<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66570</law_id><section_number>18.2-251.5</section_number><catch_line>Manufacturing, selling, giving, distributing, or possessing xylazine; penalties</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="18.2">Crimes and Offenses Generally</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="7">Crimes Involving Health and Safety</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Drugs</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who knowingly manufactures, sells, gives, distributes, or possesses with the <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute the substance xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 5 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-241566" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-251.5/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any person who knowingly possesses the substance xylazine, when intended for human consumption, is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-241567" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-251.5/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Notwithstanding subsections A and B, it shall not be an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> to (i) manufacture xylazine for legitimate veterinary use; (ii) distribute or sell xylazine for authorized veterinary use; (iii) possess, administer, prescribe, or dispense xylazine in good faith for use by animals within the course of legitimate veterinary practice; or (iv) possess or administer xylazine pursuant to a valid prescription from a licensed veterinarian. <a id="paragraph-241568" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-251.5/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2024, cc. 472, 516.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
