<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>79362</law_id><section_number>18.2-255.2</section_number><catch_line>Prohibiting the sale or manufacture of drugs on or near certain properties; penalty</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-46.1</reference><reference>19.2-303.01</reference><reference>19.2-392.02</reference><reference>53.1-231.2</reference></referred_to_by><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> It shall be unlawful for any person to manufacture, sell or distribute or possess with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to sell, give or distribute any controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or marijuana while: <a id="paragraph-284110" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> 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 &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/22.1-289.02/">22.1-289.02</a>; <a id="paragraph-284111" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Upon public property or any property open to public use within 1,000 feet of the property described in subdivision 1; <a id="paragraph-284112" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> On any school bus as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/46.2-100/">46.2-100</a>; <a id="paragraph-284113" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> 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; <a id="paragraph-284114" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Upon the property, including buildings and grounds, of any publicly owned or publicly operated recreation or community center facility or any public library; or <a id="paragraph-284115" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> Upon the property of any state facility as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/37.2-100/">37.2-100</a> or upon public property or property open to public use within 1,000 feet of such an institution. It is a violation of the provisions of this section if the person possessed the controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or marijuana on the property described in subdivisions 1 through 6, regardless of where the person intended to sell, give or distribute the controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or marijuana. Nothing in this section shall prohibit the authorized distribution of controlled substances. <a id="paragraph-284116" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Violation of this section shall constitute a separate and distinct <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall, upon <span class="dictionary">conviction</span>, 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 <span class="dictionary">conviction</span> hereunder for an <span class="dictionary">offense</span> involving a controlled substance classified in Schedule I, II, or III of the Drug Control Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Citation" href="/54.1-3400/">54.1-3400</a> et seq.) or more than one-half ounce of marijuana 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 or marijuana only as an accommodation to another individual and not with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to profit thereby from any consideration received or expected nor to induce the recipient or intended recipient of the controlled substance or marijuana to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance or marijuana, he is guilty of a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-284117" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If a person commits an act violating the provisions of this section, and the same act also violates another provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> that provides for penalties greater than those provided for by this section, then nothing in this section shall prohibit or bar any <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> or proceeding under that other provision of <span class="dictionary">law</span> or the imposition of any penalties provided for thereby. <a id="paragraph-284118" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-255.2/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>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.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
