The Connecticut legislature got together circa 1958 and voted it into law. I don't know the reason. The court didn't mention it in the opinion.
Here are the relevant sections:
Section 53-32: "Any person who uses any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception shall be fined not less than fifty dollars or imprisoned not less than sixty days nor more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned."
Section 54-196: "Any person who assists, abets, counsels, causes, hires or commands another to commit any offense may be prosecuted and punished as if he were the principal offender."
The Griswold decision is here.
Section 53-32: "Any person who uses any drug, medicinal article or instrument for the purpose of preventing conception shall be fined not less than fifty dollars or imprisoned not less than sixty days nor more than one year or be both fined and imprisoned."
OK.
That falls under the "stupid law" category.
Here's the Luis Amendment to that law.
"Any person caught checking whether me and the wife are using drugs, medicinal articles or instruments that may lead to conception while engaged in an act that may lead to such conception, will have their asses roundly kicked."
'Nuff said?
The law prohibits the use of contraceptives, and the subsequent law makes any person who "assists, abets, counsels, causes, hires or commands another to commit any offense", equally liable.
It doesn't make it illegal to either sell, or buy a contraceptive...just to use one.
Stupid, unenforceable law.