While Tom Dean’s practice is focused on the representation of those persons accused of committing marijuana related “crimes”, he also accepts cases involving other controlled substances including cocaine, meth, heroin, ecstasy, LSD, peyote, mushrooms and prescription only drugs.  Opinions vary over whether some or all of these substances should be decriminalized.  The defense strategy for these cases is very similar to that used in marijuana cases.  Tom takes on these cases because he strongly believes that chemical dependency issues should not be a criminal justice issue to begin with.  Rather, if society must intervene in cases of chemical dependency, it should always be handled as a health care issue, with respect for the person who is having the problem.

Criminal courts, prisons and probation departments are a waste of tax payer money.  By some estimates, criminal prosecution of drug offenses is five (5) times more expensive than treatment alternatives.  We all know on some level that punishing individuals for drug crimes ignores the true issue and only makes things worse.  Recidivism rates are very high when people are punished for drug crimes and, therefore, costs are continually redoubled.  Moreover, some people who did not have a chemical dependency problem become addicted while in prison!

Whether it is marijuana or any other drug, the War on Drug (Users) is a dead end that accomplishes nothing more than increased taxes and the destruction of individuals, families and the economy.

Take a look at this list of substances, currently prohibited in Arizona:

Arizona Revised Statute (A.R.S.) 13-3401 (in pertinent part)

In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires:

2. “Amidone” means any substance identified chemically as (4-4-diphenyl-6-dimethylamine-heptanone-3), or any salt of such substance, by whatever trade name designated.

4. “Cannabis” means the following substances under whatever names they may be designated:

(a) The resin extracted from any part of a plant of the genus cannabis, and every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such plant, its seeds or its resin. Cannabis does not include oil or cake made from the seeds of such plant, any fiber, compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of the mature stalks of such plant except the resin extracted from the stalks or any fiber, oil or cake or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.

(b) Every compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of such resin or tetrahydrocannabinol.

5. “Coca leaves” means cocaine, its optical isomers and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture or preparation of coca leaves, except derivatives of coca leaves which do not contain cocaine, ecgonine or substances from which cocaine or ecgonine may be synthesized or made.

6. “Dangerous drug” means the following by whatever official, common, usual, chemical or trade name designated:

(a) Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances and their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:

(i) Alpha-ethyltryptamine.
(ii) Aminorex.
(iii) 4-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxyphenethylamine.
(iv) 4-bromo-2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine.
(v) Bufotenine.
(vi) Diethyltryptamine.
(vii) 2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine.
(viii) Dimethyltryptamine.
(ix) 5-methoxy-3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine.
(x) 4-methyl-2, 5-dimethoxyamphetamine.
(xi) Ibogaine.
(xii) Lysergic acid amide.
(xiii) Lysergic acid diethylamide.
(xiv) Mescaline.
(xv) 4-methoxyamphetamine.
(xvi) Methoxymethylenedioxyamphetamine (MMDA).
(xvii) Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA).
(xviii) 3, 4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine.
(xix) 3, 4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine.
(xx) N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate (JB-318).
(xxi) N-hydroxy-3, 4-methylenedioxyamphetamine.
(xxii) N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate (JB-336).
(xxiii) N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine (PCE).
(xxiv) Nabilone.
(xxv) 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) pyrrolidine (PHP).
(xxvi) 1-(1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl) piperidine (TCP).
(xxvii) 1-(1-(2-thienyl)-cyclohexyl) pyrrolidine.
(xxviii) Para-methoxyamphetamine (PMA).
(xxix) Psilocybin.
(xxx) Psilocyn.
(xxxi) Synhexyl.
(xxxii) Trimethoxyamphetamine (TMA).

(b) Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances and their salts, optical isomers, and salts of optical isomers having a potential for abuse associated with a stimulant effect on the central nervous system:

(i) Amphetamine.
(ii) Benzphetamine.
(iii) Butorphanol.
(iv) Cathine ((+)-norpseudoephedrine).
(v) Chlorphentermine.
(vi) Clortermine.
(vii) Diethylpropion.
(viii) Fencamfamin.
(ix) Fenethylline.
(x) Fenproporex.
(xi) Mazindol.
(xii) Mefenorex.
(xiii) Methamphetamine.
(xiv) Methcathinone.
(xv) 4-methylaminorex.
(xvi) Methylphenidate.
(xvii) Modafinil.
(xviii) N-ethylamphetamine.
(xix) N, N-dimethylamphetamine.
(xx) Pemoline.
(xxi) Phendimetrazine.
(xxii) Phenmetrazine.
(xxiii) Phentermine.
(xxiv) Pipradol.
(xxv) Propylhexedrine.
(xxvi) Pyrovalerone.
(xxvii) Sibutramine.
(xxviii) Spa ((-)-1-dimethylamino-1,2-diphenylethane).

(c) Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a potential for abuse associated with a depressant effect on the central nervous system:

(i) Any substance which contains any quantity of a derivative of barbituric acid, or any salt of a derivative of barbituric acid, unless specifically excepted.
(ii) Alprazolam.
(iii) Bromazepam.
(iv) Camazepam.
(v) Carisoprodol.
(vi) Chloral betaine.
(vii) Chloral hydrate.
(viii) Chlordiazepoxide.
(ix) Chlorhexadol.
(x) Clobazam.
(xi) Clonazepam.
(xii) Clorazepate.
(xiii) Clotiazepam.
(xiv) Cloxazolam.
(xv) Delorazepam.
(xvi) Diazepam.
(xvii) Dichloralphenazone.
(xviii) Estazolam.
(xix) Ethchlorvynol.
(xx) Ethinamate.
(xxi) Ethyl loflazepate.
(xxii) Fenfluramine.
(xxiii) Fludiazepam.
(xxiv) Flunitrazepam.
(xxv) Flurazepam.
(xxvi) Gamma hydroxy butyrate.
(xxvii) Glutethimide.
(xxviii) Halazepam.
(xxix) Haloxazolam.
(xxx) Ketamine.
(xxxi) Ketazolam.
(xxxii) Loprazolam.
(xxxiii) Lorazepam.
(xxxiv) Lormetazepam.
(xxxv) Lysergic acid.
(xxxvi) Mebutamate.
(xxxvii) Mecloqualone.
(xxxviii) Medazepam.
(xxxix) Meprobamate.
(xl) Methaqualone.
(xli) Methohexital.
(xlii) Methyprylon.
(xliii) Midazolam.
(xliv) Nimetazepam.
(xlv) Nitrazepam.
(xlvi) Nordiazepam.
(xlvii) Oxazepam.
(xlviii) Oxazolam.
(xlix) Paraldehyde.
(l) Petrichloral.
(li) Phencyclidine.
(lii) Pinazepam.
(liii) Prazepam.
(liv) Scopolamine.
(lv) Sulfondiethylmethane.
(lvi) Sulfonethylmethane.
(lvii) Sulfonmethane.
(lviii) Quazepam.
(lix) Temazepam.
(lx) Tetrazepam.
(lxi) Tiletamine.
(lxii) Triazolam.
(lxiii) Zaleplon.
(lxiv) Zolazepam.
(lxv) Zolpidem.
(d) Any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following anabolic steroids and their salts, isomers or esters:
(i) Boldenone.
(ii) Clostebol (4-chlorotestosterone).
(iii) Dehydrochloromethyltestosterone.
(iv) Drostanolone.
(v) Ethylestrenol.
(vi) Fluoxymesterone.
(vii) Formebulone (formebolone).
(viii) Mesterolone.
(ix) Methandriol.
(x) Methandrostenolone (methandienone).
(xi) Methenolone.
(xii) Methyltestosterone.
(xiii) Mibolerone.
(xiv) Nandrolone.
(xv) Norethandrolon.
(xvi) Oxandrolone.
(xvii) Oxymesterone.
(xviii) Oxymetholone.
(xix) Stanolone (4-dihydrotestosterone).
(xx) Stanozolol.
(xxi) Testolactone.
(xxii) Testosterone.
(xxiii) Trenbolone.

13. “Isoamidone” means any substance identified chemically as (4-4-diphenyl-5-methyl-6-dimethylaminohexanone-3), or any salt of such substance, by whatever trade name designated.

14. “Isonipecaine” means any substance identified chemically as (1-methyl-4-phenyl-piperidine-4-carboxylic acid ethyl ester), or any salt of such substance, by whatever trade name designated.

15. “Ketobemidone” means any substance identified chemically as (4-(3-hydroxyphenyl)-1-methyl-4-piperidylethyl ketone hydrochloride), or any salt of such substance, by whatever trade name designated.

19. “Marijuana” means all parts of any plant of the genus cannabis, from which the resin has not been extracted, whether growing or not, and the seeds of such plant. Marijuana does not include the mature stalks of such plant or the sterilized seed of such plant which is incapable of germination.

20. “Narcotic drugs” means the following, whether of natural or synthetic origin and any substance neither chemically nor physically distinguishable from them:

(a) Acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl.
(b) Acetylmethadol.
(c) Alfentanil.
(d) Allylprodine.
(e) Alphacetylmethadol.
(f) Alphameprodine.
(g) Alphamethadol.
(h) Alpha-methylfentanyl.
(i) Alpha-methylthiofentanyl.
(j) Alphaprodine.
(k) Amidone (methadone).
(l) Anileridine.
(m) Benzethidine.
(n) Benzylfentanyl.
(o) Betacetylmethadol.
(p) Beta-hydroxyfentanyl.
(q) Beta-hydroxy-3-methylfentanyl.
(r) Betameprodine.
(s) Betamethadol.
(t) Betaprodine.
(u) Bezitramide.
(v) Buprenorphine and its salts.
(w) Cannabis.
(x) Carfentanil.
(y) Clonitazene.
(z) Coca leaves.
(aa) Dextromoramide.
(bb) Dextropropoxyphene.
(cc) Diampromide.
(dd) Diethylthiambutene.
(ee) Difenoxin.
(ff) Dihydrocodeine.
(gg) Dimenoxadol.
(hh) Dimepheptanol.
(ii) Dimethylthiambutene.
(jj) Dioxaphetyl butyrate.
(kk) Diphenoxylate.
(ll) Dipipanone.
(mm) Ethylmethylthiambutene.
(nn) Etonitazene.
(oo) Etoxeridine.
(pp) Fentanyl.
(qq) Furethidine.
(rr) Hydroxypethidine.
(ss) Isoamidone (isomethadone).
(tt) Pethidine (meperidine).
(uu) Ketobemidone.
(vv) Levomethorphan.
(ww) Levomoramide.
(xx) Levophenacylmorphan.
(yy) Levorphanol.
(zz) Metazocine.
(aaa) 3-methylfentanyl.
(bbb) 1-methyl-4-phenyl-4-propionoxypiperidine (MPPP).
(ccc) 3-methylthiofentanyl.
(ddd) Morpheridine.
(eee) Noracymethadol.
(fff) Norlevorphanol.
(ggg) Normethadone.
(hhh) Norpipanone.
(iii) Opium.
(jjj) Para-fluorofentanyl.
(kkk) Pentazocine.
(lll) Phenadoxone.
(mmm) Phenampromide.
(nnn) Phenazocine.
(ooo) 1-(2-phenethyl)-4-phenyl-4-acetoxypiperidine (PEPAP).
(ppp) Phenomorphan.
(qqq) Phenoperidine.
(rrr) Piminodine.
(sss) Piritramide.
(ttt) Proheptazine.
(uuu) Properidine.
(vvv) Propiram.
(www) Racemethorphan.
(xxx) Racemoramide.
(yyy) Racemorphan.
(zzz) Remifentanil.
(aaaa) Sufentanil.
(bbbb) Thenylfentanyl.
(cccc) Thiofentanyl.
(dddd) Tilidine.
(eeee) Trimeperidine.

21. “Opium” means any compound, manufacture, salt, isomer, salt of isomer, derivative, mixture or preparation of the following, but does not include apomorphine or any of its salts:

(a) Acetorphine.
(b) Acetyldihydrocodeine.
(c) Benzylmorphine.
(d) Codeine.
(e) Codeine methylbromide.
(f) Codeine-N-oxide.
(g) Cyprenorphine.
(h) Desomorphine.
(i) Dihydromorphine.
(j) Drotebanol.
(k) Ethylmorphine.
(l) Etorphine.
(m) Heroin.
(n) Hydrocodone.
(o) Hydromorphinol.
(p) Hydromorphone.
(q) Levo-alphacetylmethadol.
(r) Methyldesorphine.
(s) Methyldihydromorphine.
(t) Metopon.
(u) Morphine.
(v) Morphine methylbromide.
(w) Morphine methylsulfonate.
(x) Morphine-N-oxide.
(y) Myrophine.
(z) Nalorphine.
(aa) Nicocodeine.
(bb) Nicomorphine.
(cc) Normorphine.
(dd) Oxycodone.
(ee) Oxymorphone.
(ff) Pholcodine.
(gg) Thebacon.
(hh) Thebaine.

22. “Ordinary ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, (-)-norpseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine product” means a product that contains ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, (-)-norpseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine and that is all of the following:

(a) Approved for sale under the federal act.

(b) Labeled, advertised and marketed only for an indication that is approved by the federal food and drug administration.

(c) Either:

(i) A nonliquid that is sold in package sizes of not more than three grams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, (-)-norpseudoephedrine or phenlypropanolamine and that is packaged in blister packs containing not more than two dosage units or, if the use of blister packs is technically infeasible, that is packaged in unit dose packets or pouches.

(ii) A liquid that is sold in package sizes of not more than three grams of ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, (-)-norpseudoephedrine or phenylpropanolamine.

23. “Peyote” means any part of a plant of the genus lophophora, known as the mescal button.

26. “Precursor chemical I” means any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances and their salts, optical isomers or salts of optical isomers:

(a) N-acetylanthranilic acid.
(b) Anthranilic acid.
(c) Ephedrine.
(d) Ergotamine.
(e) Isosafrole.
(f) Lysergic acid.
(g) Methylamine.
(h) N-ethylephedrine.
(i) N-ethylpseudoephedrine.
(j) N-methylephedrine.
(k) N-methylpseudoephedrine.
(l) Norephedrine.
(m) (-)-Norpseudoephedrine.
(n) Phenylacetic acid.
(o) Phenylpropanolamine.
(p) Piperidine.
(q) Pseudoephedrine.

27. “Precursor chemical II” means any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances and their salts, optical isomers or salts of optical isomers:

(a) 4-cyano-2-dimethylamino-4, 4-diphenyl butane.
(b) 4-cyano-1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine.
(c) Chlorephedrine.
(d) Chlorpseudoephedrine.
(e) Ethyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylate.
(f) 2-methyl-3-morpholino-1, 1-diphenylpropane-carboxylic acid.
(g) 1-methyl-4-phenylpiperidine-4-carboxylic acid.
(h) N-formyl amphetamine.
(i) N-formyl methamphetamine.
(j) Phenyl-2-propanone.
(k) 1-piperidinocyclohexane carbonitrile.
(l) 1-pyrrolidinocyclohexane carbonitrile.

28. “Prescription-only drug” does not include a dangerous drug or narcotic drug but means:

(a) Any drug which because of its toxicity or other potentiality for harmful effect, or the method of its use, or the collateral measures necessary to its use, is not generally recognized among experts, qualified by scientific training and experience to evaluate its safety and efficacy, as safe for use except by or under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

(b) Any drug that is limited by an approved new drug application under the federal act or section 32-1962 to use under the supervision of a medical practitioner.

(c) Every potentially harmful drug, the labeling of which does not bear or contain full and adequate directions for use by the consumer.

(d) Any drug required by the federal act to bear on its label the legend “Caution: Federal law prohibits dispensing without prescription” or “RX only”.

30. “Regulated chemical” means the following substances in bulk form that are not a useful part of an otherwise lawful product:

(a) Acetic anhydride.
(b) Hypophosphorous acid.
(c) Iodine.
(d) Sodium acetate.
(e) Red phosphorus.
(f) Gamma butyrolactone (GBL).
(g) 1, 4-butanediol.
(h) Butyrolactone.
(i) 1, 2 butanolide.
(j) 2-oxanalone.
(k) Tetrahydro-2-furanone.
(l) Dihydro-2(3H)-furanone.
(m) Tetramethylene glycol.

38. “Vapor-releasing substance containing a toxic substance” means paint or varnish dispensed by the use of aerosol spray, or any glue, which releases vapors or fumes containing acetone, volatile acetates, benzene, butyl alcohol, ethyl alcohol, ethylene dichloride, isopropyl alcohol, methyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, pentachlorophenol, petroleum ether, toluene, volatile ketones, isophorone, chloroform, methylene chloride, mesityl oxide, xylene, cumene, ethylbenzene, trichloroethylene, mibk, miak, mek or diacetone alcohol or isobutyl nitrite.

39. “Weight” unless otherwise specified includes the entire weight of any mixture or substance that contains a detectable amount of an unlawful substance. If a mixture or substance contains more than one unlawful substance, the weight of the entire mixture or substance is assigned to the unlawful substance that results in the greater offense. If a mixture or substance contains lysergic acid diethylamide, the offense that results from the unlawful substance shall be based on the greater offense as determined by the entire weight of the mixture or substance or the number of blotter dosage units. For the purposes of this paragraph, “mixture” means any combination of substances from which the unlawful substance cannot be removed without a chemical process.