chapman argued march decided may pure dose hallucinogenic drug lsd small must sold retail customers carrier created dissolving pure lsd inter alia spraying resulting solution paper paper cut squares users swallow lick drop beverage release drug petitioners convicted district selling sheets doses blotter paper containing lsd violation section calls mandatory minimum sentence offense distributing one gram mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd although petitioners pure lsd weighed milligrams included total weight paper lsd grams calculating sentences thus requiring imposition mandatory minimum sentence grams also used determine base offense level sentencing commission guidelines manual sentencing guidelines appeals affirmed rejecting petitioners arguments carrier medium weight included sentencing purposes alternatively construing statute sentencing guidelines require carrier medium inclusion violate right equal protection incorporated due process clause fifth amendment held statute requires weight carrier medium included determining appropriate sentencing trafficking lsd pp since statute refers mixture substance containing detectable amount entire mixture substance weighed calculating sentence reading supported history congress attempts control illegal drug distribution statute structure congress knew indicate weight pure drug used determine sentence done respect phencyclidine pcp methamphetamine providing mandatory minimum sentence based either weight mixture substance containing detectable amount drugs lower weights pure drugs congress clearly intended dilutant cutting agent carrier medium heroin cocaine included drugs weight sentencing purposes pp blotter paper used blotter paper customarily used distribute lsd mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd since neither statute sentencing guidelines define mixture established common law meaning must given ordinary meaning see moskal portion matter consisting two components however thoroughly commingled regarded retaining separate existence webster third new international dictionary lsd crystals left behind solvent evaporates inside paper commingled lsd chemically combine paper thus retains separate existence using dictionary definition allow clause interpreted include lsd bottle car since unlike blotter paper containers easily distinguished separated lsd reason resort rule lenity construe statute petitioners favor since straightforward reading produce result absurd glaringly unjust raise reasonable doubt congress intent pp statutory construction unconstitutional determining lengths sentences accordance lsd carrier weight arbitrary thus violate due process penalty scheme intended punish severely drug traffickers level increases penalty persons measuring quantity drugs according street weight diluted form sold active component net weight thus rational congress set penalties based weight blotter paper chosen tool trade trafficking lsd congress also justified seeking avoid arguments accurate weight pure drugs might extracted paper chosen calibrate sentences according weight since paper seems carrier choice vast majority cases exactly sentencing scheme designed punish heavily deal larger amounts drugs distributors varying degrees culpability might subject sentence mean penalty system lsd distribution violates due process moreover fact may plausible arguments describing blotter paper impregnated lsd mixture substance containing lsd mean statute unconstitutionally vague especially since debate center around appropriate sentence conduct criminality since one courts decided issue held carrier medium weight must included determining appropriate sentence pp rehnquist delivered opinion white blackmun scalia kennedy souter joined stevens filed dissenting opinion marshall joined post christopher kelly appointment argued cause filed briefs petitioners donald thomas bergerson filed briefs stanley marshall respondent rule urging reversal paul larkin argued cause brief solicitor general starr assistant attorney general mueller deputy solicitor general bryson alan ellis kevin zeese filed brief drug policy foundation et al amici curiae urging reversal chief justice rehnquist delivered opinion section title code calls mandatory minimum sentence five years offense distributing one gram mixture substance containing detectable amount lysergic acid diethylamide lsd hold weight blotter paper containing lsd weight pure lsd determines eligibility minimum sentence petitioners richard chapman john schoenecker patrick brumm convicted selling sheets doses blotter paper containing lsd violation district included total weight paper lsd determining weight drug used calculating petitioners sentences accordingly although weight lsd alone approximately milligrams grams combined weight lsd blotter paper resulted imposition mandatory minimum sentence five years required distributing gram mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd entire grams also used determine base offense level sentencing commission guidelines manual sentencing guidelines petitioners appealed claiming blotter paper carrier medium weight included weight drug sentencing purposes alternatively argued statute sentencing guidelines construed require inclusion blotter paper carrier medium calculating weight drug violate right equal protection incorporated due process clause fifth amendment appeals seventh circuit en banc held weight blotter paper carrier included weight mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd computing sentence defendant convicted distributing lsd appeals also found congress rational basis including carrier along weight drug therefore statute sentencing guidelines violate constitution marshall granted certiorari affirm title provides person violates subsection section making unlawful knowingly intentionally manufacture distribute dispense possess intent manufacture distribute dispense controlled substance shall sentenced follows case violation subsection section involving gram mixture substance containing detectable amount lysergic acid diethylamide lsd person shall sentenced term imprisonment may less years according sentencing commission lsd average dose weighs milligrams therefore pure doses gram pure dose infinitesimal amount must sold retail customers carrier pure lsd dissolved solvent alcohol either solution sprayed paper gelatin paper dipped solution solvent evaporates leaving minute amounts lsd trapped paper gel paper gel cut squares sold dose users either swallow squares lick drug released drop beverage thereby releasing drug although gelatin paper light weigh much lsd ten sheets blotter paper carrying doses sold petitioners weighed grams lsd weighed milligrams even close one gram necessary trigger mandatory minimum petitioners argue require weight carrier included computing appropriate sentence lsd distribution words mixture substance ambiguous construed reach illogical result lsd sold dose rather weight weight lsd carrier included determining defendant sentence irrelevant culpability argue including weight carrier leads anomalous results viz major wholesaler caught doses pure lsd subject year mandatory minimum sentence minor pusher doses blotter paper even one dose sugar cube subject mandatory minimum sentence thus contend weight carrier excluded weight pure lsd determined weight used set appropriate sentence think petitioners reading statute reading makes penalty turn net weight drug rather gross weight carrier drug together plausible one statute refers mixture substance containing detectable amount long contains detectable amount entire mixture substance weighed calculating sentence reading confirmed structure statute respect various drugs including heroin cocaine lsd provides mandatory minimum sentences crimes involving certain weights mixture substance containing detectable amount drugs respect drugs however namely phencyclidine pcp methamphetamine provides mandatory minimum sentence based either weight mixture substance containing detectable amount drug lower weights pure pcp methamphetamine example iv provides mandatory minimum sentence person distributes grams pcp kilogram mixture substance containing detectable amount pcp thus respect two drugs congress clearly distinguished pure drug mixture substance containing detectable amount pure drug respect drugs lsd petitioners distributed congress declared sentences based exclusively weight mixture substance congress knew indicate weight pure drug used determine sentence make distinction respect lsd chapman maintains congress intended include weight lsd carrier sentencing purposes carrier constitute nearly weight entire unit sentence therefore based weight carrier rather drug point made drugs like heroin cocaine however congress clearly intended dilutant cutting agent carrier medium included weight drugs sentencing purposes inactive ingredients combined pure heroin cocaine mixture sold consumers heavily diluted form drug cases concentration drug mixture low buggs heroin dorsey app heroin smith heroin cert denied carrier mixture substance containing detectable amount drug language statute weight mixture substance weight pure drug controlling history congress attempts control illegal drug distribution shows congress chose course respect sentencing comprehensive drug abuse prevention control act pub stat divided drugs schedules according potential abuse lsd listed schedule listed material compound mixture preparation contains quantity following hallucinogenic substances including lsd pub law link penalties quantity drug possessed penalties instead depended upon whether drug classified narcotic controlled substances penalties amendments act chapter comprehensive crime control act pub stat first made punishment dependent upon quantity controlled substance involved maximum sentence constribution five grams lsd set years iv supp ii amendments intended provide rational penalty structure major drug trafficking offenses eliminating sentencing disparities caused classifying drugs narcotic penalties based instead upon weight pure drug involved see mcgeehan cert denied current penalties lsd distribution originated abuse act pub stat congress adopted approach punishing drug trafficking total quantity distributed rather amount pure drug involved used determine length sentence pt pp implement principle congress set mandatory minimum sentences corresponding weight mixture substance containing detectable amount various controlled substances including lsd viii viii intended penalties drug trafficking graduated according weight drugs whatever form found cut uncut pure impure ready wholesale ready distribution retail level congress want punish retail traffickers less severely even though deal smaller quantities pure drug traffickers keep street markets going supra pt think blotter paper used case blotter paper customarily used distribute lsd mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd holding confirm unanimous conclusion courts appeals addressed issue neither statute sentencing guidelines define terms mixture substance established common law meaning terms therefore must given ordinary meaning see moskal mixture defined include portion matter consisting two components bear fixed proportion one another however thoroughly commingled regarded retaining separate existence webster third new international dictionary mixture may also consist two substances blended together particles one diffused among particles oxford english dictionary ed lsd applied blotter paper solvent absorbed paper ultimately evaporates solvent evaporates lsd left behind form said mix paper lsd crystals inside paper commingled lsd chemically combine paper thus retains separate existence released dropping paper liquid swallowing paper lsd diffused among fibers paper like heroin cocaine mixed cutting agents lsd distinguished blotter paper easily separated like cutting agents used drugs ingested blotter paper gel sugar cube carrying lsd often ingested drug petitioner argues terms mixture substance given dictionary meaning clause interpreted include carriers like glass vial automobile drugs transported thus making phrase nonsensical nonsense necessary result giving term mixture dictionary meaning term include lsd bottle lsd car drug easily distinguished separated container drug clearly mixed glass vial automobile drug chemically bonded vial car may true weights containers packaging materials generally included determining sentence drug distribution items also clearly mixed otherwise combined drug petitioners argue excluding weight lsd carrier determining sentence consistent established principles statutory construction first argue rule lenity requires ambiguous statute type construed favor defendant petitioners also argue statute construed avoid serious constitutional question interpretation statute require struck violating due process rule lenity however applicable unless grievous ambiguity uncertainty language structure act huddleston even seize every thing aid derived still left ambiguous statute bass quoting fisher cranch rule lenity comes operation end process construing congress expressed beginning overriding consideration lenient wrongdoers callanan see also moskal supra statutory language structure indicate weight carrier included mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd determining sentence lsd distributor straightforward reading produce result absurd glaringly unjust rodgers citation omitted raise reasonable doubt congress intent moskal supra reason resort rule lenity circumstances petitioners also argue constructions cast doubt statute constitutionality avoided citing public citizen department justice reasonable construction must resorted order save statute unconstitutionality edward debartolo florida gulf coast building construction trades council reading mixture include blotter paper impregnated lsd crystals reasonable construction one raise grave doubts constitutionality provision jin fuey moy canon construction strive interpret statute way avoid unconstitutional construction useful close cases license judiciary rewrite language enacted legislature monsanto petitioners argument unavailing reasons explain petitioners argue due process law guaranteed fifth amendment violated determining lengths sentences accordance weight lsd carrier factor insist arbitrary argue preliminarily right free deprivations liberty result arbitrary sentences fundamental therefore statutory provision issue may upheld government compelling interest classification question never subjected criminal process sort truncated analysis decline every person fundamental right liberty sense government may punish unless proves guilt beyond reasonable doubt criminal trial conducted accordance relevant constitutional guarantees bell wolfish person convicted eligible may impose whatever punishment authorized statute offense long penalty cruel unusual mcmillan pennsylvania meachum fano long penalty based arbitrary distinction violate due process clause fifth amendment context noted jones argument based equal protection essentially duplicates argument based due process find congress rational basis choice penalties lsd distribution penalty scheme set abuse act intended punish severely drug traffickers level pt assigns severe penalties distribution larger quantities drugs measuring quantity drugs according street weight drugs diluted form sold rather according net weight active component statute sentencing guidelines increase penalty persons possess large quantities drugs regardless purity rational sentencing scheme true respect lsd respect drugs although lsd sold weight dose carrier medium strictly speaking used dilute drug medium used facilitate distribution drug blotter paper makes lsd easier transport store conceal sell tool trade traffic drug therefore rational congress set penalties based chosen tool congress also justified seeking avoid arguments accurate weight pure drugs might extracted blotter paper chosen calibrate sentences according weight petitioners claim sentencing scheme issue actually produced arbitrary array sentences motions district contain proof actual disparities sentencing rather challenge act face ground inevitably lead arbitrary punishments hypothetical cases imagined involving heavy carriers little lsd cases import considering claim persons petitioners used standard lsd carrier blotter paper seems carrier choice vast majority cases therefore exactly sentencing scheme designed punish heavily deal larger amounts drugs petitioners argue selling different numbers doses therefore different degrees culpability subject minimum sentence choosing different carriers objection made statute imposed fixed sentence distributing quantity lsd form carrier sentencing scheme considering individual degrees culpability clearly constitutional congress power define criminal punishments without giving courts sentencing discretion ex parte determinate sentences found country penal codes inception see grayson remained present see mandatory life imprisonment federal murder statute mandatory life imprisonment violation drug superkingpin statute ed flat sentence armed robbery postal carrier upheld due process challenge smith cert denied smith sentencing scheme providing individualized sentences rests constitutional commands public policy enacted statutes lockett ohio plurality opinion see also mistretta distributors varying degrees culpability might subject sentence mean penalty system lsd distribution unconstitutional likewise hold statute unconstitutionally vague first amendment freedoms infringed vagueness claim must evaluated statute applied facts case powell fact may plausible arguments describing blotter paper impregnated lsd mixture substance containing lsd mean statute vague particularly since whatever debate center around appropriate sentence criminality conduct upheld defendant conviction rodgers even though appeals circuit defendant resided construed statute applying one position contrary courts appeals decided issue except one district healy dc held weight carrier medium must included determining appropriate sentence hold statute requires weight carrier medium included determining appropriate sentence trafficking lsd construction neither violation due process unconstitutionally vague accordingly judgment affirmed footnotes likewise sentencing guidelines selling number doses subject widely varying sentences depending upon carrier medium used example selling doses receive following disparate sentences base carrier weight offense guidelines doses level range months sugar cube gr blotter paper gr gelatin capsule pure lsd brief petitioners footnotes omitted even among dealers using blotter paper sentences vary weight blotter paper varies dealer dealer petitioners blotter paper containing doses lsd weighed grams milligrams per dose rose doses blotter paper weighed grams milligrams per dose elrod doses blotter paper weighed grams milligrams per dose healy dc doses blotter paper weighed grams milligrams per dose larsen elrod cert denied bishop daly cert denied rose taylor petitioner points views members congress use phrase mixture substance containing detectable amount lsd less precise views manifested introduction bills senate excluded lsd carrier mediums mixture substance clause neither bills enacted law questionable whether even amount subsequent legislative history unreliable guide legislative intent see pierce underwood quern mandley every appeals addressed issue held sentencing scheme rational see mendes see murphy bishop holmes cert denied klein hoyt savinovich cert denied ramos note distributors lsd make choice carrier act minimize potential sentences almost distributors choose blotter paper rather heavier bulkier sugar cubes justice stevens justice marshall joins dissenting consequences majority construction bizarre believe intended congress neither ambiguous language statute sparse legislative history supports interpretation reached majority today indeed majority construction statute necessarily produce sentences anomalous undermine uniformity congress sought achieve adopted sentencing guidelines conclusion reached five circuit judges two opinions dissenting holding majority appeals seventh circuit sitting en banc case one dissenting opinions judge cummings pointed evidence congress intended weight carrier considered sentence determination lsd cases good reason believe congress unaware inequitable consequences interpretation statute marshall judge posner noted dissenting opinion severity sentences lsd cases comparable drug cases weight lsd carrier disregarded begin language statute judges dissented seventh circuit en banc decision becomes immediately apparent phrase mixture substance far clear majority notes neither statute sentencing guidelines define terms mixture substance ante majority initially resists identifying lsd carrier either mixture substance instead simply refers combination using language statute mixture substance containing detectable amount drug see ante eventually however majority identify combination mixture solvent evaporates lsd left behind form said mix paper lsd crystals inside paper commingled lsd chemically combine paper ante although true ink absorbed blotter said mix paper describe used blotter mixture ink paper believe word mixture comfortably describes relatively large blotter carries grains lsd adhere surface believe term mixture encompasses lsd carrier issue like majority think term substance describes combination accurately turn legislative history see provides guidance congressional intent purpose seventh circuit observed legislative history sparse reference lsd debates preceding passage amendments reference addresses neither quantities weights drugs see also cong rec statement harkin perhaps telling case subsequent legislative history letter senator joseph biden dated april chairman sentencing commission william wilkens commented ambiguity statute respect lsd unclear whether congress intended carrier considered packaging material since commonly consumed along illicit drug dilutant ingredient drug mixture commission suggests congress may wish consider lsd carrier issue order clarify legislative intent whether weight carrier considered determining quantity lsd mixture punishment purposes clarification mixture substance section title code amended inserting following new subsection end thereof determining weight mixture substance section shall include weight carrier upon controlled substance placed transported cong rec light ambiguity phrase mixture substance lack legislative history guide us necessary examine congressional purpose behind statute determine whether majority reading statute leads results congress intended figures opinion see ante sufficient show majority construction lead anomalous sentences contrary one central purposes sentencing guidelines eliminate disparity sentencing congress sought reasonable uniformity sentencing narrowing wide disparity sentences imposed similar criminal offenses committed similar offenders sentencing commission federal sentencing guidelines manual majority chart makes clear widely divergent sentences may imposed sale identical amounts controlled substance simply nature carrier doses lsd sold sugar cubes sentence range months whereas dosage sold pure liquid form sentence range months see ante absurdity inequity result emphasized judge posner dissent person sells lsd blotter paper worse criminal one sells number doses gelatin cubes subject heavier punishment person sells five doses lsd sugar cubes worse person manufacturer lsd caught doses pure form former subject mandatory minimum sentence latter even subject minimum defendant chapman received five years selling thousand doses lsd blotter paper sold number doses pure form guidelines sentence fourteen months defendant marshall sentence selling almost doses four years rather twenty defendant rose cir must bought unusually heavy blotter paper sold doses yet blotter paper weighed grams chapman although chapman sold twice many doses depending weight carrier medium zero stuff sold pure form excluding orange juice case guidelines range selling doses amount dean doses amount rose stretches ten months months selling thousand doses chapman fifteen months selling doses marshall months life none computations way weight lsd make difference slight weight relative carrier except course sold pure form congress might well said carrier weigh carrier forget lsd quilt pattern whereof one able discern legislative history silent since even justice department explain punishment scheme defending plausible inference congress simply realize lsd sold nothing jurisprudence compels us interpret ambiguous statute reach absurd result fact specifically declined past even statute ambiguous ground congress intended outcome construing statute learned hand wisely counseled us look first words statute make fortress dictionary remember statutes always purpose object accomplish whose sympathetic imaginative discovery surest guide meaning cabell markham aff past recognized frequently words general meaning used statute words broad enough include act question yet consideration absurd results follow giving broad meaning words makes unreasonable believe legislator intended include particular act church holy trinity words guided construction statute issue public citizen department justice also noted ooking beyond naked text guidance perfectly proper result apparently decrees difficult fathom seems inconsistent congress intention undoubtedly congress intended punish drug traffickers severely particular congress intended punish sell large quantities drugs severely sell small quantities express intention treat sell lsd differently sell dangerous drugs majority construction statute fails embody legitimate goals congress instead punishing severely sell large quantities lsd punish severely sell small quantities lsd weighty carriers instead sentencing comparable ways sell different types drugs sentence sell lsd longer terms sell proportionately equivalent quantities equally dangerous drugs today shows little respect congress handiwork construes statute undermine goals congress sought achieve respectfully dissent chief judge bauer judges wood cudahy posner joined judge cummings dissent see marshall judges also joined judge posner dissent see see turkette determining scope statute look first language statutory definitional section applicable define mixture substance guidelines merely provide nless otherwise specified weight controlled substance set forth offense level table refers entire weight mixture substance containing detectable amount controlled substance sentencing commission guidelines manual ussg majority seventh circuit also identified combination mixture see however circuits addressed question either identified combination substance see bishop daly taylor simply held combination fell within statutory language mixture substance without distinguishing two see elrod larsen point mixture substance language remains ambiguous highlighted sentencing commission desire clarify meaning terms sentencing commission notice issued march invited public comment whether commission exclude weight carrier sentencing purposes lsd cases section guidelines manual entitled questions frequently asked sentencing guidelines contains question mixture substance language reflects commission continuing uncertainty whether blotter paper weighed respect blotter paper sugar cubes mediums lsd controlled substances may absorbed commission definitively stated whether carrier medium considered part drug mixture substance guideline application purposes order ensure consistency guidelines statute application note term mixture substance meaning guideline purposes thus must determine whether statute lsd carrier medium considered part lsd mixture substance date circuit courts addressed issue appear answering question affirmatively ussg supra course subsequent legislative history generally relevant always must used care interpreting enacted legislation compare sullivan finkelstein scalia concurring part however provide evidence effect statute simply overlooked see bishop nd iowa senator biden offered following example highlight inequities resulted carrier weight included determining weight mixture substance lsd inequity decisions apparent following example single dose lsd weighs approximately mg sugar cube dose may dropped purposes ingestion transportation however weighs approximately grams person distributing one gram mixture substance containing lsd punishable minimum sentence years maximum sentence years person distributing less gram lsd however subject maximum sentence years thus person distributing sic doses lsd liquid form subject minimum penalty person handing another person single dose sugar cube subject mandatory penalty cong rec sentencing disparities justified differences among offenses offenders unfair offenders public sentence unjustifiably high compared sentences similarly situated offenders clearly unfair offender sentence unjustifiably low plainly unfair public pp bill creates sentencing guidelines system intended treat classes offenses committed categories offenders consistently primary goal sentencing reform elimination unwarranted sentencing disparity omitted see healy dc daly comparison treatment lsd harmful drugs also illuminating irrationality magnified compare sentences people sell drugs prohibited marshall remember sold fewer doses sentenced twenty years twelve thousand doses sounds like lot receive comparable sentence selling heroin marshall sell ten kilograms yield one two million doses platt heroin addiction theory research treatment ed cf diamorphine scott ed receive comparable sentence selling cocaine sell fifty kilograms yield anywhere five million doses washton cocaine addiction treatment recovery relapse prevention cocaine use america epidemiologic clinical perspectives kozel adams national institute drug abuse pamphlet corresponding weight lower crack half kilogram still translates doses see congress must intended supervised release apply committed drug offenses interim period abuse act enacted sentencing reform act became effective even though latter defined term yet become effective sheridan government duty prevent foreseeably dangerous individual wandering unattended odd assume congress intended breach duty give rise liability dangerous human instrument merely negligent malicious see also green bock laundry machine rule plain language commands weighing prejudice defendant civil trial well criminal trial literal reading compel odd result case like scalia concurring judgment confronted statute interpreted literally produces absurd perhaps unconstitutional house committee strongly believes federal government intense focus major traffickers manufacturers heads organizations responsible creating delivering large quantities drugs pp result code consistent pattern maximum sentences equally serious offenses instead current almost random maximum sentences caused piecemeal approach creation federal criminal laws past omitted use sentencing guidelines policy statements assure sentence fair compared sentences ibid