(Effective July 1, 2027) Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties; penalty
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255.2
in effectA. It is unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell, or distribute or possess with intent to sell, give, or distribute any controlled substance or imitation controlled substance while:
1. Upon the property, including buildings and grounds, of any public or private elementary or secondary school, any institution of higher education, or any clearly marked licensed child day center as defined in § 22.1-289.02 ;
2. Upon public property or any property open to public use within 1,000 feet of the property described in subdivision 1;
3. On any school bus as defined in § 46.2-100 ;
4. Upon a designated school bus stop, or upon either public property or any property open to public use which is within 1,000 feet of such school bus stop, during the time when school children are waiting to be picked up and transported to or are being dropped off from school or a school-sponsored activity;
5. Upon the property, including buildings and grounds, of any publicly owned or publicly operated recreation or community center facility or any public library; or
6. Upon the property of any state facility as defined in § 37.2-100 or upon public property or property open to public use within 1,000 feet of such facility. It is a violation of the provisions of this section if the person possessed the controlled substance or imitation controlled substance on the property described in subdivisions 1 through 6, regardless of where the person intended to sell, give, or distribute the controlled substance or imitation controlled substance. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized distribution of controlled substances.
B. Violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct felony. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon conviction, be imprisoned for a term of not less than one year nor more than five years and fined not more than $100,000. A second or subsequent conviction hereunder for an offense involving a controlled substance classified in Schedule I, II, or III of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) shall be punished by a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment of one year to be served consecutively with any other sentence. However, if such person proves that he sold such controlled substance only as an accommodation to another individual and not with intent to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient or intended recipient of the controlled substance to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.
C. If a person commits an act violating the provisions of this section, and the same act also violates another provision of law that provides for penalties greater than those provided for by this section, then nothing in this section shall prohibit or bar any prosecution or proceeding under that other provision of law or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby.
1982, c. 594; 1989, cc. 619, 682, 709; 1990, cc. 617, 622; 1991, c. 268; 1991, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 14; 1993, cc. 30, 708, 729; 1999, c. 873 ; 2000, cc. 1020 , 1041 ; 2003, cc. 80 , 91 ; 2004, c. 461 ; 2005, c. 716 ; 2006, c. 325 ; 2011, cc. 384 , 410 ; 2014, cc. 674 , 719 ; 2020, cc. 860 , 861 ; 2026, Sp. Sess. I, c. 1 .
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/18.2-255.2/Fetched: 10/16/2026