t ands f or t he pr opos i t i on
t hat t he odor of bur nt mar i j uana, wi t hout mor e, does
not j ust i f y an exi t or der and subsequent sear ch. See
Commonweal t h v. Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . at 808i
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 450 Mass at 460.
Her e, Tr ooper I r i sh di d not r easonabl y bel i eve
t hat Mr . Cr aan or hi s passenger pr esent ed a danger t o
t he t r ooper s or ot her s . Ther e was no evi dence of
mar i j uana consumpt i on l n t he vehi cl e or i mpai r ed
oper at i on. Tr ooper I r i sh di d not even admi ni st er
f i el d s obr i et y t es t s des pi t e t he s t op occur r i ng at a
sobr i et y checkpoi nt . As s uch, t he exi t or der and
sear ch of t he occupant s and t he vehi cl e wer e unl awf ul .
Any evi dence obt ai ned as a r esul t of t hi s sear ch must
be suppr essed as a mat t er of l aw. See Commonweal t h v.
Si l va, 366 Mass. 402, 405- 406 ( 1974)
C. The t r ooper di dsuspi ci on based onbel i eve t hat Mr .cr i mi nal act i vi t y.
not have r eas onabl ear t i cul abl e f act s t o
Cr aan was engaged i n
An exi t or der i s al s o j us t i f i ed i f " t he of f i cer s
coul d have devel oped r easonabl e suspi ci on ( based on
ar t i cul abl e f act s) t hat t he def endant was engaged i n
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cri mi nal act i vi t y . . . /I Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass
at 466, ci t i ng Commonweal t h v. Bost ock, 450 Mass. 616,
621 ( 2008) . " A mer e hunc h i s not enough . . . t he t es t
i s an obj ect i ve one. / I Commonweal t h v. Si l va, 366 Mass.
at 406. " Si mpl e good f ai t h on t he par t of t he of f i cer
i s not enough. / I Commonweal t h v. Bacon, 381 Mass. 642,
643 ( 1980)
Fur t her , t he " l esser st andard of r easonabl e
suspi ci on i s t i ed, by i t s ver y def i ni t i on, t o t he
suspi ci on of cr i mi nal , as opposed t o mer el y
i nf r act i onar y, conduct . / I Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459
Mass. at 469, ci t i ng Commonweal t h v. Si l va, 366 Mass.
at 405. "When t he peopl e of t hi s Commonweal t h
ans wer ed ' yes ' t o Ques t i on 2 on t he 2008 bal l ot , t he
of f ens e of pos ses si ng one ounc e or l es s of mar i j uana
changed f r om bei ng a cr i mi nal t o a ci vi l of f ense. /I
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. at 470. " Ar t i cul abl e
f ac t s , t hen, mus t demons t r at e t hat t he def endant
pos s es s ed mor e t han one ounc e of mar i j uana, bec aus e
pos ses si on of one ounce or l es s of mar i j uana i s not a
cr i me. / I Commonweal t h v. Cr uz , 459 Mas s . at 469;
ci t i ng G.L. c. 94C, ~ 32L.
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Thi s cas e f al l s di r ect l y i n l i ne wi t h t he hol di ng
i n Cr uz and t hose deci ded af t er t he enact ment of G. L.
Mass. App. Ct .
See Commonweal t h v.c. 94C, 32L.
803 ( 2012) ( i nval i d exi t
Lobo,
or der
82
and
s ubs equent s ear c h bas ed on odor of f r es hl y bur nt
mar i j uana comi ng f r om i nsi de vehi cl e) ; Commonweal t h v.
Damon, 82 Mass . App. Ct . 164 ( 2012) ( same) ; Commonweal t h
v. Val l e, 80 Mass. App. Ct . 1115 ( 2011) [ Rul e 1: 28
Deci si on; see A. A. 47] ( smel l of mar i j uana comi ng f r om
vehi cl e i s not enough t o war r ant exi t or der and
sear ch) .
I n t hi s cas e, at t he t i me Tr ooper I r i s h or der ed
Mr . Cr aan and hi s passenger out of t he vehi cl e, t her e
was no evi dence t hat Mr . Cr aan possessed a cr i mi nal
amount mar i j uana or t hat he was engaged i n any ot her
cr i mi nal act i vi t y. Mr . Cr aan was st opped as par t of a
s obr i et y checkpoi nt ; he di d not commi t a t r af f i c
vi ol at i on or some ot her of f ense war r ant i ng t he st op.
Ther e was no evi dence of mar i j uana consumpt i on i n t he
vehi cl e or i mpai r ed oper at i on by Mr . Cr aan. Tr ooper
I r i s h di d not r eques t t hat Mr . Cr aan per f or m f i el d
s obr i et y t es t s . I n f act , Tr ooper I r i sh was adamant
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t hat he smel l ed unbur ned mar i j uana as opposed t o bur nt
mar i j uana, whi ch coul d i ndi cat e r ecent use ( T r .
2/ 25/ 13: 13) The exi t or der and s ubs equent s ear c h
wer e bas ed on t he s mel l of mar i j uana emanat i ng f r om
t he vehi cl e and t he si ght of a smal l baggi e cont ai ni ng
what Tr ooper I r i sh bel i eved t o be mar i j uana ( Tr .
2/ 25/ 11; 17) Tr ooper I r i s h hi ms el f des cr i bed t he bag
as " s mal l " ( Tr 2/ 25/ 11; 17) .
wei ght of i t ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 29) .
He di d not know t he
These f act or s ar e not enough t o war r ant t he exi t
or der and subsequent sear ch. Qui t e si mpl y, t her e wer e
no f act or s i ndi cat i ng c r i mi nal ac t i vi t y by Mr . Cr a an
or hi s passenger .
D. The t r ooper di d not have pr obabl e cause t o
s ear c h t he vehi cl e under t he aut omobi l e
exc ept i on becaus e t her e was i ns uf f i c i entevi dence t hat i t cont ai ned a cr i mi nal amount
of mar i j uana.
Thi s i s al so not t he cas e wher e " t he of f i cer s
coul d have or der ed t he def endant out of t he car f or
pr agmat i c r easons, e.g. , t o f aci l i t at e an
i ndependent l y per mi s s i bl e war r ant l es s s ear c h of t he
car under t he aut omobi l e except i on t o t he war r ant
r equi r ement . " Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. at 467,
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ci t i ng Commonweal t h v. Cast , 407 Mass. 891, 901
( 1990) . " Under t he aut omobi l e except i on, a
war r ant l ess sear ch of an aut omobi l e i s per mi t t ed when
t he pol i ce have ' pr obabl e cause t o bel i eve t hat a
mot or vehi c l e on a publ i c way c ont ai ns c ont r aband or
evi denc e of a c r i me, and exi gent c i r c ums t anc es make
obt ai ni ng a war r ant i mpr act i cabl e. ' " r d. at 473- 474.
The " pr obabl e cause" st andar d of t he aut omobi l e
exc ept i on i s l es ser t han t he " r eas onabl e s us pi c i on"
s t andar d needed t o s uppor t an exi t or der . r d. i see
al so Commonweal t h v. Hason, 387 Mass. 169, 174 ( 1982)
( "Probabl e cause r equi r es mor e t han mer e suspi ci on but
s omet hi ng l es s t han evi dence s uf f i c i ent t o war r ant a
convi ct i on" ) .
Addi t i onal l y, " [ t ] he s t andar d us ed t o det er mi ne
t he val i di t y of a war r ant l es s s ear c h i s t he s ame as
t hat used by a magi st r at e i n consi der i ng t he
appl i cat i on f or a s ear c h war r ant . Commonweal t h v.
Cr uz, 459 Mass. at 475, ci t i ng Whi t el ey v. War den, 401
U.s. 560, 566 ( 1971) . " [ S] eac h war r ant s ar e i s sued by
magi s t r at es ' aut hor i z ed t o i s sue [ t hem] i n c r i mi nal
cases' ' ' . r d. at 475, quot i ng G. L. c. 276, ~ 2B.
23
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not ed above, possessi on of one ounce or l ess of
mar i j uana was changed f r om a cr i mi nal of f ens e t o a
c i vi l one. See Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mas s . at
470; G.L. c. 94C, ~ 32L. Accor di ngl y, i n or der " t o
under t ake a sear c h pur s uant t o t he mot or vehi cl e
except i on, t he pol i ce must have pr obabl e cause t o
bel i eve t hat a criminal amount of cont r aband i s
pr esent , not mer el y some l esser amount .H Commonweal t h
v. Dani el , 81 Mas s. App. Ct . 306, 311 ( 2012) , ci t i ng
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz , 459 Mas s . at 476. " I t i s
unr eas onabl e f or t he pol i c e t o s pend t i me c onduc t i ng
war r ant l es s s ear ches f or cont r a band when no s peci f i c
f act s suggest cr i mi nal i t y. H
Mass. at 477.
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459
As not ed above i n Cr uz and ot her cas es deci ded
af t er t he enact ment of G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32L, " t he odor
of f r es hl y bur nt mar i j uana, wi t hout mor e , no l onger
pr ovi des pr obabl e cause, or even r easonabl e suspi ci on,
t hat a cr i mi nal amount of mar i j uana i s pr es ent .H
Commonweal t h v. Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . at 808; See al so
Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. 459; Commonweal t h v.
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Damon, 82 Mass. App. Ct . 164; Commonweal t h v. Val l e, 80
Mass. App. Ct . 1115 [ Rul e 1: 28 Deci si on; see A. A. 47] .
Cont r ast , Commonweal t h v. Dani el , 81 Mass. App. Ct .
306( pol i ce had pr obabl e cause t o sear ch t he
def endant ' s vehi cl e under t he aut omobi l e except i on) .
I n Dani el , i n addi t i on t o t he of f i cer s mel l i ng bur nt
mar i j uana, t he def endant ' s admi ssi on t o smoki ng
mar i j uana and showi ng t he of f i cer t wo smal l baggi es of
mar i j uana, there wer e ot her f act or s suggest i ng
cr i mi nal i t y, speci f i cal l y: br oken headl i ght ; t he
def endant made a l ef t t ur n i n f r o nt of pol i c e c r ui s er
wi t hout us i ng her di r ec t i onal ; t he def endant s t opped
her vehi c l e abr upt l y i n t he mi ddl e of a one- l ane r oad
caus i ng t he pol i ce cr ui s er t o near l y r ear - ended her
and bl ocki ng t r af f i c; f ur t i ve gest ur es by t he
pass enger . I d. at 308.
Mr . Cr a an' s cas e mor e cl os el y f ol l ows t he f ac t s
i n Cr uz and ot her s , wher e t he s ear ch was i nval i d. Mr .
Cr aan was s t opped at a s obr i et y c hec kpoi nt ; he di d not
commi t a t r af f i c vi ol at i on ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11; 13) . Mr .
Cr aan compl i ed wi t h Tr ooper I r i sh' s quest i ons
t hr oughout t he s t op. He f ol l owed Tr ooper I r i s h' s
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di r ect i ons t o t he second scr eeni ng ar ea and
subsequent l y answer ed hi s quest i ons about t he smel l of
mar i j uana ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11; 13- 17) . Mr . Cr aan went s o f ar
as t o show a smal l pl ast i c bag f r om t he gl ove
compar t ment t hat Tr ooper I r i s h bel i eved t o be
mar i j uana ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11; 17) . Tr ooper I r i s h hi ms el f
des cr i bed t he bag a " s mal l " ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11; 17) . He di d
not know t he wei ght of i t ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 29) . I n
addi t i onr t her e was no evi dence of i mpai r ed dr i vi ng or
mar i j uana consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e.
The onl y t wo f act or s causi ng Tr ooper I r i sh t o
or der Mr . Cr a an and hi s pas senger out of t he vehi cl e
and subsequent l y sear ch i t wer e: 1) t he smel l of
mar i j uana emanat i ng
smal l baggi e
unbur ned
vehi cl er
and; 2)
al l egedl y
t he si ght of a
f r om t he
cont ai ni ng what Tr ooper I r i sh bel i eved t o be mar i j uana
(Tr . 2 / 2 5/ 11 ; 17) . Thes e t wo f act or s al one di d not
pr ovi de t he pol i ce wi t h pr obabl e caus e t o execut e a
war r ant l es s s ear c h bec aus e t hey di d not i ndi c at e t hat
t he vehi c l e cont ai ned a criminal amount of mar i j uana
or t hat Mr . Cr aan and hi s passenger wer e engaged some
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ot her c r i mi nal ac t i vi t y.
459 Mass. at 476.
See Commonweal t h v. Cr uz,
E. The Ar t i cl e 14 pr ot ect i ons pr onounced i n
Cr uz appl y r egar dl es s of whet her t he s mel lof mar i j uana i s bur nt or unbur ned.
" I n Commonweal t h v. Cr uz , t he c our t announc ed
t hat t he mar i j uana decri mi nal i zat i on l aw changed our
j ur i spr udence, and t he odor of f r eshl y bur nt
mar i j uana, wi t hout mor e, no l onger pr ovi des pr obabl e
c aus e, or even r eas onabl e s us pi c i on, t hat a c r i mi nal
amount of mar i j uana i s pr es ent . "
Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . at 808.
Commonweal t h v.
The Commonweal t h ar gues t hat there i s a
di st i nct i on bet ween unbur ned mar i j uana and bur nt
mar i j uana when eval uat i ng t he val i di t y of a
sear ch6( C. B. 22) Speci f i cal l y, t he Commonweal t h
ar gues t hat Cr uz does not al t er t he c our t ' s hol di ng i n
Commonweal t h v. Gar den, 451 Mass. 43 ( 2008) , t hat an
of f i c er ' s det ec t i on of unbur ned mar i j uana emanat i ng
f r om a c ar pr ovi des pr o babl e c aus e t o bel i eve t hat t he
car cont ai ns mor e mar i j uana ( C. B. 22) However , t hi s
For pur pos es of
mar i j uana" s hal l be
mar i j uana, or mar i j uana
cl ar i t y, t he t er m " unbur ned"
s ynonYmous wi t h r aw or f r es h
t hat has not been smoked
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argument misses the mark and fails to consider the
full impact of G.L. c; 94C, ~ 32L.
Commonwealth v. Garden was decided on April 1,
2008, before the enactment of G.L. c. 94C, ~ 32L.
Garden itself involved the smell of burnt marijuana
emanating from the clothing of the occupants of the
motor vehicle and the permissible scope of a valid
search. Commonwealth v. Garden, 451 Mass. at 43, 45.
The court repeatedly refers to the smell of marijuana
on multiple occasions without designating it as
"unburned" or "burnt". rd. at 48-50. The court did
so in evaluating the permissible scope of the search:
specifically, whether the officer in Garden was
justified in searching the trunk of the vehicle when
he smelled only burnt marij uana. The Garden court
decided that the search could not extend to the trunk
because the officer could not reasonably expect to
find burnt marijuana there. rd. at 52.
However, while Garden deals with the scope of a
valid search prior to G.L. c. 94C, ~ 32L, Cruz
addresses the validity of the search itself after G.L.
c. 94C, ~ 32L. The enactment G.L. c. 94C, ~ 32L
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changed t he l aw i n t he Commonweal t h wi t h r egar d t o
mar i j uana, changi ng t he st at us of possessi ng one ounce
or l ess of mar i j uana f r om a cr i me t o a ci vi l
i nf r act i on. See G. L. c. 94C, ~ 32L. As des cr i bed
above, cases deci ded subsequent l y have r epeat edl y
f ound t hat t her e mus t be s ome addi t i onal f act or s
i ndi cat i ng cr i mi nal i t y or t hat a cr i mi nal amount of
mar i j uana i s pr es ent l n or der t o val i dat e t he exi t
or der and sear ch. See Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass .
Commonweal t h v.459;
Commonweal t h v.
Lobo,
Damon, 82
82 Mass. App. Ct .
Mass. App. Ct .
803;
164;
Commonweal t h v. Val l e, 80 Mass . App. Ct . 1115 [ Rul e 1: 28
Deci si on; see A. A. 47]
I n Commonweal t h v. Val l e, t hi s Cour t di d not
desi gnat e bur nt ver sus unbur ned mar i j uana and i nst ead
st at ed: "[ i ] n t he wake of Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, i t i s
no l onger enough t han an of f i cer smel l s mar i j uana
comi ng f r om a vehi cl e, even when coupl ed wi t h a
def endant ' s admi ss i on of smoki ng mar i j uana. To
j ust i f y t he sear ch of an aut omobi l e, t he of f i cer s must
have ot her evi dence of cr i mi nal act i vi t y or of t he
exi st ence of a cr i mi nal
29
amount of cont r aband. "
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Commonweal t h v. Val l e, 80 Mass. App. Ct . 1115, 2 [ Rul e
1: 28 Deci si on; see A. A. 47]
I n t hi s case, t he onl y t wo f act or s causi ng
Tr ooper I r i sh t o or der Mr . Cr aan and hi s passenger out
of t he vehi c l e and s ubs equent l y s ear c h i t wer e : 1) t he
smel l of unbur ned mar i j uana emanat i ng f r om t he
vehi cl e, and; 2) t he si ght of a smal l baggi e
cont ai ni ng what Tr ooper I r i sh bel i eved t o be mar i j uana
(Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 17) . Thes e t wo f ac t or s al one di d not
pr ovi de t he pol i ce wi t h pr obabl e caus e t o execut e a
war r ant l es s s ear c h bec aus e t hey di d not i ndi c at e t hat
a criminal amount of mar i j uana was pr esent or t hat Mr .
Cr aan and hi s passenger wer e engaged i n ot her cr i mi nal
act i vi t y. See Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass. at 476.
I I . The t r ooper di d not have pr obabl e cause t o
bel i eve t hat Mr . Cr aan was oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uenc e of mar i j uana bec aus e he exhi bi t ed no
c har act er i s t i c s of i mpai r ment and t her e was no
evi dence of consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e.
The Commonweal t h ar gues t hat Tr ooper I r i sh coul d
have ar r es t ed Mr . Cr aan f or oper at i ng a mot or vehi c l e
under t he i nf l uenc e of mar i j uana, t her eby j us t i f yi ng
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the subsequent search (C.B. 12-13). However, there is
no support for this argument in the record.
For an arrest to be constitutionally valid there
must be probable cause to make the arrest. Beck v.
Ohio, 379 U.S. 89, 91 (1964). To support an arrest
for operating a motor vehicle under the influence of
drugs, in violation of G.L. c. 90, ~ 24(1) (a) (1), the
facts and circumstances known to the officer at the
time must show that: (1) the defendant "operate [d] a
motor vehicle"; (2) "upon any way or in any place to
which the public has a right of access, or upon any
way or in any place to which members of the public
have access as invitees or licensees"; and (3) did so
"while under the influence of marijuana,
narcotic drugs, depressants or stimulant substances,
all as defined in section one of chapter ninety-four
C." G.L. c. 90, ~ 24 (1) (a) (1).
In its brief, the Commonwealth lists a litany of
cases describing circumstances where there was
probable cause to make an arrest for operating under
the influence. See Commonwealth v. O'Connor, 420
Mass. 630 (1995) (defendant admitted to drinking and
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had r ed- gl assy eyes) i Commonweal t h v. Rovi ar o, 32
Mas s. App. Ct . 956 (1992) ( def endant admi t t i ng t o
dr i nki ng f i ve or si x beer s i mmedi at el y pr i or t o mot or
vehi cl e acci dent ) i Commonweal t h v. Ri vet , 30 Mass.
App. Ct . 973 ( 1991) ( smel l of al cohol , def endant
admi t t ed consumi ng al cohol and had gl ass eyes) . I n
al l of t hese cases, t her e wer e mul t i pl e f act or s - r ed,
gl assy eyes, admi ss i on of consumpt i on, odor of al cohol
l eadi ng t he of f i cer t o bel i eve t he dr i ver was
oper at i ng under t he i nf l uence.
However , her e, t he r ecor d i s compl et el y voi d of
evi dence t hat Mr . Cr aan consumed mar i j uana i n t he
vehi cl e or oper at ed under t he i nf l uence of mar i j uana.
Tr ooper I r i sh di d not descr i be any physi cal
char act er i st i cs i ndi cat i ng t hat Mr . Cr aan was i mpai r ed
( i . e. r ed, gl assy eyes, sl ur r ed speech) . Ther e was no
t est i mony showi ng t hat Mr . Cr aan and/ or hi s passenger
had s moked i n t he vehi c l e. Al t hough Mr . Cr aan
admi t t ed t o smoki ng weed ear l i er , Tr ooper I r i sh was
expl i ci t l y cl ear t hat he di d not smel l bur nt mar i j uana
whi ch coul d i ndi cat e consumpt i on i n t he vehi cl e ( Tr .
2/ 25/ 11: 13) . He r ei t er at ed
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occasi ons ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 14, 16) Tr ooper I r i sh had
ever y oppor t uni t y t o admi ni st er f i el d sobr i et y t est s
or f ol l ow up on Mr . Cr aan' s mar i j uana use and hi s
l evel of i mpai r ment , but he di d not . I r oni cal l y, t he
s t op occur r ed at a s obr i et y checkpoi nt , yet Tr ooper
I r i sh mer el y i ssued Mr . Cr aan a cr i mi nal summons f or
char ges compl et el y unr el at ed t o oper at i ng under t he
i nf l uence and sent hi m on hi s way ( Tr . 2/ 25/ 11: 23)
Qui t e si mpl y, at t he t i me of t he i nci dent , t her e
was no evi dence suppor t i ng t he not i on t hat Mr . Cr aan
was oper at i ng hi s mot or vehi cl e under t he i nf l uence of
mar i j uana.
I I I . The t r ooper coul d not sear ch Mr . Cr aan' s vehi cl ebased on vi ol at i on of f eder al l aw because t her e
was no evi dence of a f eder al i nvest i gat i on orpr osecut i on and Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi des hei ght enedpr ot ect i ons agai nst unl awf ul sear ch and sei zur eas compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment .
The Commonweal t h ar gues t hat t he sear ch was
per mi ss i bl e under t he aut omobi l e except i on because Mr .
Cr aan had mar i j uana i n hi s vehi cl e i n vi ol at i on of
f eder al l aw ( C. B. 23) . However , t hi s ar gument mi ss es
t he mar k because i t does not gr asp t he i mpact of t he
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Cr uz dec i s i on and t he di s t i nc t i ons bet ween t he Four t h
Amendment and Ar t i cl e 14.
I n Commonweal t h v. Upt on I I , t he Cour t eval uat ed
t he pr obabl e caus e s t andar d f or pur pos es of i s sui ng a
s ear c h war r a nt and dec i ded t hat Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi ded
mor e s ubs t ant i ve pr ot ect i on t o def endant s t han does
t he Four t h Amendment . J os eph A. Gr as so, Jr. &
Chr i s t i ne M. Mc Evoy, Suppr ess i on Mat t er s Under
Massachuset t s Law, ~ 1- 11 ( 2009- 2010 ed. ) i ci t i ng
Commonweal t h v. Upt on I I , 394 Mas s. 363, 373- 374
(1985) . " Upt on II i s s i gni f i c ant because it
det er mi ned f or t he f i r s t t i me t hat i n addi t i on t o t he
r equi r ement s of t he Four t h Amendment , whi ch must be
obs er ved by t he s t at es as par t of Four t h Amendment due
pr o ces s, Ar t i cl e 14 of t he Mas sac hus et t s Dec l ar a t i on
of Ri ght s pr ovi des s epar at e, addi t i onal , and di s t i nc t
sour ce of i ndi vi dual r i ght s, whi ch must be consi der ed
i n ever y i ns t ance of s ear ch and s ei z ur e. " J oseph A.
Gr asso, ' J r . &Chr i st i ne M. McEvoy, Suppr essi on Mat t er s
Under Massachuset t s Law, ~ 1- 11 ( 2009- 2010 ed. ) . "The
ef f ect of Upt on I I i s t hat i n Mas sachus et t s, t he s t at e
i s pr ohi bi t ed f r om us i ng as evi denc e i t ems i l l egal l y
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sei zed under f eder al const i t ut i on st andar ds, and i t ems
s ei z ed i l l egal l y under s t at e s t andar ds ( t o t he ext ent
t hat t he s t at e may i mpos e a hi gher s t andar d) " I d.
As not ed above, " a war r ant l ess sear ch of an
aut omobi l e i s per mi t t ed when t he pol i ce have ' pr obabl e
c aus e t o bel i eve t hat a mot or vehi c l e on a publ i c way
cont ai ns cont r aband or evi dence of a cr i me, and
exi gent ci r cumst ances make obt ai ni ng a war r ant
i mpr act i cabl e. ' " Commonweal t h v. Cr uz [ 459 Mass. at
473- 474; ci t at i ons omi t t ed. I n Cr uz , t he Cour t
anal yzed how t he enact ment of G. L. c. 94C[ ~ 32L
i mpac t ed t he Four t h Amendment and Ar t i cl e 14. The
pas sage of G. L. c. 94C[ ~ 32L di d not l egal i ze
mar i j uana. " [ P] ossessi on of mar i j uana i n any amount
r emai ns i l l egal ; decr i mi nal i zat i on i s not synonymous
wi t h l egal i zat i on. " Commonweal t h v. Cr uz, 459 Mass.
at 473. " Bec aus e mar i j uana r emai ns unl awf ul t o
possess, any amount of mar i j uana i s consi der ed
cont r aband. " I d. However [ " [ i ] t i s unr eas onabl e f or
t he pol i ce t o spend t i me conduct i ng war r ant l ess
sear ches f or cont r aband when no speci f i c f act s suggest
c r i mi nal i t y. " I d. at 477.
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At i t s cor e, Cr uz s t ands f or t he pr opos i t i on t hat
t he odor of bur nt mar i j uana al one does not j us t i f y an
exi t or der and subsequent sear ch. See Commonweal t hv.
Cr uz, 450 Mass at 460. Subsequent t o Cr uz, t hi s Cour t
has f ur t her emphas i z ed t hat Ar t i cl e 14 pr ovi des
hei ght ened pr ot ec t i ons agai ns t unl awf ul s ear c h and
s ei z ur e as compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment . See
Commonweal t h v. Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . at 808i compar e
Pennsl yvani a v. Mi mms, 434 U.S. at 109- 110 ( under
Four t h Amendment , of f i c er s may i s sue exi t or der t o
dr i ver of s t opped mot or vehi c l e as r out i ne pr ac t i c e) i
Mar yl and v. Wi l son, 519 U. S. 408, 414- 415 ( 1997) ( same
appl i es t o passenger s) .
The Commonweal t h' s ar gument t hat a t r ooper can
vi ol at e pr ot ect i ons pr ovi ded by Ar t i cl e 14 under t he
gui se of a f eder al l aw vi ol at i on i s absur d. The
Commonweal t h suggest s t hat Tr ooper I r i sh, act i ng
s ol el y under t he di r ect i on of t he s t at e, at a s obr i et y
checkpoi nt , without any federal involvement, was
empower ed t o di s r egar d s t at e l aw and i nves t i gat e a
f eder al cr i me. At no poi nt i n t hi s c as e was Tr o oper
I r i sh i nvol ved i n a f eder al dr ug i nvest i gat i on.
36
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poi nt di d Tr ooper I r i s h ever t es t i f y t hat he pr oc eeded
t o s ear c h bas ed on a vi ol at i on of f eder al l aw. Ther e
lS no i ndi c at i on t hat a f eder al pr os ec ut i on was ever
consi der ed. Thi s ar gument compl et el y under mi nes t he
St at e' s power t o enac t l aws gover ni ng i t s c i t i z ens and
t he Supr eme J udi c i al Cour t ' s power t o i nt er pr et s uch
l aws t o pr ot ec t i t s ci t i z ens .
Fur t her , t he i ncons i s t ency bet ween states
enact i ng new l aws r egar di ng mar i j uana ( i . e. medi cal
us e, dec r i mi nal i z at i on, et c . ) and f eder al l aw maki ng
possessi on of mar i j uana i n any amount i l l egal has not
been i gnored by t he f eder al government . ? See Memorandum
f r om Depar t ment of J us t i ce Deput y At t or ney Gener al
Davi d W. Ogden on I nves t i gat i ons and Pr os ec ut i ons i n
St at es Aut hor i zi ng Medi cal Use of Mar i j uana, t o Uni t ed
St at es At t or neys ( Oc t . 19, 2009) ( her ei naf t er r ef er r e d
t o as " DOJ Memo" ) ( A. A. 50) The DOJ Memo pr ovi des
gui danc e as t o how f eder a l pr os ecut or s ar e advi s ed t o
appr oach i nves t i gat i ons and pr os ecut i ons i n s t at es
wi t h mar i j uana l aws. Feder al pr osecut i ons ar e advi sed
7 Al t hough Massachuset t s
" medi cal mar i j uana" cat egor y
& 32L had been enact ed.
37
di d not f al l i nt o
at t he t i me, G.L. c.
t he
94C,
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t o f ocus t hei r at t ent i on on s i gni f i cant t r af f i cki ng
net wor ks and not di r ect f eder al r esour ces on
i ndi vi dual s whos e act i ons ar e i n compl i ance wi t h
exi s t i ng s t at e l aws . See r d.
Ther e was no f eder al i nvol vement i n t hi s cas e.
The ci t i zens of t hi s Commonweal t h voi ced t hei r opi ni on
wi t h r egar d t o t he pos ses si on of one ounce or l es s of
mar i j uana and t he St at e r es ponded. See G. L . c . 94C, ~
32L. The Supr eme J udi c i al Cour t has s ubs equent l y
i nt er pr et ed t he i mpact of G. L. c. ~ 32L on
Ar t i cl e 14 and r ei t er at ed t hat i t pr ovi des a hi gher
s t andar d of pr ot ect i on agai ns t unl awf ul s ear c h and
s ei z ur e as compar ed t o t he Four t h Amendment . See
Commonweal t h v. Lobo, 82 Mass. App. Ct . at 808. State
l aw enf or cement of f i ci al s al one cannot now under mi ne
t he power of t he st at e and i t s cour t s t o enact and
i nt er pr e t l aws wi t h r egar d t o t he pos ses si on of s mal l
amount s of mar i j uana under t he gui s e of a f eder al l aw
vi ol at i on.
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CONCLUSI ON
WHEREFORE! f or t he f oregoi ng r easons! t he
def endant / appel l ee! Ant hony Cr aan! r espect f ul l y
r eques t s t hat t hi s Honor abl e Cour t af f i r m t he deci s i on
of J udge Mi l l er i n al l owi ng hi s mot i on t o suppr ess.
Respect f ul l y Submi t t ed!
ANTHONY CRAAN!
def endant / appel l ee!
By hi s at t or ney!
~:i~ -----BRI AN J . ANDERSON / 670871
Cont ant Law Of f i ces! P. C.
141 Tr emont St r eet ! 4t h Fl oorBost on! MA 02111
( 617) 227- 8383
br i an@cont ant - l aw. com
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ADDENDUM
The Four t h Amendment t o t he Const i t ut i on of t he Uni t edSt at es pr ovi des:
The r i ght of t he peopl e t o be secur e i n t hei r per sons,
hous es , paper s , and ef f ec t s , agai ns t unr eas onabl esear ches and sei zur es, shal l not be vi ol at ed, and noWar r ant s s hal l i s sue, but upon pr obabl e caus e,s uppor t ed by Oat h or af f i r mat i on, and par t i c ul ar l ydescri bi ng t he pl ace t o be sear ched, and t he per sonsor t hi ngs t o be sei zed.
Ar t i cl e XI V of t he Massachuset t s Decl ar at i on of Ri ght spr ovi des:
Ever y subj ect has a r i ght t o be secur e f r om al lunr easonabl e sear ches, and sei zur es, of hi s per son,hi s houses, hi s paper s, and al l hi s possessi ons. Al lwar r ant s , t her ef or e, ar e cont r ar y t o t hi s r i ght , i f t he caus e or f oundat i on of t hem be not pr evi ous l ys uppor t ed by oat h or af f i r mat i on; and i f t he or der i nt he war r ant t o a ci vi l of f i cer , t o make sear ch i nsuspect ed pl aces, or t o ar r est one or mor e suspect edper sons, or t o sei ze t hei r pr oper t y, be notaccompani ed wi t h a speci al desi gnat i on of t he per sons
or obj ect s of sear ch, ar r est , or sei zur e: and nowar r ant ought t o be i ssued but i n cases, and wi t h t hef or mal i t i es pr escr i bed by t he l aws.
Massachuset t s Gener al Laws Chapt er 90, ~ 24 ( 1) ( a) ( 1)pr ovi des i n per t i nent par t :
Whoever , upon any way or i n any pl ace t o whi ch t hepubl i c has a r i ght of ac ces s , or upon any way or i n
any pl ace t o whi ch member s of t he publ i c have accessas i nvi t ees or l i censees, oper at es a mot or vehi cl ewi t h a per cent age, by wei ght , of al cohol i n t hei rbl ood of ei ght one- hundr edt hs or gr eat er , or whi l eunder t he i nf l uence of i nt oxi cat i ng l i quor , or of mar i j uana, nar cot i c dr ugs, depr essant s or st i mul ant
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subst ances, al l as def i ned i n sect i on one of chapt erni net y- f our C, or t he vapor s of gl ue shal l be puni shedby a f i ne of not l ess t han f i ve hundr ed nor mor e t hanf i ve t housand dol l ar s or by i mpr i sonment f or not mor et han t wo and one- hal f year s , or bot h s uc h f i ne andi mpr i sonment .
Massachuset t s Gener al Laws Chapt er 94C,pr ovi des:
32C (a)
( a) Any per s on who knowi ngl y or i nt ent i onal l ymanuf act ur es, di st r i but es, di spenses or cul t i vat es, orpos s es s es wi t h i nt ent t o manuf act ur e, di s t r i but e,di spense or cuI t i vat e a cont r ol l ed subst ance i n Cl assD of sect i on t hi r t y- one shal l be i mpr i soned i n a j ai l
or house of cor r ect i on f or not mor e t han t wo year s orby a f i ne of not l ess t han f i ve hundr ed nor mor e t hanf i ve t housand dol l ar s , or bot h such f i ne andi mpr i sonment .
( b) Any per s on convi c t ed of vi ol at i ng t hi s s ect i onaf t er one or mor e pr i or convi ct i ons of manuf act ur i ng,di st r i but i ng, di spensi ng, cul t i vat i ng or possessi ngwi t h i nt ent t o manuf act ur e, di st r i but e, di spense orcul t i vat e a cont r ol l ed subst ance as def i ned by sect i ont hi r t y- one under t hi s or any pr i or l aw of t hi s
j ur i sdi ct i on or of any of f ense of any ot herj ur i sdi ct i on, f eder al , st at e, or t er r i t or i al , whi ch i st he same as or necessar i l y i ncl udes t he el ement s ofsai d of f ense shal l be puni shed by a t er m of i mpr i sonment i n a j ai l or house of cor r ect i on f or notl ess t han one nor mor e t han t wo and one- hal f year s, orby a f i ne of not l ess t han one t housand nor mor e t hant en t housand dol l ar s, or bot h such f i ne andi mpr i sonment .
Massachuset t spr ovi des:
Gener al Laws Chapt er 94C, 32L
Not wi t hs t andi ng any gener al or s peci al l aw t o t hecont r ar y, possessi on of one ounce or l ess of mar i huana
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shall only be a civil offense, subj ecting an offender
who is eighteen years of age or older to a civil
penal ty of one hundred dollars and forfeiture of the
marihuana, but not to any other form of criminal or
civil punishment or disqualification. An offender
under the age of eighteen shall be subject to the same
forfei ture and civil penalty provisions, provided he
or she completes a drug awareness program which meets
the criteria set forth in Section 32Mof this Chapter.
The parents or legal guardian of any offender under
the age of eighteen shall be notified in accordance
with Section 32N of this Chapter of the offense and
the availability of a drug awareness program and
community service option. If an offender under the age
of eighteen fails within one year of the offense to
complete both a drug awareness program and the
required community service, the civil penalty may be
increased pursuant to Section 32N of this Chapter to
one thousand dollars and the offender and his or her
parents shall be jointly and severally liable to pay
that amount.
Except as specifically provided in "An Act
Establishing A Sensible State Marihuana Policy,"
neither the Commonwealth nor any of its political
subdivisions or their respective agencies, authorities
or instrumentalities may impose any form of penal ty,
sanction or disqualification on an offender for
possessing an ounce or less of marihuana. By way of
illustration rather than limitation, possession of one
ounce or less of marihuana shall not provide a basis
to deny an offender student financial aid, public
housing or any form of public financial assistance
including unemployment benefits, to deny the right to
operate a motor vehicle or to disqualify an offender
from serving as a foster parent or adoptive parent.
Information concerning the offense of possession of
one ounce or less of marihuana shall not be deemed
"criminal offender record information," "evaluative
information," or "intelligence information" as those
terms are defined in Section 167 of Chapter 6 of the
General Laws and shall not be recorded in the Criminal
Offender Record Information system.
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As us ed her ei n, " pos s es s i on of one ounc e or l es s of mar i huana" i ncl udes possessi on of one ounce or l ess ofmar i huana or t et r ahydr ocannabi nol and havi ngcannabi noi ds or canni bi noi d met abol i t es i n t he ur i ne,bl ood, sal i va, sweat , hai r , f i nger nai l s, t oe nai l s orot her t i s sue or f l ui d of t he human body. Not hi ngcont ai ned her ei n s hal l be cons t r ued t o r epeal ormodi f y exi s t i ng l aws , or di nances or byl aws ,r egul at i ons, per s onnel pr act i ces or pol i ci esconcer ni ng t he oper at i on of mot or vehi cl es or ot heract i ons t aken whi l e under t he i nf l uence of mar i huanaor t et r ahydr ocannabi nol , l aws concer ni ng t he unl awf ulpos ses si on of pr es cr i pt i on f or ms of mar i huana ort et r ahydr ocannabi nol such as Mar i nol , possessi on ofmor e t han one ounce of mar i huana ort et r ahydr ocannabi nol , or sel l i ng, manuf act ur i ng ort r af f i cki ng i n mar i huana or t et r ahydr ocannabi nol .Not hi ng cont ai ned her ei n shal l pr ohi bi t a pol i t i cals ubdi vi s i on of t he Commonweal t h f r om enac t i ngor di nances or byl aws r egul at i ng or pr ohi bi t i ng t heconsumpt i on of mar i huana or t et r ahydr ocannabi nol i npubl i c pl aces and pr ovi di ng f or addi t i onal penal t i esf or t he publ i c use of mar i huana ort et r ahydr ocannabi nol .
Massachuset t s Gener al Laws Chapt er 94C, ~ 34 pr ovi des:
No per son knowi ngl y or i nt ent i onal l y shal l possess acont r ol l ed s ubs t a nce unl es s s uc h s ubs t anc e wasobt ai ned di r ect l y, or pur suant t o a val i d pr escr i pt i onor or der , f r om a pr act i t i oner whi l e act i ng i n t hecour s e of hi s pr of es si onal pr act i ce, or except asot her wi s e aut hor i zed by t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi schapt er . Except as pr ovi ded i n Sect i on 32L of t hi sChapt er or as her ei naf t er pr ovi ded, any per son whovi ol at es t hi s sect i on shal l be puni shed byi mpr i sonment f or not mor e t han one year or by a f i ne
of not mor e t han one t housand dol l ar s, or by bot h suchf i ne and i mpr i sonment . Any per son who vi ol at es t hi ss ect i on by pos ses si ng her oi n s hal l f or t he f i r s tof f ense be puni shed by i mpr i sonment i n a house ofcor r ect i on f or not mor e t han t wo year s or by a f i ne ofnot mor e t han t wo t housand dol l ar s, or bot h, and f or a
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second or subsequent of f ense shal l be puni shed byi mpr i sonment i n t he st at e pr i son f or not l ess t han t woand one- hal f year s nor mor e t han f i ve year s or by af i ne of not mor e t han f i ve t hous and dol l ar s andi mpr i sonment i n a j ai l or house of cor r ect i on f or notmor e t han t wo and one- hal f year s . Any per s on who
vi ol at es t hi s sect i on by possessi on of mor e t han oneounce of mar i huana or a cont r ol l ed subst ance i n Cl assE of sect i on t hi r t y- one shal l be puni shed byi mpr i sonment i n a house of cor r ect i on f or not mor et han si x mont hs or a f i ne of f i ve hundr ed dol l ar s, orbot h. Exc ept f or an of f ens e i nvol vi ng a c ont r ol l edsubst ance i n Cl ass E of sect i on t hi r t y- one, whoevervi ol at es t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s s ec t i on af t er one ormor e convi ct i ons of a vi ol at i on of t hi s sect i on or ofa f el ony under any ot her pr ovi si ons of t hi s chapt er ,or of a cor r espondi ng pr ovi si on of ear l i er l aw
r el at i ng t o t he sal e or manuf act ur e of a nar cot i c dr ugas def i ned i n sai d ear l i er l aw, shal l be puni shed byi mpr i sonment i n a house of cor r ect i on f or not mor et han t wo year s or by a f i ne of not mor e t han t wot housand dol l ar s, or bot h.
I f any per son who i s char ged wi t h a vi ol at i on of t hi ss ect i on has not pr evi ous l y been convi ct ed of avi ol at i on of any. pr ovi s i on of t hi s c hapt er or ot herpr ovi s i on of pr i or l aw r el at i ve t o nar c ot i c dr ugs orhar mf ul dr ugs as def i ned i n s ai d pr i or l aw, or of a
f el ony under t he l aws of any s t at e or of t he Uni t edSt at es r el at i ng t o such dr ugs, has had hi s casecont i nued wi t hout a f i ndi ng t o a cer t ai n dat e, or hasbeen convi ct ed and pl aced on pr obat i on, and i f , dur i ngt he per i od of sai d cont i nuance or of sai d pr obat i on,such per son does not vi ol at e any of t he condi t i ons ofs ai d cont i nuance or s ai d pr obat i on, t hen upon t heexpi r at i on of such per i od t he cour t may di smi ss t hepr oceedi ngs agai nst hi m, and may or der seal ed al lof f i c i al r ec or ds r el at i ng t o hi s ar r es t , i ndi c t ment ,convi ct i on, pr obat i on, cont i nuance or di s char ge
pur s uant t o t hi s s ect i on; pr ovi ded, however , t hatdepar t ment al r ecor ds whi ch ar e not publ i c r ecor ds,mai nt ai ned by pol i ce and ot her l aw enf or cementagenci es, shal l not be seal ed; and pr ovi ded f ur t her ,t hat such a r ecor d shal l be mai nt ai ned i n a separ at ef i l e by t he depar t ment of pr obat i on s ol el y f or t he
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pur pose of use by t he cour t s i n det er mi ni ng whet her ornot i n subsequent pr oceedi ngs such per son qual i f i esunder t hi s s ect i on. The r ecor d mai nt ai ned by t hedepar t ment of pr obat i on shal l cont ai n onl y i dent i f yi ngi nf or mat i on concer ni ng t he per son and a st at ement t hat
he has had hi s r ecor d seal ed pur s uant t o t hepr ovi si ons of t hi s sect i on. Any convi ct i on, t he r ecor dof whi ch has been seal ed under t hi s sect i on, shal l notbe deemed a convi ct i on f or pur poses of anydi squal i f i cat i on or f or any ot her pur pose. No per sonas t o whom such seal i ng has been or der ed shal l be hel dt her eaf t er under any pr ovi si on of anY, l aw t o be gui l t yof per j ur y or ot her wi se gi vi ng a f al se st at ement byr eas on of hi s f ai l ur e t o r ec i t e or ac knowl edge s uc har r est , i ndi ct ment , convi ct i on, di smi ssal ,cont i nuance, s eal i ng, or any ot her r el at ed cour t
pr oceedi ng, i n r esponse t o any i nqui r y made of hi m f orany pur pose.
Not wi t hst andi ng any ot her penal t y pr ovi si on of t hi ss ect i on, any per s on who i s convi ct ed f or t he f i r s tt i me under t hi s sect i on f or t he poss essi on of mar i huana or a cont r ol l ed subst ance i n Cl ass E and whohas not pr evi ous l y been convi c t ed of any of f ens epur s uant t o t he pr ovi s i ons of t hi s chapt er , or anypr ovi s i on of pr i or l aw r el at i ng t o nar c ot i c dr ugs orhar mf ul dr ugs as def i ned i n sai d pr i or l aw shal l bepl aced on pr obat i on unl es s s uch per s on does notc ons ent t her et o, or unl es s t he c our t f i l es a wr i t t enmemor andum st at i ng t he r easons f or not so doi ng. Upons uc ces s f ul c ompl et i on of s ai d pr obat i on, t he c as eshal l be di smi ssed and r ecor ds shal l be seal ed.
I t s hal l be a pr i ma f aci e def ens e t o a char ge of possessi on of mar i huana under t hi s sect i on t hat t hedef endant i s a pat i ent c er t i f i ed t o par t i c i pat e i n at her apeut i c r es ear c h pr ogr am des cr i bed i n c hapt erni net y- f our D, and pos s es sed t he mar i huana f orper sonal use pur suant t o such pr ogr am.
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Massachuset t s Gener al Laws Chapt er 269,pr ovi des i n per t i nent par t :
~ 10 ( h) ( 1)
Whoever owns, possesses or t r ansf er s a f i r ear m, r i f l e,shot gun or ammuni t i on wi t hout compl yi ng wi t h t hepr ovi s i ons of s ec t i on 129C of c hapt er 140 s hal l be
puni s hed by i mpr i s onment i n a j ai l or hous e of cor r ect i on f or not mor e t han 2 year s or by a f i ne of not mor e t han $500. Whoever commi t s a second ors ubs equent vi ol at i on of t hi s par agr aph s hal l bepuni shed by i mpr i sonment i n a house of cor r ect i on f ornot mor e t han 2 year s or by a f i ne of not mor e t han$1, 000, or bot h. Any of f i cer aut hor i z ed t o makear r est s may ar r est wi t hout a war r ant any per son whomt he of f i cer has pr obabl e cause t o bel i eve has vi ol at edt hi s par agr aph.
Massachuset t s Gener al Laws Chapt er 276, ~ 2B pr ovi desi n per t i nent par t :
A per s on s eeki ng a s ear c h war r ant s hal l appearper s onal l y bef or e a cour t or j us t i ce aut hor i z ed t oi ssue sear ch war r ant s i n cr i mi nal cases and shal l gi vean af f i davi t i n s ubs t ant i al l y t he f or m her ei naf t erpr es cr i bed. Such af f i davi t s hal l cont ai n t he f act s ,i nf or mat i on, and ci r cumst ances upon whi ch such per son
r el i es t o est abl i sh suf f i ci ent gr ounds f or t hei s suance of t he war r ant . The per s on i s sui ng t hewar r ant s hal l r et ai n t he af f i davi t and s hal l del i veri t wi t hi n t hr ee days af t er t he i ssuance of t he war r antt o t he cour t t o whi ch t he war r ant i s r et ur nabl e. Upont he r et ur n of s ai d war r ant , t he af f i davi t s hal l beat t ached t o i t and s hal l be f i l ed t her ewi t h, and i tshal l not be a publ i c document unt i l t he war r ant i sr et ur ned.
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Com. v. Valle, 80 Mass.App.Ct. 1115 (2011)
956 N.E.2d 1265
Unpublished Disposition
80 Mass.App.Ct. 1115
Only the Westlaw citation is currently available.
NOTE: THIS OPINION WILL NOT APPEAR
IN A PRINTED VOLUME. THE DISPOSITIONWILL APPEAR IN A REPORTER TABLE.
NOTICE: Decisions issued by the Appeals Court
pursuant to its rule 1:28 are primarily addressed to
the parties and, therefore, may not fully address the
facts ofthe case or the panel's decisional rationale.
Moreover, rule 1:28 decisions are not circulated to the
entire court and, therefore, represent only the views of
the panel that decided the case. A summary decision
pursuant to rule 1:28, issued after February 25,2008,
may be cited for its persuasive value but, because of
the limitations noted above, not as binding precedent.
Appeals Court of Massachusetts.
Trooper Donah approached the car and asked the defendant
for his license and registration. During the stop, Donah
smelled the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the car and
the odor of alcohol on the defendant's breath. In response to
questions, the defendant admitted to both smoking marijuana
and drinking alcohol earlier in the day.
The trooper then ordered Valle from the car, handcuffed him,
and placed him in a police cruiser. At this time, the defendant
had not been formally arrested. Donah then searched the car
for marijuana. He found three burnt cigarettes in the car's
ashtray; they carried the aroma of marijuana. The cigarette
remains had a total weight of less than one ounce.
Donah continued his search of the car and located a loaded
fireann under the front passenger seat of the car. A second
trooper, Brian Clapprood, arrived and assisted with the search
of the car. Donah then placed Valle under formal arrest andgave him his Miranda warnings.
COMMONWEALTH
Opinion
By the Court (CYPHER, SIKORA &HANLON, JJ.).
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER