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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>67789</law_id><section_number>19.2-188.1</section_number><catch_line>Testimony regarding identification of controlled substances</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>9.1-1110</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="19.2">Criminal Procedure</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="12">Preliminary Hearing</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">preliminary hearing</span> on a violation of Chapter 11 (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession, etc., of marijuana and marijuana products by persons 21 years of age or older lawful; penalties" href="/4.1-1100/">4.1-1100</a> et seq.) of Title 4.1, 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 of Title 18.2, or subdivision 6 of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Felonies by prisoners; penalties" href="/53.1-203/">53.1-203</a>, any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall be permitted to testify as to the results of field tests that have been approved by the Department of Forensic Science pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.), regarding whether or not any substance the identity of which is at <span class="dictionary">issue</span> in such hearing is a controlled substance, imitation controlled substance, or marijuana, as defined in &#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>. <a id="paragraph-245575" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-188.1/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> In any <span class="dictionary">trial</span> for a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession of marijuana or marijuana products unlawful in certain cases; venue; exceptions; penalties; treatment and education programs and services" href="/4.1-1105.1/">4.1-1105.1</a>, any <span class="dictionary">law</span>-enforcement officer shall be permitted to testify as to the results of any marijuana field test approved as accurate and reliable by the Department of Forensic Science pursuant to regulations adopted in accordance with the Administrative Process Act (&#xA7; <a class="law" title="Short title; purpose" href="/2.2-4000/">2.2-4000</a> et seq.), regarding whether or not any plant <span class="dictionary">material</span>, the identity of which is at <span class="dictionary">issue</span>, is marijuana provided the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> has been given written notice of his right to request a full chemical analysis. Such notice shall be on a form approved by the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Court</span> and shall be provided to the <span class="dictionary">defendant</span> prior to <span class="dictionary">trial</span>.
			In any case in which the person <span class="dictionary">accused</span> of a violation of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Possession of marijuana or marijuana products unlawful in certain cases; venue; exceptions; penalties; treatment and education programs and services" href="/4.1-1105.1/">4.1-1105.1</a>, or the attorney of record for the <span class="dictionary">accused</span>, desires a full chemical analysis of the alleged plant <span class="dictionary">material</span>, he may, by <span class="dictionary">motion</span> prior to <span class="dictionary">trial</span> before the <span class="dictionary">court</span> in which the charge is pending, request such a chemical analysis. Upon such <span class="dictionary">motion</span>, the <span class="dictionary">court</span> shall <span class="dictionary">order</span> that the analysis be performed by the Department of Forensic Science in accordance with the provisions of &#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> and shall prescribe in its <span class="dictionary">order</span> the method of <span class="dictionary">custody</span>, transfer, and return of <span class="dictionary">evidence</span> submitted for chemical analysis. <a id="paragraph-245576" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/19.2-188.1/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1991, c. 477; 1993, c. 33; 2005, cc. 868, 881; 2006, c. 447; 2013, c. 60; 2020, c. 831; 2021, Sp. Sess. I, cc. 550, 551.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
