robinson california argued april decided june california statute makes misdemeanor punishable imprisonment person addicted use narcotics sustaining petitioner conviction thereunder california courts construed statute making status narcotic addiction criminal offense offender may prosecuted time reforms even though never used possessed narcotics within state guilty antisocial behavior held construed applied statute inflicts cruel unusual punishment violation eighth fourteenth amendments pp reversed samuel carter mcmorris argued cause filed briefs appellant william doran argued cause appellee brief roger arnebergh philip grey justice stewart delivered opinion california statute makes criminal offense person addicted use narcotics appeal draws question constitutionality provision state law construed california courts present case appellant convicted jury trial municipal los angeles evidence given two los angeles police officers officer brown testified occasion examine appellant arms one evening street los angeles four months trial officer testified time observed scar tissue discoloration inside appellant right arm appeared numerous needle marks scab approximately three inches crook elbow appellant left arm officer also testified appellant questioning admitted occasional use narcotics officer lindquist testified examined appellant following morning central jail los angeles officer stated time observed discolorations scabs appellant arms identified photographs taken appellant arms shortly arrest night based upon ten years experience member narcotic division los angeles police department witness gave opinion marks discoloration result injection hypodermic needles tissue vein sterile stated scabs several days old time examination appellant neither influence narcotics suffering withdrawal symptoms time saw witness also testified appellant admitted using narcotics past appellant testified behalf denying alleged conversations police officers denying ever used narcotics addicted use explained marks arms resulting allergic condition contracted military service testimony corroborated two witnesses trial judge instructed jury statute made misdemeanor person either use narcotics addicted use narcotics portion statute referring use narcotics based upon act using portion statute referring addicted use narcotics based upon condition status identical addicted use narcotics said status condition act continuing offense differs offenses fact chronic rather acute continues complete subjects offender arrest time reforms existence chronic condition may ascertained single examination characteristic reactions condition found present judge instructed jury appellant convicted general verdict jury agreed either status committed act denounced statute people must show either defendant use narcotic los angeles county city los angeles addicted use narcotics instructions jury returned verdict finding appellant guilty offense charged appeal taken appellate department los angeles county superior highest state decision case see smith california edwards california although expressing doubt constitutionality crime narcotic addict reviewing unreported opinion affirmed judgment conviction citing two previous unreported decisions upheld constitutionality statute noted probable jurisdiction appeal squarely presents issue whether statute construed california courts case repugnant fourteenth amendment constitution broad power state regulate narcotic drugs traffic within borders issue forty years ago whipple martinson explicitly recognized validity power question authority state exercise police power regulate administration sale prescription use dangerous drugs right exercise power manifest interest public health welfare unnecessary enter upon discussion beyond saying firmly established successfully called question regulation assumed take variety valid forms state might impose criminal sanctions example unauthorized manufacture prescription sale purchase possession narcotics within borders interest discouraging violation laws interest general health welfare inhabitants state might establish program compulsory treatment addicted narcotics program treatment might require periods involuntary confinement penal sanctions might imposed failure comply established compulsory treatment procedures cf jacobson massachusetts state might choose attack evils narcotics traffic broader fronts also public health education example efforts ameliorate economic social conditions evils might thought flourish short range valid choice state might make area undoubtedly wide one wisdom particular choice within allowable spectrum us decide upon premise turn california law issue possible construe statute appellant convicted one operative upon proof actual use narcotics within state jurisdiction california courts construed law although evidence present case appellant used narcotics los angeles jury instructed convict even disbelieved evidence appellant convicted told found simply appellant status chronic condition addicted use narcotics impossible know jury verdict defendant convicted upon precisely finding instructions trial implicitly approved appeal amounted ruling question state law binding us though precise words written statute terminiello chicago take statute state courts read indeed brief counsel state emphasized proof addiction circumstantial evidence track needle marks scabs veins arms remains gist section statute therefore one punishes person use narcotics purchase sale possession antisocial disorderly behavior resulting administration law even purports provide require medical treatment rather deal statute makes status narcotic addiction criminal offense offender may prosecuted time reforms california said person continuously guilty offense whether ever used possessed narcotics within state whether guilty antisocial behavior unlikely state moment history attempt make criminal offense person mentally ill leper afflicted venereal disease state might determine general health welfare require victims human afflictions dealt compulsory treatment involving quarantine confinement sequestration light contemporary human knowledge law made criminal offense disease doubtless universally thought infliction cruel unusual punishment violation eight fourteenth amendments see francis resweber consider statute us category counsel state recognized narcotic addiction illness indeed apparently illness may contracted innocently involuntarily hold state law imprisons person thus afflicted criminal even though never touched narcotic drug within state guilty irregular behavior inflicts cruel unusual punishment violation fourteenth amendment sure imprisonment ninety days abstract punishment either cruel unusual question considered abstract even one day prison cruel unusual punishment crime common cold unmindful vicious evils narcotics traffic occasioned grave concern government said countless fronts evils may legitimately attacked deal case individual provision particularized local law far interpreted california courts reversed footnotes person shall use influence addicted use narcotics excepting administered direction person licensed state prescribe administer narcotics shall burden defense show comes within exception person convicted violating provision section guilty misdemeanor shall sentenced serve term less days one year county jail may place person convicted hereunder probation period exceed five years shall cases probation granted require condition thereof person confined county jail least days event power absolve person violates section obligation spending least days confinement county jail trial appellant claiming victim unconstitutional search seizure unsuccessfully objected admission officer brown testimony claim also pressed since reach need detail circumstances led officer brown examination appellant person suffice say time police first accosted appellant engaging illegal irregular conduct kind police reason believe done past judge instruct jury meaning term influence narcotics previously ruled evidence violation provision statute see note supra statute defines crime charged case denounces act status condition either separately well collectively constitute criminal offense charged accusatory pleading accuses defendant committed act status condition denounced statute deemed supported proof shows defendant guilty one offenses thus specified however important keep mind order convict defendant case necessary agree particular act status condition found committed found exist necessary particular act status condition agreed upon stated verdict instructions continued defendant prove use addicted use narcotics administered direction person licensed state california prescribe administer narcotics least raise reasonable doubt concerning matter evidence course offered support affirmative defense since appellant denied used narcotics addicted use appellant tried unsuccessfully secure habeas corpus relief district appeal california california appears established program welfare institutions code record contains explanation civil procedures authorized legislation utilized present case brief appellee stated course generally conceded narcotic addict particularly one addicted use heroin state mental physical illness alcoholic years ago recognized persons addicted narcotics diseased proper subjects medical treatment linder may addiction innocently result use medically prescribed narcotics person may even narcotics addict moment birth see schneck narcotic withdrawal symptoms newborn infant resulting maternal addiction journal pediatrics roman middelkamp narcotic addiction newborn infant journal pediatrics kunstadter klein lundeen witz morrison narcotic withdrawal symptoms newborn infants journal american medical association slobody cobrinik neonatal narcotic addiction quarterly review pediatrics vincow hackel neonatal narcotic addiction general practitioner dikshit narcotic withdrawal syndrome newborns indian journal pediatrics justice douglas concurring join opinion wish make explicit reasons think cruel unusual punishment sense eighth amendment treat criminal person drug addict sixteenth century england one prescription insanity beat subject regained reason deutsch mentally ill america america violently insane went whipping post prison dungeons sometimes happened burned stake hanged pauper insane often roamed countryside wild men time time pilloried whipped jailed action mental health stated isaac ray many years ago nothing strongly illustrate popular ignorance respecting insanity proposition equally objectionable humanity logic insane punished criminal acts order deter insane persons thing treatise medical jurisprudence insanity ed yet terror punishment linger means dealing diseases recently stated idea basing treatment disease purgatorial acts ordeals ancient one medicine may trace back old testament belief disease king whether mental physical represented punishment sin thus relief take form final heroic act atonement superstition appears given support fallacious medical rationales procedures purging bleeding induced vomiting blistering well entire chamber horrors constituting early treatment mental illness latter included wide assortment shock techniques water cures dousing ducking spinning chair centrifugal swinging early form electric shock appear planned means driving body evil spirit toxic vapor action mental health pp first step toward addiction may innocent boy puff cigarette alleyway may come medical prescriptions addiction may even present birth earl ubell recently wrote bellevue hospital nurseries saul krugman head pediatrics discovering babies minutes old heroin addicts infants turned last two years show signs drug withdrawal irritability jitters loss appetite vomiting diarrhea sometimes convulsions death course get drug womb mothers addicts krugman said yesterday situation came light control symptoms thorazine tranquilizing drug see children cry appear hungry wo eat offered food move around much crib noses toes become red excoriated lewis thomas professor medicine new york brought problem babies monday night symposium narcotics addiction sponsored new york county medical society saw way babies respond treatment clue low rate cure addiction unlike adult addict gets symptoms withdrawal matter days cases thomas explained later infant treated weeks months baby continues show physical signs action drugs perhaps adults drugs continue physical effects much longer time withdrawal accustomed recognize mean people physical need drug long period may clue recidivism much social psychological pressures talking herald tribune apr cols physical dependence defined development altered physiological state brought repeated administration drug necessitates continued administration drug prevent appearance characteristic illness termed abstinence syndrome addict says habit means physically dependent drug says one drug another means first drug one physical dependence developed second drug physical dependence developed physical dependence real physiological disturbance associated development hyperexcitability reflexes mediated multineurone arcs induced animals shown occur paralyzed hind limbs addicted chronic spinal dogs also produced dogs whose cerebral cortex removed report narcotic addiction others say addiction disease symptom mental psychiatric disorder see present status narcotic addiction narcotic addiction report attorney general brown citizens advisory committee attorney general crime prevention finestone narcotics criminality law contemp prob extreme symptoms addiction described follows confirmed drug addict one walking dead teeth rotted appetite lost stomach intestines function properly gall bladder becomes inflamed eyes skin turn billious yellow cases membranes nose turn flaming red partition separating nostrils eaten away breathing difficult oxygen blood decreases bronchitis tuberculosis develop good traits character disappear bad ones emerge sex organs become affected veins collapse livid purplish scars remain boils abscesses plague skin gnawing pain racks body nerves snap vicious twitching develops imaginary fantastic fears blight mind sometimes complete insanity results often times death comes much early life torment drug addict plague one walking dead june fact england treats addict sick person including california treat criminal course establish unconstitutionality california penal law know hard core chronic incurable drug addicts reality lost power controversy type treatment whether enforced hospitalization ambulatory care better pp little disagreement statement charles winick hold drugs persons addicted great almost appropriate reverse old adage say opium derivatives represent religion people use narcotics addiction treatment law contemp prob abstinence symptoms treatment well known cure difficult complex forces make addiction withdrawal period vocational activities recreation kind psychotherapy major role treatment program ideally lasts four six months marie nyswander tells us normally drug addict must hospitalized order cured drug addict patient impact addict community causes alarm often leads punitive measures measures justified relate acts transgression see system addict punished crime addicts punished addiction insane also punished insanity disease must treated sick person charles winick said single program elimination illness complex drug addiction carries much emotional freight community cooperative interdisciplinary research action local community participation training various healing professions techniques dealing addicts regional treatment facilities demonstration centers thorough vigorous rehabilitation program certainly appear among minimum requirements attempt come terms problem addict viewed sick person chronic disease requires almost emergency action law contemp prob command eighth amendment banning cruel unusual punishments stems bill rights see francis resweber applicable reason due process clause fourteenth amendment ibid historic punishments cruel unusual included burning stake crucifixion breaking wheel kemmler quartering rack thumbscrew see chambers florida circumstances even solitary confinement see medley question presented earlier cases concerned degree severity particular offense punished element cruelty present punishment proportion offense may bring within ban cruel unusual punishments see vermont may cruelty method punishment example disemboweling person alive see wilkerson utah principle deny power exact capital punishment petty crime also deny power punish person fine imprisonment sick eighth amendment expresses revulsion civilized man barbarous acts cry horror man inhumanity fellow man see vermont supra dissenting opinion francis resweber supra dissenting opinion time coke enlightenment coming respects insane coke said execution madman miserable spectacle law extreame inhumanity cruelty example others coke third inst ed blackstone endorsed view coke commentaries lewis ed show discernment respecting drug addiction addict sick person may course confined treatment protection society cruel unusual punishment results confinement convicting addict crime purpose cure penalize purpose cure need mandatory jail term less days contrary brother clark think means must stand constitutional scrutiny well end achieved prosecution addiction resulting stigma irreparable damage good name accused justified means protecting society civil commitment well indeed welfare institutions code california expressly provided civil proceedings commitment habitual addicts section reality direct attempt punish state commit civilly prosecution relationship curing illness indeed prosecution aimed penalizing illness rather providing medical care forget teachings eighth amendment allowed sickness made crime permitted sick people punished sick age enlightenment tolerate barbarous action drug addiction crime disease xiv even one accepts lowest estimates number addicts country still countries europe combined chicago new york city combined population million britain ordinarily estimated addicts thirty fifty times many said britain sick addict must quarantined cured carefully watched fully rehabilitated life normalcy narcotics leg doc see report judge morris ploscowe printed appendix drug addiction crime disease pp predilections stringent law enforcement severer penalties answers problems drug addiction reflect philosophy teachings bureau narcotics years bureau supported doctrine penalties narcotic drug violations severe enough enforced strictly enough drug addiction drug traffic largely disappear american scene approach problems narcotics resulted spectacular modifications narcotic drug laws state federal level stringent law enforcement place system controlling narcotic drugs however means complete answer american problems drug addiction first place doubtful whether drug addicts deterred using drugs threats jail prison sentences belief fear punishment vital factor deterring addict using drugs rests upon superficial view drug addiction process nature drug addiction severity law enforcement tends increase price drugs illicit market profits made therefrom lure profits risks traffic simply challenge ingenuity underworld peddlers find new channels distribution new customers profits maintained despite risks involved long peddler willing take risk serving wholesaler drugs always find addict pushers peddlers handle retail aspects business return supply drugs thus belief author report matter severe law enforcement may drug traffic eliminated present prohibitory repressive statutes see catholic rev marq rev john rev stan rev rev tul rev insane see lynch overholser note et seq difference former aims treatment addiction whereas latter construed provide treatment unless jail sentences without suddenly become medicinal comparison lengths confinement two sections irrelevant purpose confinement must measured constitutional prohibition cruel unusual punishments health safety code sure indicates perhaps form treatment may given addict convicted section far relevant provides person shall treat addict addiction except one following institution approved board medical examiners patient times kept restraint control city county jail state prison state narcotic hospital state hospital county hospital section apply emergency treatment patient addiction complicated presence incurable disease serious accident injury infirmities old age emphasis supplied justice harlan concurring prepared hold present state medical knowledge completely irrational hence unconstitutional state conclude narcotics addiction something illness amounts cruel unusual punishment state subject narcotics addicts criminal law insofar addiction may identified use possession narcotics within state suppose without state violation local statutes prohibiting acts may surely reached state criminal law case trial instructions permitted jury find appellant guilty proof present california addicted narcotics since addiction alone reasonably thought amount compelling propensity use narcotics effect instruction authorize criminal punishment bare desire commit criminal act california statute reaches type conduct present purpose must accept trial construction binding terminiello chicago arbitrary imposition exceeds power state may exercise enacting criminal law accordingly agree application california statute unconstitutional case join judgment reversal jury instructed incumbent upon people prove unlawfulness defendant use narcotics people must show either defendant use narcotic los angeles county city los angeles addicted use narcotics emphasis added although jury told acquit appellant proved addicted use narcotics administered sic direction person licensed state california prescribe administer narcotics part instruction cover possible lawful uses produced appellant addiction justice clark dissenting finds california health safety code making offense addicted use narcotics violative due process cruel unusual punishment agree statute must first placed perspective california comprehensive enlightened program control narcotism based overriding policy prevention cure product extensive investigation made committee distinguished scientists doctors law enforcement officers laymen appointed attorney general governor california committee filed detailed study entitled report narcotic addiction given considerable attention recommendation made therein repeal state legislature discretion continued policy section apart prohibiting specific acts purchase possession sale narcotics california taken certain legislative steps regard status narcotic addict condition commonly recognized threat state individual code deals problem realistic stages incipiency narcotic addiction handled health safety code issue provides person found addicted use narcotics shall serve term county jail less days one year minimum confinement applying cases without exception provision made parole periodic tests detect readdiction trial defined addicted narcotics used following charge jury word addicted means strongly disposed taste practice habituated especially drugs order inquire whether person addicted use narcotics effect inquiry habit regard use habitually use often daily according ordinary acceptance words use habitually narcotic addiction progressed beyond incipient volitional stage california provides commitment three months two years state hospital california welfare institutions code purposes provision narcotic addict defined person habitually takes otherwise uses extent lost power opium morphine cocaine narcotic drug defined article chapter division health safety code california welfare institutions code emphasis supplied thus criminal provision applies incipient narcotic addict retains requiring confinement three months one year parole frequent tests detect renewed use drugs overriding purpose cure less seriously addicted person preventing use hand civil commitment provision deals addicts lost power requiring hospitalization two years deals different type addict common purpose apparent sections overlap civil commitment addict found hospital treatment helpful addict confined minimum period three months manner volitional addict criminal provision instant case proceedings petitioner brought section testimony using drugs four months three four relatively mild doses week arrest trial appeared normal testimony clear concise simply never used drugs scabs pocks arms body caused said overseas shots administered army service preparatory foreign assignment articulate testimony jury believe apparently told clinical expert examined arrest using drugs stated officer arrested also testified like statements scabs days old showing narcotic injections evidence record withdrawal symptoms obviously committed one completely lost power jury instructed narcotic addiction used meant strongly disposed taste practice habit use indicated use narcotics often daily general verdict returned petitioner ordered confined days followed parole required take periodic nalline tests majority strikes conviction primarily grounds petitioner denied due process imposition criminal penalties nothing status viewpoint premised upon theme criminal provision authorizing punishment majority admits state might establish program compulsory treatment addicted narcotics might require periods involuntary confinement submit california done exactly majority error instructing california legislature hospitalization treatment narcotics addiction anything less punishment denying due process california found otherwise study suggest extensive conducted even california program hospital commitment nonvolitional narcotic addicts majority approves recognized addicts respond need hospital treatment persons provisions identical confinement period less days section provides confinement treatment volitional addicts provisions apply addition parole frequent tests detect prevent use drugs fact might labeled criminal seems irrelevant majority treatment test concept ordered liberty must attain fourteenth amendment test overall purpose effect state act submit california program relative narcotic addicts including criminal civil provisions inherently one treatment lies well within power state however case support judgment need rest solely reading california law even overall statutory scheme ignored purpose effect punishment attached provision still violate fourteenth amendment majority acknowledges must state punish persons purchase possess use narcotics although none acts harmful society state constitutionally may attempt deter prevent punishment grave threat future harmful conduct pose narcotics addiction including incipient volitional addiction provision speaks different california courts taken judicial notice inordinate use narcotic drug tends create irresistible craving forms habit continued use one becomes addict respects convention obligation lie steal use base means gratify passion drug lost considerations duty social position people jaurequi cal app deny legislative judicial judgment california incipient volitional narcotic addiction poses threat serious crime similar threat inherent purchase possession narcotics threat inherent addiction say california powerless deter punishment answer suggest dealing involuntary status thus penal sanctions ineffective unfair section issue applies persons use narcotics often even daily point losing dealing involuntary addicts california moves welfare institutions code clearly penal even argued may limited volitional addicts petitioner instant case undeniably retained power thus statute constitutional moreover status offenses long known recognized criminal law blackstone commentaries jones ed ready example drunkenness plainly involuntary addiction alcohol taking drugs conjecture relevant petitioner may acquired habit lawful circumstances suggestion effect trial surely state need rebut possible lawful sources addiction part prima facie case argument statute constitutes cruel unusual punishment governed discussion properly construed statute provides treatment rather punishment even interpreted penal sanction incarceration months unreasonable applied person voluntarily placed condition posing serious threat state either theory provisions months confinement hardly deemed unreasonable compared provisions months confinement majority approves affirm judgment reliance upon stigma misdemeanor conviction context misplaced hardly different stigma civil commitment narcotics addiction justice white dissenting appellant conviction rested upon sheer status condition illness convicted addict lost power thoughts case record presents neither situation believe departed wise rule deciding constitutional questions except necessary equally sound practice construing state statutes possible manner saving constitutionality ready place use narcotics beyond reach criminal laws consider appellant conviction punishment illness simply status condition rather conviction regular repeated habitual use narcotics immediately prior arrest violation california law defined trial addiction regular use narcotics proved evidence use find addiction case jury believe appellant frequently used narcotics recent past california entitled statute record read particularly state purpose allowing prosecutions addiction supersede venue requirements applicable prosecutions use narcotics effect allow convictions use precise evidence county use took place find indications record california apply case helpless addict agree brother clark evidence appellant lost power control acts evidence use within days prior appellant arrest recent marks might days old might days old appellant admitted trial last used narcotics days arrest trial denied taken narcotics uncontroverted evidence appellant influence narcotics time arrest withdrawal symptoms incipient addict redeemable user state chose send jail days rather attempt confine civil proceedings another statute requires finding addict lost power opinion record within power state california confine criminal proceedings use narcotics regular use amounting habitual use clearly rest decision upon narrow ground jury expressly instructed convict believed appellant use narcotics beyond control recognizes degrees addiction fourteenth amendment today held bar prosecution addiction regardless degree frequency use opinion bristles indications consequences cruel unusual punishment convict appellant addiction difficult understand less offensive fourteenth amendment convict use evidence use proved addict significant purporting reaffirm power deal narcotics traffic include among obvious powers state power punish use narcotics think omission inadvertent merely tidied california law removing irritating vestige outmoded approach control narcotics least effectively removed california power deal effectively recurring case statute ample evidence use evidence precise location use beyond cast serious doubt upon power state forbid use narcotics threat criminal punishment believe forbid application criminal laws use narcotics circumstances well federal government notice await final answer another case finally deem application cruel unusual punishment novel suspect hard put find way ascribe framers constitution result reached today rather notions ordered liberty case involved economic regulation present allergy substantive due process surely save statute prevent imposing philosophical predilections upon state legislatures congress fail see deems appropriate write constitution abstract notions best handle narcotics problem obviously match either congress expert understanding respectfully dissent repeatedly held practice decide constitutional question advance necessity decision except reference particular facts applied alabama state federation mcadory state statutes always construed possible save constitutionally despite plausibility different unconstitutional interpretation language thus recently reaffirmed principle oil workers unions missouri claim litigated subject review us anticipate outcome constitutional questions dealt abstractly anticipated dealt appropriately raised upon record us assume advance state construe law bring conflict federal constitution act congress local wisconsin board instructed jury word addicted means strongly disposed taste practice habituated especially drugs order inquire whether person addicted use narcotics effect inquiry habit regard use often daily according ordinary acceptance words use habitually case defendant convicted even though never touched narcotic drug within state guilty irregular behavior evidence appellant lived worked los angeles admitted trial used narcotics three four months three four times week usually place friends stated police last used narcotics central city los angeles january days arrest according state expert needle mark scab found appellant arms newer days old recent mark might old days consistent appellant pretrial admissions state evidence appellant used narcotics least times days immediately preceding arrest typical case narcotics statute state made clear brief argument one defendant makes admissions case evidence use addiction presented expert basis needle marks scabs physical evidence revealed body defendant testifies defendant regularly taken narcotics recent past see people williams cal app people garcia cal app people ackles cal app local venue requirements conviction simple use narcotics may county use took place people garcia supra usual case evidence precise location use lacking charge addiction venue health safety code may laid county defendant found people ackles supra cal app distinguishing people thompson cal app california law defendant constitutional right tried particular county statutory law certain exceptions accused person answerable jurisdiction crime part effect thereof committed occurred people megladdery cal app charge narcotics addiction one exceptions others see cal penal code venue determined evidence jury need proved beyond reasonable doubt people megladdery supra cal app see people bastio cal app people garcia supra reviewing convictions narcotics cases appellate courts view evidence venue light favorable judgment people garcia supra health safety code expressly permits contemplates medical treatment narcotics addicts confined jail