{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-json\/18.2-265.7.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-text\/18.2-265.7.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-xml\/18.2-265.7.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2025\/code-html\/18.2-265.7.html"}],"law_id":61410,"edition_id":1,"section_id":61410,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.7","catch_line":"Sale of the methamphetamine precursors ephedrine or related compounds; penalty","history":"2012, cc. 160, 252.","full_text":"A\n\nThe sale of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds sold by a pharmacy or retail distributor shall be limited to no more than 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per 30-day period per individual customer. The limits shall apply to the total amount of base ephedrine or related compounds contained in the products and not to the overall weight of the products.B\n\nEphedrine or related compounds shall only be displayed for sale behind a store counter that is not accessible to consumers or in a locked case that requires assistance by a store employee for customer access.C\n\nAny person purchasing, receiving, or otherwise acquiring ephedrine or related compounds shall, prior to taking possession, present photo identification issued by a government or an educational institution.D\n\nThe pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain a written log or electronic system with the purchaser’s name and address, birth date, and signature; the product name and quantity sold; and the date and time of the transaction. Unless exempt under subsection B of § 18.2-265.8 or § 18.2-265.11, the pharmacy or retail distributor shall use the electronic recordkeeping and monitoring system to report all nonprescription sales of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds.E\n\nThe purchaser shall sign the record acknowledging an understanding of the applicable sales limit and that providing false statements or misrepresentations may subject the purchaser to criminal penalties under § 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code.F\n\nThe pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain records of all sales required to be entered into the electronic system or written log for a period of two years from the date of the last entry.G\n\nThe provisions of this article do not apply to sales of ephedrine or related compounds pursuant to a valid prescription.H\n\nAny person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":224309,"text":"The sale of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds sold by a pharmacy or retail distributor shall be limited to no more than 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per 30-day period per individual customer. The limits shall apply to the total amount of base ephedrine or related compounds contained in the products and not to the overall weight of the products.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":224310,"text":"Ephedrine or related compounds shall only be displayed for sale behind a store counter that is not accessible to consumers or in a locked case that requires assistance by a store employee for customer access.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A","next_prefix":"C"},"2":{"id":224311,"text":"Any person purchasing, receiving, or otherwise acquiring ephedrine or related compounds shall, prior to taking possession, present photo identification issued by a government or an educational institution.","type":"section","prefixes":["C"],"prefix":"C","entire_prefix":"C","prefix_anchor":"C","level":1,"prior_prefix":"B","next_prefix":"D"},"3":{"id":224312,"text":"The pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain a written log or electronic system with the purchaser’s name and address, birth date, and signature; the product name and quantity sold; and the date and time of the transaction. Unless exempt under subsection B of § 18.2-265.8 or § 18.2-265.11, the pharmacy or retail distributor shall use the electronic recordkeeping and monitoring system to report all nonprescription sales of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds.","type":"section","prefixes":["D"],"prefix":"D","entire_prefix":"D","prefix_anchor":"D","level":1,"prior_prefix":"C","next_prefix":"E"},"4":{"id":224313,"text":"The purchaser shall sign the record acknowledging an understanding of the applicable sales limit and that providing false statements or misrepresentations may subject the purchaser to criminal penalties under § 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code.","type":"section","prefixes":["E"],"prefix":"E","entire_prefix":"E","prefix_anchor":"E","level":1,"prior_prefix":"D","next_prefix":"F"},"5":{"id":224314,"text":"The pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain records of all sales required to be entered into the electronic system or written log for a period of two years from the date of the last entry.","type":"section","prefixes":["F"],"prefix":"F","entire_prefix":"F","prefix_anchor":"F","level":1,"prior_prefix":"E","next_prefix":"G"},"6":{"id":224315,"text":"The provisions of this article do not apply to sales of ephedrine or related compounds pursuant to a valid prescription.","type":"section","prefixes":["G"],"prefix":"G","entire_prefix":"G","prefix_anchor":"G","level":1,"prior_prefix":"F","next_prefix":"H"},"7":{"id":224316,"text":"Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.","type":"section","prefixes":["H"],"prefix":"H","entire_prefix":"H","prefix_anchor":"H","level":1,"prior_prefix":"G"}},"ancestry":[{"id":14604,"edition_id":1,"name":"Sale of Ephedrine or Related Compounds","identifier":"1.2","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":1,"parent_id":12973,"metadata":{},"date_created":"2026-06-26 03:48:50","date_modified":"2026-06-26 03:48:50","permalink":{"id":166755,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":14604,"identifier":"1.2","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2","url":"\/18.2\/7\/1.2\/","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":81536,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.10","catch_line":"Exemption from participation in electronic system; requirement to maintain log","url":"\/18.2-265.10\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.10","metadata":false},{"id":85000,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.11","catch_line":"Exemption from participation in electronic system and maintenance of a written log","url":"\/18.2-265.11\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.11","metadata":false},{"id":85562,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.12","catch_line":"Authority to access data, records, and reports","url":"\/18.2-265.12\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.12","metadata":false},{"id":81693,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.13","catch_line":"Confidentiality of data in possession of Department","url":"\/18.2-265.13\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.13","metadata":false},{"id":65483,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.14","catch_line":"Prohibition on disclosure of information by entity operating the system","url":"\/18.2-265.14\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.14","metadata":false},{"id":56113,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.15","catch_line":"Prohibition on disclosure of information by pharmacy or retail distributor; civil immunity","url":"\/18.2-265.15\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.15","metadata":false},{"id":82917,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.16","catch_line":"Compliance with statutory provisions; civil immunity","url":"\/18.2-265.16\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.16","metadata":false},{"id":58913,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.17","catch_line":"Exemption of information systems from provisions related to the Virginia Information Technologies Agency","url":"\/18.2-265.17\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.17","metadata":false},{"id":70743,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.18","catch_line":"Failure to report certain sales; penalty","url":"\/18.2-265.18\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.18","metadata":false},{"id":66861,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.6","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-265.6\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.6","metadata":false},{"id":61410,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.7","catch_line":"Sale of the methamphetamine precursors ephedrine or related compounds; penalty","url":"\/18.2-265.7\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.7","metadata":false},{"id":69807,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.8","catch_line":"Real-time electronic recording of sales of ephedrine or related compounds; memorandum of understanding","url":"\/18.2-265.8\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.8","metadata":false},{"id":59970,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.9","catch_line":"Stop sales alerts; interruption of electronic system","url":"\/18.2-265.9\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.9","metadata":false}],"previous_section":{"id":66861,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.6","catch_line":"Definitions","url":"\/18.2-265.6\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.6","metadata":false},"next_section":{"id":69807,"structure_id":14604,"section_number":"18.2-265.8","catch_line":"Real-time electronic recording of sales of ephedrine or related compounds; memorandum of understanding","url":"\/18.2-265.8\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.8","metadata":false},"metadata":false,"official_url":"https:\/\/law.lis.virginia.gov\/vacode\/18.2-265.7\/","history_text":"

This law was first created in 2012. The record of its establishment is cataloged in chapters 160<\/a> and 252<\/a> of that year\u2019s edition of \u201cActs of Assembly,\u201d the annual state publication listing all changes made to the Code of Virginia in that year.<\/p>","references":[{"id":81536,"section_number":"18.2-265.10","catch_line":"Exemption from participation in electronic system; requirement to maintain log","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-265.10\/"},{"id":69807,"section_number":"18.2-265.8","catch_line":"Real-time electronic recording of sales of ephedrine or related compounds; memorandum of understanding","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-265.8\/"}],"refers_to":[{"id":85000,"section_number":"18.2-265.11","catch_line":"Exemption from participation in electronic system and maintenance of a written log","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-265.11\/"},{"id":69807,"section_number":"18.2-265.8","catch_line":"Real-time electronic recording of sales of ephedrine or related compounds; memorandum of understanding","order_by":null,"url":"\/18.2-265.8\/"}],"permalink":{"id":166797,"object_type":"law","relational_id":61410,"identifier":"18.2-265.7","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.7","url":"\/18.2-265.7\/","edition_id":1,"permalink":0,"preferred":1},"url":"\/18.2-265.7\/","token":"18.2\/7\/1.2\/18.2-265.7","dublin_core":{"Title":"Sale of the methamphetamine precursors ephedrine or related compounds; penalty","Type":"Text","Format":"text\/html","Identifier":"\u00a7 18.2-265.7","Relation":"Code of Virginia"},"html":"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

A.<\/span> The sale of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds<\/span> sold by a pharmacy<\/span> or retail distributor<\/span> shall be limited to no more than 3.6 grams per day and 9 grams per 30-day period per individual customer. The limits shall apply to the total amount of base ephedrine or related compounds<\/span> contained in the products and not to the overall weight of the products. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

B.<\/span> Ephedrine or related compounds<\/span> shall only be displayed for sale behind a store counter that is not accessible to consumers or in a locked case that requires assistance by a store employee for customer access. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

C.<\/span> Any person purchasing, receiving, or otherwise acquiring ephedrine or related compounds<\/span> shall, prior to taking possession<\/span>, present photo identification issued by a government or an educational institution. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

D.<\/span> The pharmacy<\/span> or retail distributor<\/span> shall maintain a written log or electronic system<\/span> with the purchaser’s name and address, birth date, and signature; the product name and quantity sold; and the date and time of the transaction. Unless exempt under subsection B of § 18.2-265.8<\/a> or § 18.2-265.11<\/a>, the pharmacy<\/span> or retail distributor<\/span> shall use the electronic recordkeeping and monitoring system to report all nonprescription sales of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

E.<\/span> The purchaser shall sign the record acknowledging an understanding of the applicable sales limit and that providing false statements or misrepresentations may subject the purchaser to criminal penalties under § 1001 of Title 18 of the United States Code. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

F.<\/span> The pharmacy<\/span> or retail distributor<\/span> shall maintain records of all sales required to be entered into the electronic system<\/span> or written log for a period of two years from the date of the last entry. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

G.<\/span> The provisions of this article do not apply to sales of ephedrine or related compounds<\/span> pursuant to a valid prescription. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

H.<\/span> Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor<\/span>. <\/i><\/a><\/p><\/section>","plain_text":" CODE OF VIRGINIA\n\nSALE OF THE METHAMPHETAMINE PRECURSORS EPHEDRINE OR RELATED COMPOUNDS; PENALTY\n(\u00a7 18.2-265.7)\n\nA. The sale of any product containing ephedrine or related compounds sold by a\npharmacy or retail distributor shall be limited to no more than 3.6 grams per\nday and 9 grams per 30-day period per individual customer. The limits shall\napply to the total amount of base ephedrine or related compounds contained in\nthe products and not to the overall weight of the products.\n\nB. Ephedrine or related compounds shall only be displayed for sale behind a\nstore counter that is not accessible to consumers or in a locked case that\nrequires assistance by a store employee for customer access.\n\nC. Any person purchasing, receiving, or otherwise acquiring ephedrine or related\ncompounds shall, prior to taking possession, present photo identification issued\nby a government or an educational institution.\n\nD. The pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain a written log or electronic\nsystem with the purchaser’s name and address, birth date, and signature;\nthe product name and quantity sold; and the date and time of the transaction.\nUnless exempt under subsection B of § 18.2-265.8 or § 18.2-265.11, the\npharmacy or retail distributor shall use the electronic recordkeeping and\nmonitoring system to report all nonprescription sales of any product containing\nephedrine or related compounds.\n\nE. The purchaser shall sign the record acknowledging an understanding of the\napplicable sales limit and that providing false statements or misrepresentations\nmay subject the purchaser to criminal penalties under § 1001 of Title 18 of\nthe United States Code.\n\nF. The pharmacy or retail distributor shall maintain records of all sales\nrequired to be entered into the electronic system or written log for a period of\ntwo years from the date of the last entry.\n\nG. The provisions of this article do not apply to sales of ephedrine or related\ncompounds pursuant to a valid prescription.\n\nH. Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a Class 1\nmisdemeanor.\n\nHISTORY: 2012, cc. 160, 252.","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}}