Mason v. State

Anderson, J., delivered the majority opinion of the Court. Orth, J., dissents. Dissenting opinion by Orth, J., at page 636 infra. For having possessed a drug commonly known as “DMT,” the appellant, Roger Wallace Mason, was convicted by a jury in the Circuit Court for Montgomery County of a violation of Maryland Code, Art. 27, § 122B, ⁶³³ entitled, “Drug known generally as LSD.” He was sentenced to serve one year under the jurisdiction of the Department of Correction and to pay a fine of $500.

Upon this appeal the appellant presents numerous issues for our consideration. We need consider only one, namely: Whether there was sufficient evidence to sustain the conviction? We conclude that there was not sufficient evidence, and we vacate the judgment. Maryland Code, Art. 27, § 122B provides in pertinent part: “* * * It is unlawful for any person to have in his possession, unless for purposes of scientific research, the drug or compound known generally as LSD. * * * The drug or compound herein referred to as ‘LSD’ means the drug or compound described as ‘d-Lysergic acid diethylamide’ or ‘7-methylindolo [4, 3-fg] quinoline-9-carboxylie acid,’ and any other similar or comparable drug or compound.” The indictment charged that the appellant “unlawfully did possess the drug, generally known as DMT, which is an hallucinogenic drug similar to the drug generally known as LSD . . . .” The evidence at trial was that the appellant did, in fact, possess a drug generally known as DMT.

However, the evidence did not establish that DMT was sufficiently “similar or comparable” to LSD to warrant conviction under the statute. At trial Dr. Albert Sperling, an expert in analytical chemistry called by the State, provided the only testimony regarding the similarities of LSD and DMT. Dr. Sperling testified that DMT is a hallucinogenic drug chemically known as dimethyltryptamine, and that a hallucinogenic drug is one which “has a pharmacological activity which affects the brain.” Dr. Sperling stated that LSD and DMT are similar in that both are hallucinogenic, and that the general effects of each are euphoria and a loss of contact with reality, although specific effects would vary from individual to individual. He stated that the two drugs differ in their physical properties — “color, ap ⁶³⁴ pearance, melting point, solubility, [and] other criteria . . . ;” and that they differ also in amount of effective dosage and duration of effective dosage, LSD having a much smaller effective dosage and a much longer duration.

He testified that with respect to molecular structure LSD and DMT are similar in that each contains an “indole ring,” which consists of a certain five member chemical ring attached to a certain six member chemical ring.! 1 The drugs differ in that “in LSD you have this ring, these two rings as a matter of fact, plus this side chain up here which you don’t have in DMT.” Dr. Sperling testified that, “it [DMT] is partially similar [to LSD] and in other respects it isn’t .... You couldn’t say yes or no, it was or wasn’t [similar] .... You have to say it is in some respects, it is similar and in other respects, it isn’t.” He was asked whether there are more dissimilarities than similarities between LSD and DMT, to which he replied “yes, there are.” The question was slightly rephrased and repeated, and Dr. Sperling again affirmed that there are more dissimilarities than similarities between LSD and DMT. The testimony of Dr. Sperling, in the absence of any other evidence on the point, was not sufficient for the State to carry its burden of proving that DMT is “similar to” LSD.

To satisfy the statutory requirement of similarity, as that term is generally understood, requires a showing of a resemblance or comparability in many respects, a near correspondence, or a general likeness. See entries under “similar” in Black’s Dictionary, Webster’s Third New International Dictionary, and Words and Phrases (perm. ed. and 1969 cum. supp.). We will not consider the evidence at trial insufficient where it shows directly or supports a rational inference of the facts to be proved. But the facts must be shown or the inferences supported beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty.

See Williams v. State, 5 Md. App. 450, 458 (1968). In our opinion Dr. Sperling’s testimony, which eonsti ⁶³⁵ tuted the only evidence of the required similarity of DMT to LSD, does not directly support a finding of similarity beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty; nor does it provide a sufficient basis upon which the jury could infer that the requisite similarity exists beyond a reasonable doubt and to a moral certainty. There remains consideration of the disposition to be made of this case. See the opinion of the Court of Appeals in Gray v. State, 254 Md. 385 .

We are unable to determine from the record whether additional probative evidence of the alleged similarity of DMT to LSD can be produced by