HB1481: Marijuana, synthetic; penalties for possession, intent to sell, distribute, etc.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1481
Offered January 12, 2011
Prefiled December 10, 2010
A BILL to amend and reenact § 54.1-3446 of the Code of Virginia and to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 18.2-248.1:1, relating to penalties for sale or distribution of synthetic marijuana.
Patron-- Cleaveland

Referred to Committee on Health, Welfare and Institutions

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 54.1-3446 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted and that the Code of Virginia is amended by adding a section numbered 18.2-248.1:1 as follows:

§ 18.2-248.1:1. Penalties for possession, sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute synthetic marijuana.

A. Synthetic marijuana is a controlled substance listed in Schedule 1 of the Drug Control Act (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.). Notwithstanding any of the provisions set forth in this article regarding punishment for the possession, sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute controlled substances listed in Schedule 1, punishment for the possession, sale, gift, distribution or possession with intent to sell, give or distribute synthetic marijuana shall be in accordance with this section.

B. It is unlawful for any person to knowingly or intentionally possess synthetic marijuana. Any person who violates this subsection is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor.

C. It is unlawful for any person to sell, give, distribute or possess with intent to sell, give or distribute synthetic marijuana. Any person who violates this subsection with respect to (i) not more than one-half ounce of synthetic marijuana is guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor; (ii) more than one-half ounce but not more than five pounds of synthetic marijuana is guilty of a Class 5 felony; (iii) more than five pounds of synthetic marijuana is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five nor more than 30 years.

D. Any person who manufactures synthetic marijuana, or possesses synthetic marijuana with the intent to manufacture such substance is guilty of a felony punishable by imprisonment of not less than five nor more than 30 years and a fine not to exceed $10,000.

§ 54.1-3446. Schedule I.

The controlled substances listed in this section are included in Schedule I:

1. Any of the following opiates, including their isomers, esters, ethers, salts, and salts of isomers, esters, and ethers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these isomers, esters, ethers and salts is possible within the specific chemical designation:

Acetylmethadol;

Allylprodine;

Alphacetylmethadol (except levo-alphacetylmethadol, also known as levo-alpha-acetylmethadol, levomethadyl acetate, or LAAM);

Alphameprodine;

Alphamethadol;

Benzethidine;

Betacetylmethadol;

Betameprodine;

Betamethadol;

Betaprodine;

Clonitazene;

Dextromoramide;

Diampromide;

Diethylthiambutene;

Difenoxin;

Dimenoxadol;

Dimepheptanol;

Dimethylthiambutene;

Dioxaphetylbutyrate;

Dipipanone;

Ethylmethylthiambutene;

Etonitazene;

Etoxeridine;

Furethidine;

Hydroxypethidine;

Ketobemidone;

Levomoramide;

Levophenacylmorphan;

Morpheridine;

Noracymethadol;

Norlevorphanol;

Normethadone;

Norpipanone;

Phenadoxone;

Phenampromide;

Phenomorphan;

Phenoperidine;

Piritramide;

Proheptazine;

Properidine;

Propiram;

Racemoramide;

Tilidine;

Trimeperidine.

2. Any of the following opium derivatives, their salts, isomers and salts of isomers, unless specifically excepted, whenever the existence of these salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:

Acetorphine;

Acetyldihydrocodeine;

Benzylmorphine;

Codeine methylbromide;

Codeine-N-Oxide;

Cyprenorphine;

Desomorphine;

Dihydromorphine;

Drotebanol;

Etorphine;

Heroin;

Hydromorphinol;

Methyldesorphine;

Methyldihydromorphine;

Morphine methylbromide;

Morphine methylsulfonate;

Morphine-N-Oxide;

Myrophine;

Nicocodeine;

Nicomorphine;

Normorphine;

Pholcodine;

Thebacon.

3. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or preparation, which contains any quantity of the following hallucinogenic substances, or which contains any of its salts, isomers, and salts of isomers, whenever the existence of such salts, isomers, and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation (for purposes of this subdivision only, the term "isomer" includes the optical, position, and geometric isomers):

Alpha-ethyltryptamine (some trade or other names: Monase;a-ethyl-1H-indole-3-ethanamine; 3-2-aminobutyl] indole; a-ET; AET);

4-Bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (some trade or other names: 2-4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl]-1-aminoethane;alpha-desmethyl DOB;2C-B; Nexus);

3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine;

5-methoxy-3,4-methylenedioxy amphetamine;

3,4,5-trimethoxy amphetamine;

Alpha-methyltryptamine (other name: AMT);

Bufotenine;

Diethyltryptamine;

Dimethyltryptamine;

4-methyl-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine;

2,5-dimethoxy-4-ethylamphetamine (DOET);

2,5-dimethoxy-4-(n)-propylthiophenethylamine (other name: 2C-T-7);

Ibogaine;

5-methoxy-N,N-diisopropyltryptamine (other name: 5-MeO-DIPT);

Lysergic acid diethylamide;

Mescaline;

Parahexyl (some trade or other names: 3-Hexyl-1-hydroxy-7, 8, 9, 10-tetrahydro-6, 6, 9-trimethyl-6H-dibenzo -b,d] pyran; Synhexyl);

Peyote;

N-ethyl-3-piperidyl benzilate;

N-methyl-3-piperidyl benzilate;

Psilocybin;

Psilocyn;

Salvinorin A;

Tetrahydrocannabinols, except as present in marijuana and dronabinol in sesame oil and encapsulated in a soft gelatin capsule in a drug product approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration;

Hashish oil (some trade or other names: hash oil; liquid marijuana; liquid hashish);

2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (some trade or other names: 2,5-dimethoxy-a-methylphenethylamine; 2,5-DMA);

3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), its optical, positional and geometric isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

3,4-methylenedioxy-N-ethylamphetamine (also known as N-ethyl-alpha-methyl-3,4 (methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, N-ethyl MDA, MDE, MDEA);

N-hydroxy-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (some other names: N-hydroxy-alpha-methyl-3,4(methylenedioxy)phenethylamine, and N-hydroxy MDA);

4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxyamphetamine (some trade or other names: 4-bromo-2,5-dimethoxy-a-methylphenethylamine; 4-bromo-2,5-DMA);

4-methoxyamphetamine (some trade or other names: 4-methoxy-a-methylphenethylamine; paramethoxyamphetamine; PMA);

Ethylamine analog of phencyclidine (some other names: N-ethyl-1-phenylcyclohexylamine, (1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine, N-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) ethylamine, cyclohexamine, PCE);

Pyrrolidine analog of phencyclidine (some other names: 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl) -pyrrolidine, PCPy, PHP);

Thiophene analog of phencyclidine (some other names: 1-1-(2-thienyl) -cyclohexyl]-piperidine, 2-thienyl analog of phencyclidine, TPCP, TCP);

1-1-(2-thienyl)cyclohexyl]pyrrolidine (other name: TCPy);

Synthetic marijuana 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-5-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)phenol (other name: CP 47,497);

Synthetic marijuana 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-5-(2-methylheptan-2-yl)phenol;

Synthetic marijuana 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-5-(2-methylnonan-2-yl)phenol;

Synthetic marijuana 2-(3-hydroxycyclohexyl)-5-(2-methyldecan-2-yl)phenol;

Synthetic marijuana 1-pentyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (other name: JWH-018);

Synthetic marijuana 1-butyl-3-(1-naphthoyl)indole (other name: JWH-073);

Synthetic marijuana 1-pentyl-3-(2-methoxyphenylacetyl)indole (other name: JWH-250);

Synthetic marijuana 1-hexyl-3-(naphthalen-1-oyl)indole (other name: JWH-019);

Synthetic marijuana (6aR,10aR)-9-(hydroxymethyl)-6,6-dimethyl-3-(2-methyloctan-2-yl)-6a,7,10,10a-tetrahydrobenzo[c]chromen-1-ol (other name: HU-210).

4. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a depressant effect on the central nervous system, including its salts, isomers and salts of isomers whenever the existence of such salts, isomers and salts of isomers is possible within the specific chemical designation:

Gamma hydroxybutyric acid (some other names include GHB; gamma hydroxybutyrate; 4-hydroxybutyrate; 4-hydroxybutanoic acid; sodium oxybate; sodium oxybutyrate);

Mecloqualone;

Methaqualone.

5. Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in another schedule, any material, compound, mixture or preparation which contains any quantity of the following substances having a stimulant effect on the central nervous system, including its salts, isomers and salts of isomers:

Aminorex (some trade or other names; aminoxaphen; 2-amino-5-phenyl-2-oxazoline; 4, 5-dihydro-5-phenyl-2-oxazolamine);

N-Benzylpiperazine (some other names: BZP, 1-benzylpiperazine);

Fenethylline;

Ethylamphetamine;

Cathinone (some trade or other names: 2-amino-1-phenyl-1-propanone, alpha-aminopropiophenone, 2-aminopropiophenone, norephedrone), and any plant material from which Cathinone may be derived;

Methcathinone (some other names: 2-(methylamino)-propiophenone; alpha-(methylamino) propiophenone; 2-(methylamino)-1-phenylpropan-1-one; alpha-N-methylaminopropiophenone; monomethylpropion; ephedrone; N-methylcathinone; methylcathinone; AL-464; AL-422; AL-463 and UR 1432);

Cis-4-methylaminorex (other name: cis-4,5-dihydro-4-methyl-5-phenyl-2-oxazolamine);

N,N-dimethylamphetamine (other names: N,N-alpha-trimethyl-benzeneethanamine, N,N-alpha-trimethylphenethylamine).

6. Any material, compound, mixture or preparation containing any quantity of the following substances:

N-3-methyl-1-(2-phenethyl)-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (other name: 3-methylfentanyl), its optical and geometric isomers, salts, and salts of isomers;

1-methyl-4-phenyl-4-propionoxypiperidine (other name: MPPP), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

1-(2-phenylethyl)-4-phenyl-4-acetyloxypiperidine (other name: PEPAP), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-1-(alpha-methyl-beta-phenyl) ethyl-4-piperidyl] propionanilide (other names: 1-(1-methyl-2-phenylethyl)-4-(N-propanilido) piperidine), alpha-methylfentanyl);

N-1-(1-methyl-2-phenethyl)-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylacetamide (other name: acetyl-alpha-methylfentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-1-(1-methyl-2-2-thienyl)ethyl-4 piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (other name: alpha-methylthiofentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-1-benzyl-4-piperidyl]N-phenylpropanamide (other name: benzylfentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenyl) ethyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (other name: beta-hydroxyfentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-3-methyl-1-(2-hydroxy-2-phenethyl)4-piperidyl]Nphenylpropanamide (other name: betahydroxy3methylfentanyl), its optical and geometric isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-(3-methyl-1-(2-thienyl)ethyl-4-piperidinyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (other name: 3-methylthiofentanyl), its optical and geometric isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-1-(2-thienyl)methyl-4-piperidyl]-N-phenylpropanamide (other name: thenylfentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-phenyl-N-1-(2-thienyl)ethyl-4-piperidinyl]-propanamide (other name: thiofentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers;

N-(4-fluorophenyl)-N-1-(2-phenethyl)-4-piperidinyl] propanamide (other name: para-fluorofentanyl), its optical isomers, salts and salts of isomers.

2.  That the provisions of this act may result in a net increase in periods of imprisonment or commitment. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of imprisonment in state adult correctional facilities; therefore, Chapter 874 of the Acts of Assembly of 2010 requires the Virginia Criminal Sentencing Commission to assign a minimum fiscal impact of $50,000. Pursuant to § 30-19.1:4, the estimated amount of the necessary appropriation cannot be determined for periods of commitment to the custody of the Department of Juvenile Justice.