You are here: / / POSSESSION OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE AND JAIL TIME...
, ,

POSSESSION OF SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IS PUNISHABLE BY A FINE AND JAIL TIME UNDER THE SANITARY CODE; THEREFORE A SEARCH WARRANT AUTHORIZING A SEARCH FOR SYNTHETIC CANNABINOIDS IS VALID; THE WAIVER OF APPEAL HERE WAS INVALID (THIRD DEPT).

The Third Department determined defendant’s waiver of appeal was invalid, but went on to find that the search warrant and search were valid and proper. The defendant argued that the search for synthetic cannabinoids not authorized because that substance is not encompassed by the Penal Law. However, the Sanitary Code makes possession of the substance a violation which can result in a fine and a jail sentence:

… [T]he appeal waiver was invalid because County Court failed to advise defendant that the right to appeal is separate and distinct from the rights automatically forfeited by pleading guilty … , and also because the court increased the sentence, but failed to inquire into whether defendant wished to withdraw his consent to the appeal waiver … . …

A search warrant application must include “[a] statement that there is reasonable cause to believe that property of a kind or character described in [CPL] 690.10 may be found in or upon a designated or described place” (CPL 690.35 [3] [b]). Personal property that “[c]onstitutes evidence or tends to demonstrate that an offense was committed in this state” is subject to seizure (CPL 690.10 [4]). “Offense” is defined as “conduct for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment or to a fine is provided by any law of this state” (Penal Law § 10.00 [1]). Further, a “[v]iolation” is defined as “an offense . . . for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of [15] days cannot be imposed” (Penal Law § 10.00 [3]).

Defendant is correct in asserting that the Penal Law prohibitions against the possession of controlled substances and marihuana do not specifically include synthetic cannabinoid. However, the Sanitary Code makes it “unlawful for any individual . . . to possess, manufacture, distribute, sell or offer to sell any synthetic phenethylamine or synthetic cannabinoid,” with exceptions not applicable here (10 NYCRR 9-1.2). Significantly, “[t]he provisions of the [S]anitary [C]ode shall have the force and effect of law and the non-compliance or non-conformance with any provision thereof shall constitute a violation punishable on conviction for a first offense by a fine not exceeding [$250] or by imprisonment . . . not exceeding [15] days, or both” (Public Health Law § 229 …). It follows that, by definition, a search warrant may be issued for the alleged possession of synthetic cannabinoids … . People v Morehouse, 2020 NY Slip Op 03048, Thrid Dept 5-28-20

 

You might also like
No Need to Be Affiliated with an Authorized Rescue Entity or Volunteer Agency to Qualify for Benefits from World Trade Center Volunteer Fund
PURSUANT TO A MOLINEUX ANALYSIS, THE WEAPON-POSSESSION COUNT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SEVERED FROM THE MENACING AND ASSAULT COUNTS, IN WHICH DISPLAY OF A WEAPON WAS ALLEGED; THE SIROIS HEARING DID NOT DEMONSTRATE THE DEFENDANT CAUSED THE VICTIM TO REFUSE TO TESTIFY, THEREFORE THE VICTIM’S GRAND JURY TESTIMONY WAS NOT ADMISSIBLE; NEW TRIAL ORDERED (THIRD DEPT).
IN THIS TERMINATION OF PARENTAL RIGHTS PROCEEDING, PETITIONER DID NOT MEET ITS BURDEN TO PROVE IT MADE DILIGENT EFFORTS TO ASSIST RESPONDENT MOTHER IN ADDRESSING HER MENTAL HEALTH; MOTHER’S PARENTAL RIGHTS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN TERMINANTED (THIRD DEPT).
Under the Circumstances, Caring for Husband While Awaiting a Kidney Transplant in Florida Did Not Constitute “Good Cause” for Claimant’s Leaving her Employment–Employer Had Offered to Accommodate Claimant with Leaves of Absence
For Each Year the Business Investment Exemption from Real Property Tax Law Is Sought, a Separate Application Must Be Made
FAMILY COURT SHOULD NOT HAVE REFUSED FATHER’S COUNSEL’S OFFER TO REMAIN AS STANDBY COUNSEL AND SHOULD NOT HAVE ALLOWED FATHER TO REPRESENT HIMSELF WITHOUT WARNING FATHER OF THE DANGERS OF SELF-REPRESENTATION (THIRD DEPT).
Hearsay Evidence from Confidential Informant Insufficiently Detailed to Allow Independent Assessment of Credibility and Reliability
(1) PURSUANT TO THE PERMISSIVE COUNTERCLAIM RULE, THE DOCTRINE OF RES JUDICATA DID NOT APPLY, (2) PRETRIAL MOTION TO DISMISS IS RARELY APPROPRIATE WITHIN THE SIMPLIFIED SMALL CLAIMS PROCEDURE 3RD DEPT.

Categories

Sign Up for the Mailing List to Be Notified When the Site Is Updated.

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Copyright © 2026 New York Appellate Digest, Inc.
Site by CurlyHost | Privacy Policy

PLAINTIFF BANK NEVER REVOKED THE ACCELERATION OF THE MORTGAGE DEBT; FIFTH FORECLOSURE... LEASE WAS AMBIGUOUS ABOUT TENANT’S RESPONSIBILITY FOR INSTALLATION OF...