<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>82506</law_id><section_number>18.2-374</section_number><catch_line>Production, publication, sale, possession, etc., of obscene items</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>16.1-69.55</reference><reference>18.2-376.1</reference><reference>18.2-380</reference><reference>18.2-381</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="8">Crimes Involving Morals and Decency</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="5">Obscenity and Related Offenses</unit></structure><text>
						<section><p>It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to:</p></section>
						<section id="1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Prepare any obscene item for the purposes of sale or distribution; or <a id="paragraph-295584" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374/#1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="2"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Print, copy, manufacture, produce, or reproduce any obscene item for purposes of sale or distribution; or <a id="paragraph-295585" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374/#2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="3"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> Publish, sell, rent, lend, transport in intrastate commerce, or <span class="dictionary">distribute</span> or exhibit any obscene item, or offer to do any of these things; or <a id="paragraph-295586" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374/#3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="4"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> Have in his <span class="dictionary">possession</span> with <span class="dictionary">intent</span> to sell, rent, lend, transport, or <span class="dictionary">distribute</span> any obscene item. <span class="dictionary">Possession</span> in public or in a public place of any obscene item as defined in this article shall be deemed prima facie <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> of a violation of this section.
			For the purposes of this section, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">distribute</span>&#x201D; shall mean delivery in person, by mail, messenger or by any other means by which obscene items as defined in this article may pass from one person, firm or corporation to another. <a id="paragraph-295587" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/18.2-374/#4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7; 18.1-228; 1960, c. 233; 1962, c. 289; 1970, c. 204; 1975, cc. 14, 15.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
