We conclude that the crime of possessing unauthorized cannabis in prison in
violation of Penal Code section 4573.8 was not affected by Proposition 64. Accordingly,
the trial court properly determined that Whalum was not entitled to relief. We therefore
affirm the order denying Whalum's petition.
In reviewing the record we noted a clerical error in the abstract of judgment,
which erroneously states that Whalum's sentence for his conviction under Penal Code
section 4573.8 is to run concurrently with, rather than consecutively to, the sentence he
was already serving. We therefore remand with instructions that the trial court correct
1 Unless otherwise indicated, all further statutory references are to the Health and Safety Code. In 2017, the Legislature replaced all references to "marijuana" in the Health and Safety Code with the term "cannabis." (Stats. 2017, ch. 27, §§ 113-160.) Thus, although Proposition 64 used the term "marijuana," we refer to the amended terminology "cannabis" throughout this opinion for all purposes. 2
the error and forward the amended abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections
and Rehabilitation.
I.
FACTUAL AND PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND
On October 3, 2014, an indictment accused Whalum of possessing an illegal
substance in prison in violation of Penal Code section 4573.6, along with alleging prior
convictions, including one prior strike. The indictment was based on Whalum's
possession of 0.4 grams of cannabis in his prison cell in Centinela State Prison on
September 18, 2013.
On August 11, 2015, Whalum pled no contest to unauthorized possession of drugs
in prison in violation of Penal Code section 4573.8 and admitted a prior strike. The trial
court imposed a sentence of two years, eight months, to run consecutive to the time he
was currently serving in prison. 2
On July 19, 2019, the public defender, on behalf of Whalum, filed a petition to
dismiss and recall Whalum's sentence based on the electorate's adoption of
Proposition 64 in 2016, which enacted laws legalizing the possession of up to 28.5 grams
of adult cannabis except in specifically identified circumstances. Whalum's petition
relied on section 11361.8, subdivision (a), which states that "[a] person currently serving
2 The abstract of judgment states that the sentence would be served concurrently to the time already being served in prison. At the oral pronouncement of sentence, the trial court imposed a consecutive sentence, and a consecutive sentence was also agreed to in the plea agreement. 3
a sentence for a conviction, whether by trial or by open or negotiated plea, who would not
have been guilty of an offense, or who would have been guilty of a lesser offense under
[the law enacted by Proposition 64] had that act been in effect at the time of the offense
may petition for a recall or dismissal of sentence before the trial court that entered the
judgment of conviction in his or her case to request resentencing or dismissal . . . ."
At a hearing held August 20, 2019, the trial court denied the petition, concluding
that it was persuaded by the First District's opinion in People v. Perry (2019) 32
Cal.App.5th 885 (Perry). Perry held that in enacting Proposition 64 the voters did not
intend to affect statutes making it a felony to possess cannabis in a correctional
institution. (Id. at p. 890 ["Proposition 64 did not affect existing prohibitions against the
possession of [cannabis] in prison."].)
The trial court granted Whalum's request for a certificate of probable cause, and
Whalum filed an appeal from the order denying his petition.
II.
DISCUSSION
The issue of whether Proposition 64 affected the existing prohibitions against the
possession of cannabis in a correctional institution is currently pending before our
Supreme Court. Specifically based on a disagreement between the First District in Perry,
supra, 32 Cal.App.5th 885 and the Third District in People v. Raybon (2019) 36
Cal.App.5th 111 (Raybon), our Supreme Court granted review in Raybon to resolve the
issue. (People v. Raybon, review granted Aug. 21, 2019, S256978.) As we will explain,
4
we agree with Perry that Proposition 64 did not affect laws specifically directed at
criminalizing the possession of cannabis as contraband in a correctional institution.
A. Relevant Statutory Provisions
We begin with the relevant statutory provisions.
1. Statutes Criminalizing Cannabis Possession in Correctional Institutions
Two different statutes make it illegal to possess cannabis in a correctional
institution, with the difference being that one of the statutes applies to all drugs and
alcohol (Pen. Code, § 4573.8) and the other applies only to controlled substances, the
possession of which is prohibited under Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code (Pen.
Code, § 4573.6). As cannabis is a drug and a controlled substance regulated in Division
10 of the Health and Safety Code (§§ 11007, 11054, subd. (d)(13), 11357), both statutes
have been used to convict prisoners who possesses cannabis.
Specifically, Penal Code section 4573.6, subdivision (a), which applies only to
controlled substances, provides in pertinent part: "Any person who knowingly has in his
or her possession in any state prison . . . any controlled substances, the possession of
which is prohibited by Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and
Safety Code, . . . without being authorized to so possess the same by the rules of the
Department of Corrections, rules of the prison . . . or by the specific authorization of the
warden, superintendent, jailer, or other person in charge of the prison . . . is guilty of a
felony punishable by imprisonment pursuant to subdivision (h) of Section 1170 for two,
three, or four years." The defendants in Raybon and Perry were convicted under this
statute (Perry, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p. 888; Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at p. 113),
5
and in our case, the indictment originally charged Whalum with a violation of this
provision.
Penal Code section 4573.8, which applies to all drugs and alcohol, provides in
relevant part: "Any person who knowingly has in his or her possession in any state
prison . . . drugs in any manner, shape, form, dispenser, or container, any device,
contrivance, instrument, or paraphernalia intended to be used for unlawfully injecting or
consuming drugs, or alcoholic beverages, without being authorized to possess the same
by rules of the Department of Corrections, rules of the prison or jail, institution, camp,
farm, or place, or by the specific authorization of the warden, superintendent, jailer, or
other person in charge of the prison, . . . is guilty of a felony." (Pen. Code, § 4573.8.) 3
Whalum pled no contest to a violation of this statute.
We are unaware of any statute that explicitly states that it is a crime to use
cannabis in prison. Instead, as case law has observed, although "[o]bviously, the ultimate
evil with which the Legislature was concerned was drug use by prisoners," the
Legislature " 'chose to take a prophylactic approach to the problem by attacking the very
presence of drugs and drug paraphernalia in prisons and jails.' " (People v. Harris (2006)
145 Cal.App.4th 1456, 1461 (Harris), quoting People v. Gutierrez (1997) 52 Cal.App.4th
380, 386.) Accordingly, the Legislature enacted specific laws criminalizing the act of
possessing drugs and drug paraphernalia in prison (Pen. Code, §§ 4573.6, 4573.8), and
the acts of selling, furnishing or smuggling such items in prison (id., §§ 4573, 4573.5,
3 The term "drug" is defined broadly in Health & Safety Code section 11014. 6
4573.9). As our Supreme Court has observed, the laws making it a crime to possess,
smuggle, sell and furnish drugs in prison "flow from the assumption that drugs, weapons,
and other contraband promote disruptive and violent acts in custody, including gang
involvement in the drug trade. Hence, these provisions are viewed as ' "prophylactic" '
measures that attack the ' "very presence" ' of such items in the penal system." (People v.
Low (2010) 49 Cal.4th 372, 388.)
2. Proposition 64
In the November 8, 2016 election, the voters adopted Proposition 64, the Control,
Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act. (Prop. 64, § 1, approved by voters, Gen.
Elec. (Nov. 8, 2016).) Among other things, the act included a provision legalizing certain
activity involving 28.5 grams or less of cannabis by persons 21 years of age or older.
(§ 11362.1, added by Prop. 64, § 4.4.) As relevant here that provision states,
"(a) Subject to Sections 11362.2, 11362.3, 11362.4, and 11362.45, but notwithstanding any other provision of law, it shall be lawful under state and local law, and shall not be a violation of state or local law, for persons 21 years of age or older to:
"(1) Possess, process, transport, purchase, obtain, or give away to persons 21 years of age or older without any compensation whatsoever, not more than 28.5 grams of cannabis not in the form of concentrated cannabis;
[¶] . . . [¶]
"(4) Smoke or ingest cannabis or cannabis products[.]" (§ 11362.1.)
The phrase "notwithstanding any other provision of law," which appears in
section 11362.1, subdivision (a), is commonly used to signal that "the Legislature intends
for a statute to prevail over all contrary law." (In re Greg F. (2012) 55 Cal.4th 393, 406.)
7
Accordingly, the preemptive effect of section 11362.1, subdivision (a) is clear: its
provisions prevail over all contrary laws prohibiting the activities that it legalizes, except
as "[s]ubject to Sections 11362.2, 11362.3, 11362.4, and 11362.45."
The exceptions set forth in sections 11362.2, 11362.3, 11362.4, and 11362.45
specify the extent to which certain activities related to cannabis remain subject to legal
regulation. 4 As particularly relevant here, section 11362.45 lists certain laws that
"[s]ection 11362.1 does not amend, repeal, affect, restrict, or preempt." The laws that are
carved out from Proposition 64's legalization of adult cannabis include "[l]aws making it
unlawful to drive or operate a vehicle, boat, vessel, or aircraft, while smoking, ingesting,
or impaired by, cannabis or cannabis products" (§ 11362.45, subd. (a)); "laws prohibiting
the sale, administering, furnishing, or giving away" of cannabis to a person under 21
years of age (§ 11362.45, subd. (b)); "[l]aws prohibiting a person younger than 21 years
of age from engaging in any of the actions or conduct otherwise permitted under
Section 11362.1" (§ 11362.45, subd. (c)); and (e) "[l]aws providing that it would
constitute negligence or professional malpractice to undertake any task while impaired
from smoking or ingesting cannabis or cannabis products." (§ 11362.45, subd. (e).) The
4 Section 11362.2 contains certain restrictions on the personal cultivation of cannabis. Section 11362.3 contains restrictions on the places where cannabis may be smoked and ingested, restrictions on possessing an open container of cannabis while driving, and regulation of a specific method of manufacturing concentrated cannabis. Section 11362.4 provides the penalties that apply for violation of sections 11362.2 and 11362.3. 8
carve-out specifically applicable in this case appears in subdivision (d) of
section 11362.45:
"Section 11362.1 does not amend, repeal, affect, restrict, or preempt:
[¶] . . . [¶]
"(d) Laws pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis or cannabis products on the grounds of, or within, any facility or institution under the jurisdiction of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation or the Division of Juvenile Justice, or on the grounds of, or within, any other facility or institution referenced in Section 4573 of the Penal Code." 5 (§ 11362.45.)
This carve-out language is the only reference in the text of Proposition 64 as to
how adult cannabis legalization was intended to affect criminal laws concerning the
regulation of cannabis in correctional institutions. Further, except for the inclusion of the
statutory language of section 11362.45, subdivision (d) in the Official Voter Information
Guide for the November 8, 2016 election (Voter Guide), the electorate was provided with
no additional information about the existing laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis
in correctional institutions or how Proposition 64 would impact those laws. 6 (Perry,
supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p. 895 [summarizing the contents of the Voter's Guide by
5 Penal Code section 4573 contains a broad description of numerous types of correctional institutions, namely, "any state prison, prison road camp, prison forestry camp, or other prison camp or prison farm or any other place where prisoners of the state are located under the custody of prison officials, officers or employees, or . . . any county, city and county, or city jail, road camp, farm or other place where prisoners or inmates are located under custody of any sheriff, chief of police, peace officer, probation officer or employees." (Pen. Code, § 4573.)
6 The Voter Guide is available at <https://vig.cdn.sos.ca.gov/2016/general/en/pdf/ complete-vig.pdf> [as of June 5, 2020]. 9
stating that the only mention of the "potential impact of the measure on cannabis in
correctional institutions" was "in the text of the measure itself."].)
Proposition 64 also enacted the provision that Whalum relied upon in filing his
petition. Specifically, "A person currently serving a sentence for a conviction, whether
by trial or by open or negotiated plea, who would not have been guilty of an offense, or
who would have been guilty of a lesser offense under the Control, Regulate and Tax
Adult Use of Marijuana Act had that act been in effect at the time of the offense may
petition for a recall or dismissal of sentence before the trial court that entered the
judgment of conviction in his or her case to request resentencing or dismissal . . . ."
(§ 11361.8, subd. (a).)
Whalum contends that he should be granted relief under this provision. According
to Whalum, because Proposition 64 legalized adult possession of up to 28.5 grams of
cannabis except in specifically identified circumstances, it is no longer a crime under
Penal Code section 4573.8 to possess a drug in a correctional institution if that drug is
cannabis. Further, although Whalum acknowledges that section 11362.45,
subdivision (d) states that Proposition 64 did not affect "[l]aws pertaining to smoking or
ingesting cannabis or cannabis products" in a correctional institution, he contends that
this carve-out does not save laws criminalizing possession of cannabis in such a setting
because it refers only to smoking or ingesting, not possession.
Whether Whalum's conviction rendered him eligible for relief under
section 11361.8, subdivision (a), presents a question of statutory interpretation, which we
review de novo. (People v. Medina (2018) 24 Cal.App.5th 61, 66.)
10
B. The Case Law Applying Proposition 64 to Laws Criminalizing the Possession of Cannabis in Correctional Institutions
Perry and Raybon both considered whether Proposition 64 affected the crime of
possessing cannabis in a correctional institution in violation of Penal Code section 4573.6
and reached different conclusions: Perry concluded that the crime of possessing cannabis
in violation of Penal Code section 4573.6 survived Proposition 64. (Perry, supra, 32
Cal.App.5th at p. 887.) Raybon concluded it did not. (Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at
p. 126.)
Some of the analysis in Perry and Raybon is uniquely applicable to the crime of
possessing a controlled substance in violation of Penal Code section 4573.6, which was
the crime for which the Perry and Raybon defendants were convicted. (Perry, supra, 32
Cal.App.5th at p. 888; Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at p. 113.) Specifically, because
that provision applies only to the "any controlled substances, the possession of which is
prohibited by Division 10 (commencing with Section 11000) of the Health and Safety
Code" (Pen. Code, § 4573.6, subd. (a)), Perry and Raybon both focused a significant part
of their discussion on the extent to which, after Proposition 64, the possession of cannabis
is prohibited under Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code as a controlled substance.
(Perry, at pp. 893-894, 896 & fn. 10; Raybon, at pp. 116-121, 125-126.) 7 That
7 Specifically, Proposition 64 amended the crime of possession of cannabis in Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code insofar as it amended section 11357 to eliminate the penalty for the simple possession of not more than 28.5 grams of cannabis, or not more than eight grams of concentrated cannabis, by a person 21 years of age or older. (§ 11357, as amended by Prop. 64, § 8.1.) The possession of cannabis remained an infraction for adults under the age of 21 and for juveniles under the age of 18. 11
discussion is not pertinent to the issue presented in this case, however, as Whalum was
not convicted of possessing a controlled substance in a correctional institution in
violation of Penal Code section 4573.6. Instead, Whalum was convicted of violating
Penal Code section 4573.8. That provision makes it a crime to possess any drug in a
correctional institution unless otherwise authorized by prison authorities, regardless of
whether the drug is a controlled substance that a person is prohibited from possessing
under Division 10 of the Health and Safety Code. We therefore need not, and do not,
weigh in on the issues unique to the impact of Proposition 64 on Penal Code
section 4573.6.
However, both Perry and Raybon also discussed an issue that directly applies in
this case. Specifically, both addressed the carve-out in section 11362.45, subdivision (d),
which states that Proposition 64 did not affect "[l]aws pertaining to smoking or ingesting
cannabis or cannabis products" in a correctional institution. Raybon concluded that the
carve-out did not apply to a law that criminalizes the possession of cannabis in a
correctional institution, because the plain language of the statute refers solely to
"smoking and ingesting." (Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at pp. 121-122.) Perry,
however, interpreted the carve-out as sufficiently broad to cover possession of cannabis
in a correctional institution because it uses the term "pertaining to." (Perry, supra, 32
(§ 11357, subds. (a)(1), (2), as amended by Prop. 64, § 8.1.) It also remained a crime to possess cannabis "upon the grounds of, or within, any school providing instruction in kindergarten or any of grades 1 to 12, inclusive, during hours the school is open for classes or school-related programs." (§ 11357, subds. (c), (d); see also § 11362.3, subd. (a)(5).) 12
Cal.App.5th at p. 891.) Accordingly, Perry concluded that Proposition 64's carve-out in
section 11362.45, subdivision (d) was written "in extremely broad terms," which
encompassed a law that criminalizes the possession of cannabis in a correctional
institution. (Perry, at pp. 892-893.)
As we will explain, we agree with Perry's analysis regarding the scope of the
carve-out in section 11362.45, subdivision (d), and we accordingly conclude that
Proposition 64 does not affect laws, including Penal Code section 4573.8, which make it
a crime to possess cannabis in a correctional institution.
C. The Carve-Out in Section 11362.45, Subdivision (d) Encompasses Laws Making it a Crime to Possess Cannabis in a Correctional Institution
1. Rules of Statutory Interpretation
" '[I]n interpreting a voter initiative . . . , we apply the same principles that govern
statutory construction. . . . Thus, "we turn first to the language of the [initiative], giving
the words their ordinary meaning." . . . The [initiative's] language must also be
construed in the context of the statute as a whole and the [initiative's] overall . . . scheme.'
. . . 'Absent ambiguity, we presume that the voters intend the meaning apparent on the
face of an initiative measure . . . and the court may not add to the statute or rewrite it to
conform to an assumed intent that is not apparent in its language.' . . . Where there is
ambiguity in the language of the measure, '[b]allot summaries and arguments may be
considered when determining the voters' intent and understanding of a ballot measure.' "
(Professional Engineers in California Government v. Kempton (2007) 40 Cal.4th 1016,
1037, citations omitted.) " 'We cannot presume that . . . the voters intended the initiative
13
to effect a change in law that was not expressed or strongly implied in either the text of
the initiative or the analyses and arguments in the official ballot pamphlet.' " (People v.
Valencia (2017) 3 Cal.5th 347, 364 (Valencia).)
2. Interpretation of the Relevant Statutory Language
We turn first to the language of the applicable provision, which carves out "[l]aws
pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis" in correctional institutions from
the sale, administering, furnishing, or giving away" of cannabis to a person under 21
years of age (§ 11362.45, subd. (b), italics added), and "[l]aws prohibiting a person
younger than 21 years of age from engaging in any of the actions or conduct otherwise
permitted under Section 11362.1" (§ 11362.45, subd. (c), italics added). In
section 11362.45, subdivision (d) the drafters of Proposition 64 easily could have, but did
not, use the phrase "laws prohibiting smoking or ingesting cannabis" in a correctional
institution or "laws making it unlawful to smoke or ingest cannabis" in a correctional
institution, which would have tracked the language in the three preceding carve-outs.
Instead, section 11362.45, subdivision (d) uses the term "pertaining to," signaling an
intent to broadly encompass laws that have only a relation to smoking or ingesting
15
cannabis in a correctional institution, rather than strictly limiting the carve-out to laws
that "prohibit" or "make unlawful" the act of smoking or ingesting cannabis.
Because the phrase "pertaining to" signals a relation to something, we agree with
Perry that laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis fall within the scope of the
statutory carve-out for laws "pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis" in a
correctional institution. (§ 11362.45, subd. (d).) As Perry observed, "[w]e would be
hard pressed to conclude that possession of cannabis is unrelated to smoking or ingesting
the substance." (Perry, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p. 891.) Indeed, a person has to possess
cannabis to smoke or ingest it. Further, as Perry explained, "In the context of possession
in prison, it is particularly obvious that possession must 'pertain' to smoking or ingesting.
For what purpose would an inmate possess cannabis that was not meant to be smoked or
ingested by anyone?" (Perry, at p. 892.) Moreover, as we have pointed out, long before
Proposition 64 was adopted, case law recognized that although "the ultimate evil with
which the Legislature was concerned was drug use by prisoners," the Legislature " 'chose
to take a prophylactic approach to the problem by attacking the very presence of drugs
and drug paraphernalia in prisons and jails.' " (Harris, supra, 145 Cal.App.4th at
p. 1461.) Thus, even though Penal Code section 4573.8 criminalizes possession rather
than use of drugs in a correctional institution, it is nevertheless properly described as a
16
law "pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis" in such a setting, as it is part of
prophylactic approach to prevent prisoners from using drugs. 8
Further, it is reasonable to understand the phrase "laws pertaining to smoking or
ingesting cannabis" in a correctional institution to encompass laws criminalizing the
possession of cannabis in such a setting because " '[t]he words of the statute must be
construed in context, . . . and statutes or statutory sections relating to the same subject
must be harmonized, both internally and with each other, to the extent possible."
(Valencia, supra, 3 Cal.5th at p. 358.) The electorate is generally presumed to be aware
of existing laws when adopting an initiative. (People v. Orozco (2020) 9 Cal.5th 111,
118.) Thus, we presume the electorate understood that no statute existed at the time it
8 Raybon had a different view of the significance of the phrase "pertaining to" in section 11362.45, subdivision (d). As Raybon explained, "it stretches the imagination to conclude that the drafters listed two distinct activities, 'smoking or ingesting,' intending to include a third distinct activity, possession, by using the vague reference 'pertaining to.' " (Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at p. 121.) As to why the drafters choose to use the phrase "pertaining to" rather than simply "prohibiting," Raybon explained, "The purpose of the language is to describe the vast array of means of consumption . . . . We agree with defendants that consumption can be achieved in ways not strictly involving smoking or ingesting, such as inhaled as a non-burning vapor or applied topically such that it is absorbed through the skin. By including the language 'pertaining to smoking and ingesting,' the drafters allowed for these various forms of consumption in prison to remain unlawful." (Raybon, supra, 36 Cal.App.5th at p. 122.) We do not find Raybon's explanation to be persuasive. Because "pertaining to" means "relating to," someone would not normally describe the topical application or vaporizing of cannabis as "pertaining to" the smoking or ingesting of cannabis, as they are different ways of using cannabis and therefore do not relate to one another. In contrast, it does not strain the meaning of "pertaining to" for someone to say that a law criminalizing the possession of cannabis is a law "pertaining to" the smoking or ingestion of cannabis, as one has a causal relationship to the other. Specifically, it is necessary to possess cannabis in order to smoke or ingest it, and cannabis is usually possessed in prison because someone wants to use it. 17
adopted Proposition 64 that specifically made it a crime to smoke or ingest cannabis in a
correctional institution. Instead, the Legislature took the prophylactic approach of
enacting statutes criminalizing possession, smuggling and drug trafficking in correctional
institutions. (Harris, supra, 145 Cal.App.4th at p. 1461.) If the carve-out for "laws
pertaining to smoking or ingesting cannabis" in correctional institutions is to have any
meaning at all in light of the preexisting statutory landscape, it must necessarily be
intended as a carve-out of laws criminalizing the possession of cannabis in such a setting.
When section 11362.45, subdivision (d) is construed as carving out only laws that
criminalize smoking or ingesting cannabis in custodial institutions, it is an empty
provision that does not serve to carve out any preexisting law from being "amend[ed],
repeal[ed], affect[ed], restrict[ed], or preempt[ed]." (§ 11362.45.)
To support his contention that the phrase "laws pertaining to smoking or ingesting
cannabis" in correctional institutions does not encompass laws making it a crime to
possess cannabis in a correctional institution, Whalum relies on three principles of
statutory interpretation. As we will explain, none of those principles persuade us to reach
a different interpretation of section 11362.45, subdivision (d).
First, the principle of "[e]xpressio unius est exclusio alterius means that 'the
expression of certain things in a statute necessarily involves exclusion of other things not
expressed.' " (Dyna-Med, Inc. v. Fair Employment & Housing Com. (1987) 43 Cal.3d
1379, 1391, fn. 13.) Whalum contends that because section 11362.45, subdivision (d)
refers to "smoking or ingesting" but omits "possession," the statute must be read as
excluding possession. Perry considered and rejected the same argument based on the
18
principle of expressio unius est exclusio alterius. "In our view, that interpretation is
unwarranted because, as we have explained, the exception refers broadly to laws
'pertaining to smoking or ingesting' cannabis in prison, which logically includes laws
prohibiting possession in prison." (Perry, supra, 32 Cal.App.5th at p. 896, fn. 10.) We
agree with Perry. By using the term "pertaining to," section 11362.45, subdivision (d)
signals that the carve-out is not intended to be restricted only to laws criminalizing the
two types of conduct listed in the statute, i.e., smoking and ingesting.
The next principle upon which Whalum relies is that "exceptions to a general rule
of an enactment must be strictly construed." (Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Ass'n v. City of
Salinas (2002) 98 Cal.App.4th 1351, 1358.) Whalum contends that this doctrine applies
because the carve-out in section 11362.45, subdivision (d) "creates an exception to the
general rule of legalization in section 11362.1." We do not believe that our interpretation
of section 11362.45, subdivision (d) does any violence to this principle. Because the
carve-out in section 11362.45, subdivision (d) uses the broad phrase "pertaining to," the
statutory language does not require us to strictly construe the carve-out to apply only to
laws criminalizing the act of smoking and ingesting cannabis.
Finally, Whalum points to the case law providing that "[w]hen language which is
susceptible of two constructions is used in a penal law, the policy of this state is to
construe the statute as favorably to the defendant as its language and the circumstances of
its application reasonably permit." (People v. Overstreet (1986) 42 Cal.3d 891, 896.) In
our view, this principle does not require us to conclude that the carve-out in
section 11362.45, subdivision (d) applies only to laws that criminalize smoking and
19
ingesting cannabis. Because the phrase "pertaining to" must be given its plain meaning
of "relating to," we do not believe that the language in section 11362.45, subdivision (d)
reasonably permits a statutory interpretation that strictly limits the carve-out to laws
criminalizing smoking or ingesting cannabis.
As a last point, we note that to the extent we were to find any ambiguity in the
meaning of section 11362.45, subdivision (d) and therefore resort to the Voter Guide to
inform our statutory interpretation, we would agree with Perry's observations on that
subject. As Perry noted, apart from including the statutory language of section 11362.45,
subdivision (d), the Voter Guide makes no mention whatsoever of how Proposition 64 is
intended to affect laws pertaining to cannabis in correctional institutions. Perry
concluded, "[t]hus, there is nothing in the ballot materials for Proposition 64 to suggest
the voters were alerted to or aware of any potential impact of the measure on cannabis in
correctional institutions, much less that the voters intended to alter existing proscriptions
against the possession or use of cannabis in those institutions." (Perry, supra, 32
Cal.App.5th at p. 895.)
" 'We cannot presume that . . . the voters intended the initiative to effect a change
in law that was not expressed or strongly implied in either the text of the initiative or the
analyses and arguments in the official ballot pamphlet.' " (Valencia, supra, 3 Cal.5th at
p. 364.) Here, because neither the text of Proposition 64, nor the Voter Guide, strongly
implies an intent to affect the laws criminalizing the possession of cannabis in
correctional institutions, we conclude that those laws remain in effect after the voters
because the law under which he was convicted was not affected by Proposition 64.
III.
CORRECTION OF CLERICAL ERROR IN ABSTRACT OF JUDGMENT
As we have explained, the trial court imposed a sentence of two years, eight
months, to run consecutive to the time Whalum was currently serving in prison.
However, upon reviewing the record, we noted that the abstract of judgment
erroneously states that Whalum's two year, eight month sentence would be served
concurrently to the time already being served in prison. The abstract of judgment is
accordingly contrary to the oral pronouncement of sentence, in which the trial court
imposed a consecutive sentence, and to the terms of Whalum's plea agreement, which
also specified a consecutive sentence. Where there is a discrepancy between the oral
pronouncement of judgment and the abstract of judgment, the oral pronouncement
controls. (People v. Mitchell (2001) 26 Cal.4th 181, 185-186 (Mitchell); People v.
Mesa (1975) 14 Cal.3d 466, 471.)
"Courts may correct clerical errors at any time, and appellate courts . . . that have
properly assumed jurisdiction of cases [will order] correction of abstracts of judgment
that [do] not accurately reflect the oral judgments of sentencing courts." (Mitchell, supra,
26 Cal.4th at p. 185.) We therefore direct the trial court to amend the abstract of
judgment to indicate imposition of a consecutive sentence, not a concurrent sentence,
which is to run consecutive to the sentence that Whalum was already serving at the time
of the instant offense.
21
DISPOSITION
The trial court is directed to amend the abstract of judgment to reflect a
consecutive sentence, not a concurrent sentence, of two years, eight months, and to
forward the amended abstract of judgment to the Department of Corrections and
Rehabilitation. In all other respects the judgment is affirmed.
IRION, J.
WE CONCUR:
BENKE, Acting P. J.
HALLER, J.
22
AI Brief
AI-generated · verify before citing
Holding. Proposition 64 did not affect existing laws, such as Penal Code section 4573.8, that criminalize the possession of cannabis in a correctional institution. The statutory carve-out in Health and Safety Code section 11362.45, subdivision (d) for laws "pertaining to smoking or ingesting" cannabis is broad enough to encompass laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis in prison.
Issues
Whether Proposition 64's legalization of cannabis possession affects Penal Code section 4573.8, which prohibits the possession of drugs in a correctional institution.
Whether the carve-out in Health and Safety Code section 11362.45, subdivision (d) for laws "pertaining to smoking or ingesting" cannabis includes laws prohibiting the possession of cannabis in prison.
Disposition. Remanded with instructions to correct abstract of judgment, and in all other respects affirmed.
Quotations verified verbatim against the opinion
“We conclude that the crime of possessing unauthorized cannabis in prison in violation of Penal Code section 4573.8 was not affected by Proposition 64.”