State v. Srack

314 P.3d 890, 49 Kan. App. 2d 761, 2013 WL 6516400, 2013 Kan. App. LEXIS 101
CourtCourt of Appeals of Kansas
DecidedDecember 13, 2013
DocketNo. 107,660
StatusPublished
Cited by7 cases

This text of 314 P.3d 890 (State v. Srack) is published on Counsel Stack Legal Research, covering Court of Appeals of Kansas primary law. Counsel Stack provides free access to over 12 million legal documents including statutes, case law, regulations, and constitutions.

Bluebook
State v. Srack, 314 P.3d 890, 49 Kan. App. 2d 761, 2013 WL 6516400, 2013 Kan. App. LEXIS 101 (kanctapp 2013).

Opinion

Knudson, J.:

On December 22, 2010, an undercover investigator of the Salina Police Department bought six bags of herbal potpourri from Eric Wayne Srack containing a synthetic cannabi-noid known as JWH-081. As a result, Srack was charged and convicted of a felony for distribution of a controlled substance analog. The State’s theory of the case was that JWH-081 is an analog of JWH-018, a schedule I hallucinogenic drug. On appeal, Srack raises the following issues: (1) Whether the statutory definition of a controlled substance analog is unconstitutionally vague, (2) whether the State presented sufficient evidence to support the conviction, and (3) whether the district court erred in excluding certain evidence at trial.

We conclude the statute is not void for vagueness, the evidence was sufficient to support Srack’s conviction, and there was no ev-identiary error. Accordingly, the district court’s judgment is affirmed.

Criminal Statutes

Srack was charged with distribution of a controlled substances analog. K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a05(a)(4) states in material part: “(a) It shall be unlawful for any person to . . . distribute . . . any of the following controlled substances or controlled substance analogs thereof: (4) any hallucinogenic drug designated in subsection (d) of K.S.A. 65-4105.”

JWH-018 is a prohibited hallucinogenic substance under K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 65-4105(d). Thus, the controlling legal issue is whether [763]*763JWH-081 is an analog thereof. K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a01(b), the controlled substance analog statute, states in material part:

“(b)(1) ‘Controlled substance analog’ means a substance that is intended for human consumption, and:
(A) The chemical structure of which is substantially similar to tire chemical structure of a controlled substance listed in or added to the schedules designated in K.S.A. 65-4105 or 65-4507, and amendments thereto;
(B) which has a . . . hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to the . . . hallucinogenic effect on tire central nervous system of a controlled substance included in the schedules designated in K.S.A. 65-4105 or 65-4107, and amendments thereto; or
(C) with respect to a particular individual, which the individual represents or intends to have a . . . hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to the . . . hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system of a controlled substance included in the schedules designated in K.S.A. 65-4105 or 65-4107, and amendments thereto.” (Emphasis added.)

In this litigation, die parties interpret the requirements of the above statute to be read in the conjunctive. Although there has been some debate under the comparable federal controlled substance analog statute as to an appropriate interpretation, we agree with the courts that have read the requirements in the conjunctive. See United States v. Fisher, 289 F.3d 1329, 1337-38 (11th Cir. 2002). Consequently, there is agreement between the parties, and we concur, that to convict Srack of the crime, under the charging document and the jury instructions, the State was required to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that (1) the chemical structure of JWH-081 is substantially similar to the chemical structure of JWH-018 and (2) JWH-081 has a hallucinogenic effect on the central nervous system substantially similar to the hallucinogenic effect of JWH-018.

Before continuing with discussion and analysis, we pause to observe the State does not contend subsection (C) of K.S.A. 2010 Supp. 21-36a01(b)(l) was applicable to the prosecution of Srack. We would simply note in passing that it would appear subsections (B) and (C) should be read in the disjunctive. Widi that clarification, we will proceed with discussion of the issues raised on appeal.

[764]*764 Trial Proceedings

At trial, Jessica Kaiser, a forensic chemist for the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI), testified that she tested the potpourri sold by Srack to the undercover agent. The samples she tested contained JWH-081. Kaiser compared the chemical structure of JWH-081 to the chemical structure of JWH-018. She told the jury one of the compounds contained a methoxy group, which is composed of carbon and oxygen, that the other did not, but otherwise the structures were identical. Based on her opinion and training, Kaiser testified the two compounds were structurally similar, calling the two “structural analogs.”

Sedgwick County Regional Forensic Science Center Director Timothy Rohrig testified that Professor John Huffman synthesized JWH compounds at Clemson University in the late 1990’s. Fluff-man looked at the effect these compounds had on the cannabinoid receptor, where tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the active ingredient of marijuana, acts. A couple hundred JWH compounds were synthesized to see if they could take the beneficial aspects of THC, such as pain relief, and eliminate the negative effects so that it could be marketed for medicinal purposes. Rohrig testified JWH-018 and JWH-081 were structural analogs, identical except for a methoxy group in JWH-081.

In regard to the effects of JWH-018, Rohrig testified the compound binds with the CB-1 receptor, which is a cannabinoid receptor in the brain, to produce effects such as increase in heart rate, hallucinations, dry mouth, and others. Rohrig admitted that limited studies of JWH-018 existed, and many of those were anecdotal. Rohrig then asserted JWH-081 had essentially the same effects as JWPI-018 and JWH-081 might even be more potent. JWH-081 also bound with the CB-1 receptor to produce similar effects and a “marijuana like high." JWH-081 had a 10 times stronger binding affinity to the CB-1 receptor as compared to JWH-018; in general with JWH compounds, the stronger the binding affinity, the stronger the effect of the compound. However, Rohrig was not aware of any studies of the effects of JWH-081 done on humans due to the dangers of the drugs. Rohrig agreed [765]*765with the prosecution’s assessment that JWH-081 and JWH-018 had “similar effects” and were “chemically structurally similar to each other.”

After the State rested its case and the district court denied Srack’s motion for acquittal, the defense called Jahan Marcu, a graduate Ph.D. student at Temple University School of Medicine whose research thesis studied the structure and function of the CB-1 receptor, to counter Rohrig’s testimony.

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Bluebook (online)
314 P.3d 890, 49 Kan. App. 2d 761, 2013 WL 6516400, 2013 Kan. App. LEXIS 101, Counsel Stack Legal Research, https://law.counselstack.com/opinion/state-v-srack-kanctapp-2013.