From: [c--o--n] at [dsm1.dsmnet.com] Newsgroups: talk.politics.drugs Subject: Supreme Court Paraphernalia Ruling, Part 2 of 3 Date: 25 May 1994 23:31:12 GMT NOTE: Where it is feasible, a syllabus (headnote) will be released, as is being done in connection with this case, at the time the opinion is issued. The syllabus constitutes no part of the opinion of the Court but has been prepared by the Reporter of Decisions for the convenience of the reader. See United States v. Detroit Lumber Co., 200 U. S. 321, 337. SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES Syllabus POSTERS `N' THINGS, LTD., et al. v. UNITED STATES certiorari to the united states court of appeals for the eighth circuit No. 92-903. Argued October 5, 1993-Decided May 23, 1994 Upon searching petitioner Acty's residence and the premises of her business, petitioner Posters `N' Things, Ltd., officers seized, among other things, pipes, ``bongs,'' scales, ``roach clips,'' drug diluents, and advertisements describing various drug-related products sold by petitioners. Petitioners were indicted on, and convicted in the District Court of, a number of charges, including the use of an interstate conveyance as part of a scheme to sell drug parapherna- lia in violation of former 21 U. S. C. 857(a)(1), a provision of the Mail Order Drug Paraphernalia Control Act. In affirming, the Court of Appeals held, inter alia, that 857 requires proof of scienter and that the Act is not unconstitutionally vague. Held: 1. Section 857 requires proof of scienter. Section 857(d)- which, among other things, defines ``drug paraphernalia'' as any equipment ``primarily intended or designed for use'' with illegal drugs-does not serve as the basis for a subjective-intent require- ment on the part of the defendant, but merely establishes objective standards for determining what constitutes drug parapherna- lia: The ``designed for use'' element refers to the manufacturer's design, while the ``primarily intended . . . for use'' standard refers generally to an item's likely use. However, neither this conclusion nor the absence of the word ``knowingly'' in 857(d)'s text means that Congress intended to dispense entirely with a scienter re- quirement. Rather, 857(a)(1) is properly construed under this Court's decisions as requiring the Government to prove that the defendant knowingly made use of an interstate conveyance as part of a scheme to sell items that he knew were likely to be used with illegal drugs. It need not prove specific knowledge that the items are ``drug paraphernalia'' within the statute's meaning. Pp. 3-12. 2. Section 857 is not unconstitutionally vague as applied to petitioners, since 857(d) is sufficiently determinate with respect to the items it lists as constituting per se drug paraphernalia, includ- ing many of the items involved in this case; since 857(e) sets forth objective criteria for assessing whether items constitute drug paraphernalia; and since the scienter requirement herein inferred assists in avoiding any vagueness problem. Because petitioners operated a full-scale ``head shop'' devoted substantially to the sale of drug paraphernalia, the Court need not address 857's possible application to a legitimate merchant selling only items-such as scales, razor blades, and mirrors-that may be used for legitimate as well as illegitimate purposes. Pp. 13-14. 3. Petitioner Acty's other contentions are not properly before the Court. Pp. 14-15. 969 F. 2d 652, affirmed. Blackmun, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Rehn- quist, C. J., and Stevens, O'Connor, Souter, and Ginsburg, JJ., joined. Scalia, J., filed an opinion concurring in the judgment, in which Kennedy and Thomas, JJ., joined.