<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>66815</law_id><section_number>18.2-36.3</section_number><catch_line>Involuntary manslaughter; certain drug offenses</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>18.2-251.03</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="4">Crimes Against the Person</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="1">Homicide</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Any person who knowingly, intentionally, and feloniously manufactures, sells, or distributes a controlled substance knowing that such controlled substance contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, in violation of Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Use of terms &quot;controlled substances,&quot; &quot;marijuana,&quot; &quot;Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI,&quot; &quot;imitation controlled substance,&quot; and &quot;counterfeit controlled substance&quot; in Title 18.2" href="/18.2-247/">18.2-247</a> et seq.) of Chapter 7 and unintentionally causes the death of another person is guilty of <span class="dictionary">involuntary manslaughter</span> if (i) such death results from the use of the controlled substance and (ii) such controlled substance is the proximate cause of the death regardless of the time or place death occurred in relation to the commission of the underlying manufacturing, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance that contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers. <a id="paragraph-242290" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-36.3/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> It is not a defense to a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> under this section that the decedent contributed to his own death by his knowing or voluntary use of the controlled substance. <span class="dictionary">Venue</span> for a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> under this section shall lie in the locality where the manufacturing, sale, or distribution of a controlled substance that contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, occurred, where the use of the controlled substance occurred, or where death occurred. <a id="paragraph-242291" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-36.3/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> However, if any person proves that he gave or distributed a controlled substance that contains a detectable amount of fentanyl, including its derivatives, isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, in violation of Article 1 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Use of terms &quot;controlled substances,&quot; &quot;marijuana,&quot; &quot;Schedules I, II, III, IV, V, and VI,&quot; &quot;imitation controlled substance,&quot; and &quot;counterfeit controlled substance&quot; in Title 18.2" href="/18.2-247/">18.2-247</a> et seq.) of Chapter 7 only as an accommodation to another individual who is not an inmate in a community correctional facility, local correctional facility, or state correctional facility as defined in &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Definitions" href="/53.1-1/">53.1-1</a> or in the <span class="dictionary">custody</span> of an employee thereof, 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 to use or become addicted to or dependent upon such controlled substance, he shall not be guilty of <span class="dictionary">involuntary manslaughter</span> but is guilty of an accommodation sale punishable as a Class 6 <span class="dictionary">felony</span>. <a id="paragraph-242292" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-36.3/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> No person convicted pursuant to this section for conduct described in subsection A shall be subject to a <span class="dictionary">prosecution</span> for a violation of subsection D of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, manufacture, distribution, etc., of weapon of terrorism or hoax device prohibited; penalty" href="/18.2-46.6/">18.2-46.6</a> or &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Transporting controlled substances into the Commonwealth; penalty" href="/18.2-248.01/">18.2-248.01</a>, <a class="law" title="Possession of controlled substances unlawful" href="/18.2-250/">18.2-250</a>, or <a class="law" title="Conspiracy" href="/18.2-256/">18.2-256</a> for the same transaction or occurrence. <a id="paragraph-242293" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-36.3/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>2025, cc. 719, 721.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
