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Robinson v. California
Supreme Court of the United States (1962)
Petitioner/Defendant: Robinson; the defendant was charged under a statue which made addiction to the use of narcotics a crime. All the prosecution under this statue had to show was that the defendant had physical marks which suggested that he was a drug user.
Issue: Is this statue constitutional?
Holding: No
Legal Reasoning: The court ruled that this statue made the "status" of drug addiction a criminal offense. The court stated that drug addiction can be considered a disease and that makes this statue similar to a statue punishing people for being mentally sick. The court ruled that this statue was unconstitutional due to its cruel and unusual nature under the Eighth and Fourteenth Amendments.