A. 1. It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally to possess a controlled dangerous substance unless such substance was obtained directly, or pursuant to a valid prescription or order from a practitioner, while acting in the course of his or her professional practice, or except as otherwise authorized by Section 2-101 et seq. of this title.

2. It shall be unlawful for any person to purchase any preparation excepted from the provisions of the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act pursuant to Section 2-313 of this title in an amount or within a time interval other than that permitted by Section 2-313 of this title.

3. It shall be unlawful for any person or business to sell, market, advertise or label any product containing ephedrine, its salts, optical isomers, or salts of optical isomers, for the indication of stimulation, mental alertness, weight loss, appetite control, muscle development, energy or other indication which is not approved by the pertinent federal OTC Final Monograph, Tentative Final Monograph, or FDA-approved new drug application or its legal equivalent. In determining compliance with this requirement, the following factors shall be considered:

a. the packaging of the product,

b. the name of the product, and

c. the distribution and promotion of the product, including verbal representations made at the point of sale.

B. 1. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by confinement for not more than one (1) year and by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00).

2. Any person who violates this section a second time within ten (10) years, upon conviction, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The court may, with the consent of the defendant, order the defendant to complete a substance abuse assessment and evaluation and to complete a diversion program for up to one (1) year following the date of conviction in lieu of other punishments. At the discretion of the court, the diversion program may include drug testing as a requirement. If the defendant refuses or fails to complete the assessment and evaluation or diversion program, the court may impose punishment as provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to violations related to the possession of marijuana.

3. Any person who violates this section a third time within ten (10) years shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), imprisonment in the county jail for a minimum of thirty (30) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The court may, with the consent of the defendant, order the defendant to complete a substance abuse assessment and evaluation and to complete a diversion program for up to three (3) years following the date of conviction. At the discretion of the court, the diversion program may include drug testing as a requirement. If the defendant refuses or fails to complete the assessment and evaluation or diversion program, the court may impose punishment as provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to violations related to the possession of marijuana.

4. a. Any person who violates this section a fourth time within ten (10) years shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a felony punishable by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), imprisonment in the custody of the Department of Corrections for not less than one (1) year nor more than five (5) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

b. Upon a verdict or plea of guilty or upon a plea of nolo contendere, but before a judgment of guilt of a violation of this paragraph, the court may, without entering a judgment of guilt and with the consent of the defendant, defer further proceedings upon the specific conditions prescribed by the court not to exceed a three-year period. The court may, with the consent of the defendant, order the defendant to complete a substance abuse assessment and evaluation and to complete a diversion program for up to three (3) years.

c. Upon successful completion of the court-ordered substance abuse assessment and evaluation and diversion program within the time prescribed, the felony charge shall be changed to a misdemeanor. If the defendant refuses or fails to complete the assessment and evaluation or diversion program, the court may impose punishment as provided for in subparagraph a of this paragraph.

d. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to violations related to the possession of marijuana.

C. Any person convicted of any offense described in this section shall, in addition to any fine imposed, pay a special assessment trauma-care fee of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) to be deposited into the Trauma Care Assistance Revolving Fund created in Section 1-2530.9 of this title.

Historical Data

Laws 1971, HB 1100, c. 119, § 2-402; Amended by Laws 1972, HB 1546, c. 229, § 5, emerg. eff. April 7, 1972; Amended by Laws 1981, HB 1160, c. 34, § 1, eff. November 1, 1981; Amended by Laws 1984, HB 1708, c. 127, § 6, eff. November 1, 1984; Amended by Laws 1987, HB 1315, c. 138, § 7, emerg. eff. June 19, 1987; Amended by Laws 1992, HB 1969, c. 86, § 2, eff. September 1, 1992; Amended by Laws 1993, SB 56, c. 311, § 1, emerg. eff. June 7, 1993; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1532, c. 147, § 3, eff. November 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1213, c. 133, § 530 (eff. date amended to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1002, c. 2, §§ 23-26, emerg. eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, c. 5, § 382, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2004, HB 2600, c. 396, § 3, eff. November 1, 2004 (effective date changed to September 1, 2004, by Laws 2004, SB 973, c. 530, § 2, eff. September 1, 2004) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2009, HB 1707, c. 306, § 1, eff. November 1, 2009 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2012, HB 3052, c. 228, § 10, eff. November 1, 2012 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2016, HB 2479, c. 220, § 1, eff. November 1, 2016 (superseded document available); Amended by Section 3, State Question 780, Initiative Petition 404, adopted at election held November 8, 2016, effective July 1, 2017 (superseded document available); Amendment by Section 3, State Question 780, Initiative Petition 404, amended by Laws 2023, HB 2153, c. 266, § 1, eff. November 1, 2023 (superseded document available); Amendment by Laws 2016, HB 2479, c. 220, § 1, eff. November 1, 2016,  repealed by Laws 2024, HB 3567, c. 308, § 8, emerg. eff. May 15, 2024 (superseded document available).