Virginia statute
Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255 — Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty
Current through 2026 Regular Session
Part of Article 1: Drugs, Code of Virginia.
Amendment pending: a new version of this section takes effect Thu Jul 01 2027 00:00:00 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time).
Criminal charges under this statute
Full text of Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255
Statutory text current through the 2026 Regular Session. This publication reproduces the text of the Code of Virginia from the official Virginia Law Portal API published by the Virginia General Assembly's Division of Legislative Automated Systems; it is not the official Code of Virginia.
A. Except as authorized in the Drug Control Act, Chapter 34 (§ 54.1-3400 et seq.) of Title 54.1, it shall be unlawful for any person who is at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally (i) distribute any drug classified in Schedule I, II, III or IV or marijuana to any person under 18 years of age who is at least three years his junior or (ii) cause any person under 18 years of age to assist in such distribution of any drug classified in Schedule I, II, III or IV or marijuana. Any person violating this provision shall upon conviction be imprisoned in a state correctional facility for a period not less than 10 nor more than 50 years, and fined not more than $100,000. Five years of the sentence imposed for a conviction under this section involving a Schedule I or II controlled substance or one ounce or more of marijuana shall be a mandatory minimum sentence. Two years of the sentence imposed for a conviction under this section involving less than one ounce of marijuana shall be a mandatory minimum sentence.
B. It shall be unlawful for any person who is at least 18 years of age to knowingly or intentionally (i) distribute any imitation controlled substance to a person under 18 years of age who is at least three years his junior or (ii) cause any person under 18 years of age to assist in such distribution of any imitation controlled substance. Any person violating this provision shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.
Official sources
Legal terms used in this section
Questions this section answers
Is distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited a felony or a misdemeanor in Virginia?
Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited is a class 6 felony in Virginia under Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255.
Which Virginia statute covers distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited?
Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited is governed by Va. Code Ann. § 18.2-255 (Distribution of certain drugs to persons under 18 prohibited; penalty).
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.