<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>76941</law_id><section_number>54.1-3466</section_number><catch_line>Possession or distribution of controlled paraphernalia; definition of controlled paraphernalia; evidence; exceptions</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><reference>18.2-260</reference><reference>32.1-45.4</reference><reference>54.1-3303.1</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="54.1">Professions and Occupations</unit><unit label="subtitle" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="III">Professions and Occupations Regulated by Boards Within the Department of Health Professions</unit><unit label="chapter" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="34">Drug Control Act</unit><unit label="article" level="4" order_by="1" identifier="7">Controlled Paraphernalia</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> For purposes of this chapter, &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span>&#x201D; means (i) a hypodermic syringe, needle, or other instrument or implement or combination thereof adapted for the administration of controlled dangerous substances by hypodermic injections under circumstances that reasonably indicate an intention to use such <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> for purposes of illegally administering any controlled <span class="dictionary">drug</span> or (ii) gelatin capsules, glassine envelopes, or any other container suitable for the packaging of individual quantities of controlled <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> in sufficient quantity to and under circumstances that reasonably indicate an intention to use any such item for the illegal <span class="dictionary">manufacture</span>, distribution, or <span class="dictionary">dispensing</span> of any such controlled <span class="dictionary">drug</span>. <span class="dictionary">Evidence</span> of such circumstances shall include, but not be limited to, close proximity of any such <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> to any adulterants or equipment commonly used in the illegal <span class="dictionary">manufacture</span> and distribution of controlled <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> including scales, sieves, strainers, measuring spoons, staples and staplers, or procaine hydrochloride, mannitol, lactose, quinine, or any controlled <span class="dictionary">drug</span>, or any machine, equipment, instrument, implement, <span class="dictionary">device</span>, or combination thereof that is adapted for the <span class="dictionary">production</span> of controlled <span class="dictionary">drugs</span> under circumstances that reasonably indicate an intention to use such item or combination thereof to <span class="dictionary">produce</span>, sell, or <span class="dictionary">dispense</span> any controlled <span class="dictionary">drug</span> in violation of the provisions of this chapter. &#x201C;<span class="dictionary">Controlled paraphernalia</span>&#x201D; does not include <span class="dictionary">drug</span> checking products used to determine the presence or concentration of a contaminant that can cause physical harm or death. <a id="paragraph-276130" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Except as authorized in this chapter, it is unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> to possess <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span>. <a id="paragraph-276131" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> Except as authorized in this chapter, it is unlawful for any <span class="dictionary">person</span> to <span class="dictionary">distribute</span> <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span>. <a id="paragraph-276132" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> A violation of this section is a Class 1 <span class="dictionary">misdemeanor</span>. <a id="paragraph-276133" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The provisions of this section shall not apply to <span class="dictionary">persons</span> who have acquired <span class="dictionary">possession</span> and control of <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> in accordance with the provisions of this article or to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> who owns or is engaged in breeding or raising livestock, poultry, or other <span class="dictionary">animals</span> to which hypodermic injections are customarily given in the interest of health, safety, or good husbandry; or to hospitals, physicians, pharmacists, dentists, podiatrists, veterinarians, funeral directors and embalmers, <span class="dictionary">persons</span> to whom a permit has been issued, <span class="dictionary">manufacturers</span>, wholesalers, or their authorized <span class="dictionary">agents</span> or employees when in the usual course of their business, if the <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> lawfully obtained continue to be used for the legitimate purposes for which they were obtained. <a id="paragraph-276134" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> The provisions of this section and of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Penalties for sale, etc., of drug paraphernalia" href="/18.2-265.3/">18.2-265.3</a> shall not apply to (i) a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> naloxone in accordance with the provisions of subsection Z of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Professional use by practitioners" href="/54.1-3408/">54.1-3408</a> and who, in conjunction with such <span class="dictionary">dispensing</span> of naloxone, <span class="dictionary">dispenses</span> or <span class="dictionary">distributes</span> hypodermic needles and syringes for injecting such naloxone or (ii) a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who possesses naloxone that has been dispensed in accordance with the provisions of subsection Z of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Professional use by practitioners" href="/54.1-3408/">54.1-3408</a> and possesses hypodermic needles and syringes for injecting such naloxone in conjunction with such <span class="dictionary">possession</span> of naloxone. <a id="paragraph-276135" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="G"><p><span class="prefix-number">G.</span> The provisions of this section and of &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Penalties for sale, etc., of drug paraphernalia" href="/18.2-265.3/">18.2-265.3</a> shall not apply to (i) a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who possesses or <span class="dictionary">distributes</span> <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> on behalf of or for the benefit of a comprehensive harm reduction program established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Comprehensive harm reduction programs" href="/32.1-45.4/">32.1-45.4</a> or (ii) a <span class="dictionary">person</span> who possesses <span class="dictionary">controlled paraphernalia</span> obtained from a comprehensive harm reduction program established pursuant to &#xA7; <a class="law" title="Comprehensive harm reduction programs" href="/32.1-45.4/">32.1-45.4</a>. <a id="paragraph-276136" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/54.1-3466/#G"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>1971, Ex. Sess., cc. 210, 245; 1976, c. 614; 1988, c. 765; 2016, c. 229; 2018, c. 97; 2019, c. 215; 2020, c. 839; 2025, cc. 266, 277, 281.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
