Drugs - Codeine and Opium Derivatives

Baltimore City Code art. 19, subtit. 15

in effect

Baltimore City Code, Article 19, § 15-1 Scope of subtitle.

§ 15-1. Scope of subtitle. Opium or derivatives thereof shall include codeine and any compound, manufacture, salt, derivative, mixture, or preparation of opium, natural or synthetic. (Ord. 69-524.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 19, § 15-2 Sale without prescription prohibited.

§ 15-2. Sale without prescription prohibited. (a) In general. It shall be unlawful for any person to sell, dispense, or give away any preparation containing opium except upon a valid prescription of a physician, dentist, or veterinarian. (b) Exemptions. Exempt from this prohibition are: (1) sales made to registered practitioners of pharmacy, medicine, dentistry, or veterinary medicine; or (2) sales made by any manufacturer, wholesale druggist, or licensed pharmacist to a hospital or institution operating a dispensary in which a practitioner licensed by law to administer dangerous drugs is in charge. (Ord. 69-524.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 19, § 15-3 Possession without prescription prohibited.

§ 15-3. Possession without prescription prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any person to possess or have under his control, except where such is in the regular course of business, occupation, profession, employment, or duty of such person, any preparation containing opium, unless such person obtained such drug on prescription of a physician, dentist, or veterinarian. (Ord. 69-524.)

Baltimore City Code, Article 19, § 15-4 Penalties.

§ 15-4. Penalties. Any person who violates the provisions of this subtitle shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction thereof: (1) shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250 for the 1st offense; and (2) if convicted a 2nd time for a violation of this subtitle, the person or persons so offending shall be fined a sum not less than $250 nor more than $500; and (3) in case of being convicted more than twice for a violation of this subtitle, such person or persons shall be subject to a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $500 or to imprisonment for not more than 180 days, or to both such fine and imprisonment, in the discretion of the court. (Ord. 69-524.)

Source: City of Baltimore Department of Legislative Reference, City of Baltimore Law Library (codes.baltimorecity.gov; Open Law Library bulk XML)URL: https://codes.baltimorecity.gov/us/md/cities/baltimore/code/19/15Fetched: 10/25/2026