(Effective July 1, 2027) Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255
in effectA. Except as authorized in the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.), it is unlawful for any person who is at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally (i) distribute any drug classified in Schedule I, II, III, or IV to any person under 18 years of age who is at least three years his junior or (ii) cause any person under 18 years of age to assist in such distribution of any drug classified in Schedule I, II, III, or IV. Any person violating this provision shall upon conviction be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a period not less than 10 nor more than 50 years, and fined not more than $100,000. Five years of the sentence imposed for a conviction under this section involving a Schedule I or II controlled substance shall be a mandatory minimum sentence.
B. It is unlawful for any person who is at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally (i) distribute any imitation controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age who is at least three years his junior or (ii) cause any person under 18 years of age to assist in such distribution of any imitation controlled substance. Any person violating this provision is guilty of a Class 6 felony.
Code 1950, § 54-524.103; 1970, c. 650; 1972, c. 798; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1976, c. 614; 1979, c. 435; 1982, c. 462; 1990, cc. 720, 864, 866; 1992, cc. 708, 724; 2000, cc. 1020 , 1041 ; 2004, c. 461 ; 2011, cc. 384 , 410 ; 2014, cc. 674 , 719 ; 2026, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-255/Fetched: 10/16/2026