Campbell v. People

We granted certiorari in this case to review the court of appeals decision in People v. Campbell, 58 P.3d 1080 (Colo.App.2002). 1 The trial court rejected Campbell's argument that section 18-18-405(1)(a), 6 C.R.S. (2002), prohibiting possession of a controlled substance, violates equal protection because it prescribes a harsher sentence than section 18-18-404(1), 6 C.R.S. (2002), prohibiting use of a controlled substance. Campbell pleaded guilty to possession of cocaine.

The court of appeals upheld the possession conviction against Campbell's equal protection challenge, on the assumption that…