{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-264.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-264.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-264.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-264.html"}],"law_id":86559,"edition_id":1,"section_id":86559,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-264","catch_line":"Inhaling drugs or other noxious chemical substances or causing, etc., others to do so; distribution of nitrous oxide to persons under 18 prohibited; penalties","history":"Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-70.1; 1968, c. 391; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 19; 1973, c. 27; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1993, c. 416; 2019, c. 6; 2025, cc. 259, 264.","full_text":"A\n\nIt is unlawful, except under the direction of a practitioner as defined in § 54.1-3401, for any person deliberately to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances with the intent to become intoxicated, inebriated, excited, or stupefied or to dull the brain or nervous system.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.B\n\nIt is unlawful for any person, other than one duly licensed, deliberately to cause, invite, or induce any person to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances with the intent to intoxicate, inebriate, excite, stupefy, or dull the brain or nervous system of such person.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.C\n\n1. It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute, or offer to sell or distribute a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide to any person under 18 years of age for any purpose.2\n\nThis subsection shall not apply to (i) a device, as described in subdivision 1, for nitrous oxide that is denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for human consumption or (ii) any person or establishment that is (a) solely engaged in the business of selling or distributing catering supplies, food processing equipment, or compressed gases for industrial or medical use or (b) a health care provider as defined in § 32.1-127.1:03.3\n\nAny person who fails to make diligent inquiry as to whether the person trying to obtain a device as described in subdivision 1 is 18 years of age or older or violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.D\n\nFor purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Diligent inquiry” means a good faith effort to determine the age of a person that includes an examination of any valid photo identification that establishes the identity and age of such person.\n\t\t\t“Noxious chemical substances” includes fingernail polish and model airplane glue and chemicals containing any ketones, aldehydes, organic acetates, ether, chlorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, fluorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, nitrous oxide, or hydrogenated fluorocarbons.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":310031,"text":"It is unlawful, except under the direction of a practitioner as defined in § 54.1-3401, for any person deliberately to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances with the intent to become intoxicated, inebriated, excited, or stupefied or to dull the brain or nervous system.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":310032,"text":"It is unlawful for any person, other than one duly licensed, deliberately to cause, invite, or induce any person to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances with the intent to intoxicate, inebriate, excite, stupefy, or dull the brain or nervous system of such person.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":310033,"text":"1. It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute, or offer to sell or distribute a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide to any person under 18 years of age for any purpose.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"C2"},"3":{"id":310034,"text":"This subsection shall not apply to (i) a device, as described in subdivision 1, for nitrous oxide that is denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for human consumption or (ii) any person or establishment that is (a) solely engaged in the business of selling or distributing catering supplies, food processing equipment, or compressed gases for industrial or medical use or (b) a health care provider as defined in § 32.1-127.1:03.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","2"],"prefix":"2","entire_prefix":"C2","prefix_anchor":"C2","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"C3"},"4":{"id":310035,"text":"Any person who fails to make diligent inquiry as to whether the person trying to obtain a device as described in subdivision 1 is 18 years of age or older or violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["C","3"],"prefix":"3","entire_prefix":"C3","prefix_anchor":"C3","level":2,"prior_prefix":"C2","next_prefix":"D"},"5":{"id":310036,"text":"For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Diligent inquiry” means a good faith effort to determine the age of a person that includes an examination of any valid photo identification that establishes the identity and age of such person.\n\t\t\t“Noxious chemical substances” includes fingernail polish and model airplane glue and chemicals containing any ketones, aldehydes, organic acetates, ether, chlorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, fluorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, nitrous oxide, or hydrogenated fluorocarbons.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C3"}},"ancestry":[{"id":13207,"edition_id":1,"name":"Drugs","identifier":"1","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:27","permalink":{"id":166503,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":13207,"identifier":"1","token":"18.2\/7\/1","url":"\/18.2\/7\/1\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12973,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes Involving Health and Safety","identifier":"7","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12972,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":166501,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12973,"identifier":"7","token":"18.2\/7","url":"\/18.2\/7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":12972,"edition_id":1,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":1,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:44:05","permalink":{"id":164139,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":12972,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":84070,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-247","catch_line":"Use of terms \"controlled substances,\" \"marijuana,\" \"Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI,\" \"imitation controlled substance,\" and \"counterfeit controlled substance\" in Title 18.2","url":"\/18.2-247\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-247","metadata":false},{"id":68693,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248","catch_line":"Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance or an imitation controlled substance prohibited; penalties","url":"\/18.2-248\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-248","metadata":false},{"id":76843,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248.01","catch_line":"Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth; penalty","url":"\/18.2-248.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-248.01","metadata":false},{"id":56536,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248.02","catch_line":"Allowing a minor or incapacitated person to be present during manufacture or attempted manufacture of methamphetamine or fentanyl prohibited; penalties","url":"\/18.2-248.02\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-248.02","metadata":false},{"id":71689,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248.03","catch_line":"Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute methamphetamine; penalty","url":"\/18.2-248.03\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-248.03","metadata":false},{"id":60978,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248.04","catch_line":"Methamphetamine Cleanup Fund established","url":"\/18.2-248.04\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-248.04","metadata":false},{"id":80122,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-248.05","catch_line":"Prohibited equipment related to manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing with intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance; 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distribution of nitrous oxide to persons under 18 prohibited; penalties","url":"\/18.2-264\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264","metadata":false},{"id":63611,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-264.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-264.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264.01","metadata":false},{"id":70241,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-264.1","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-264.1\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264.1","metadata":false},{"id":72892,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-265","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-265\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-265","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":57290,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-263","catch_line":"Unnecessary to negative exception, etc.; burden of proof of exception, etc","url":"\/18.2-263\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-263","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":63611,"structure_id":13207,"section_number":"18.2-264.01","catch_line":"Repealed","url":"\/18.2-264.01\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264.01","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-264\/","history_text":"

The record of this law\u2019s original creation isn\u2019t available online. It has been modified 6 times. Those modifications are cataloged by \u201cThe Acts of Assembly,\u201d a state publication, by year and chapter. Those modifications that can be read on the General Assembly\u2019s website will be linked accordingly. Those modifications are as follows: in 1968, chapter 391; in 1973, chapter 27; in 1975, chapters 14 and 15; in 1993, chapter 416; in 2019, chapter 6<\/a>; in 2025, chapters 259<\/a> and 264<\/a>.<\/p>","references":false,"refers_to":[{"id":59669,"section_number":"54.1-3401","catch_line":"Definitions","order_by":null,"url":"\/54.1-3401\/"}],"permalink":{"id":166717,"object_type":"law","relational_id":86559,"identifier":"18.2-264","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264","url":"\/18.2-264\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-264\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1\/18.2-264","dublin_core":{"Title":"Inhaling drugs or other noxious chemical substances or causing, etc., others to do so; distribution of nitrous oxide to persons under 18 prohibited; penalties","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-264","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> It is unlawful, except under the direction of a practitioner as defined in § 54.1-3401<\/a>, for any person deliberately to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances<\/span> with the intent<\/span> to become intoxicated, inebriated, excited, or stupefied or to dull the brain or nervous system.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> It is unlawful for any person, other than one duly licensed, deliberately to cause, invite, or induce any person to smell or inhale any drugs or any other noxious chemical substances<\/span> with the intent<\/span> to intoxicate, inebriate, excite, stupefy, or dull the brain or nervous system of such person.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 2 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> 1. It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute, or offer to sell or distribute a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing nitrous oxide to any person under 18 years of age for any purpose. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

2.<\/span> This subsection shall not apply to (i) a device, as described in subdivision 1, for nitrous oxide that is denatured or otherwise rendered unfit for human consumption or (ii) any person or establishment that is (a) solely engaged in the business of selling or distributing catering supplies, food processing equipment, or compressed gases for industrial or medical use or (b) a health care provider as defined in § 32.1-127.1:03<\/a>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

3.<\/span> Any person who fails to make diligent inquiry<\/span> as to whether the person trying to obtain a device as described in subdivision 1 is 18 years of age or older or violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Diligent inquiry<\/span>” means a good faith effort to determine the age of a person that includes an examination of any valid photo identification that establishes the identity and age of such person.\n\t\t\t“Noxious chemical substances<\/span>” includes fingernail polish and model airplane glue and chemicals containing any ketones, aldehydes, organic acetates, ether, chlorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, fluorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, nitrous oxide, or hydrogenated fluorocarbons. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nINHALING DRUGS OR OTHER NOXIOUS CHEMICAL SUBSTANCES OR CAUSING, ETC., OTHERS TO\nDO SO; DISTRIBUTION OF NITROUS OXIDE TO PERSONS UNDER 18 PROHIBITED; PENALTIES\n(\u00a7 18.2-264)\n\nA. It is unlawful, except under the direction of a practitioner as defined in\n§ 54.1-3401, for any person deliberately to smell or inhale any drugs or\nany other noxious chemical substances with the intent to become intoxicated,\ninebriated, excited, or stupefied or to dull the brain or nervous system.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1\nmisdemeanor.\n\nB. It is unlawful for any person, other than one duly licensed, deliberately to\ncause, invite, or induce any person to smell or inhale any drugs or any other\nnoxious chemical substances with the intent to intoxicate, inebriate, excite,\nstupefy, or dull the brain or nervous system of such person.\n\t\t\tAny person violating the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 2\nmisdemeanor.\n\nC. 1. It is unlawful for any person to sell, distribute, or offer to sell or\ndistribute a device that is designed or intended to deliver a gas containing\nnitrous oxide to any person under 18 years of age for any purpose.\n\n 2. This subsection shall not apply to (i) a device, as described in\n subdivision 1, for nitrous oxide that is denatured or otherwise rendered unfit\n for human consumption or (ii) any person or establishment that is (a) solely\n engaged in the business of selling or distributing catering supplies, food\n processing equipment, or compressed gases for industrial or medical use or (b)\n a health care provider as defined in § 32.1-127.1:03.\n\n 3. Any person who fails to make diligent inquiry as to whether the person\n trying to obtain a device as described in subdivision 1 is 18 years of age or\n older or violates the provisions of this subsection is guilty of a Class 1\n misdemeanor.\n\nD. For purposes of this section:\n\t\t\t“Diligent inquiry” means a good faith effort to determine the age\nof a person that includes an examination of any valid photo identification that\nestablishes the identity and age of such person.\n\t\t\t“Noxious chemical substances” includes fingernail polish and\nmodel airplane glue and chemicals containing any ketones, aldehydes, organic\nacetates, ether, chlorinated hydrocarbons or vapors, fluorinated hydrocarbons or\nvapors, nitrous oxide, or hydrogenated fluorocarbons.\n\nHISTORY: Code 1950, \u00a7 18.1-70.1; 1968, c. 391; 1969, Ex. Sess., c. 19; 1973, c.\n27; 1975, cc. 14, 15; 1993, c. 416; 2019, c. 6; 2025, cc. 259, 264.","edition":{"id":1,"name":"2025","slug":"2025","date_created":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","date_modified":"2026-06-21 22:39:22","current":1,"order_by":1,"last_import":null}}